The university has updated its tailgating policies ahead of the 2015 football season in an effort to improve both safety and the overall fan experience.
The University of Mississippi has updated its campus tailgating policies ahead of the 2015 football season, which kicks off Saturday (Sept. 5), in an effort to improve both safety and the overall fan experience.
This season, all tailgating areas will be cleared at 6:30 p.m. the day before a game. Fans may begin holding spots for tents at 7:30 p.m. This new rule is intended to make it easier for tailgaters to get a spot, rather than having to save one for days. The new rules are intended to make tailgating operations flow more smoothly and help the university handle record crowds, which are expected again this season.
“We have had record crowds in the past three seasons, so we need to give everyone the best experience possible,” Athletics Director Ross Bjork said. “The other thing is that people don’t have to find and wait for a spot for days. It really alleviates a lot of things that have really become challenges for our campus, for our cleaning crew, our landscape crew and for our fans.”
Much university input went into drafting the new policies, Bjork said.
“It has been a universitywide decision, not just athletics,” Bjork said. “So we come together to what we think is the best game-day experience already and we will enhance it and evaluate how it works on Friday and Saturday.”
Fans can wait along the outer edges of the Grove and Circle on University Avenue, University Circle and Grove Loop beginning at 6:30 p.m. Fridays. At 7:30 p.m., fans can hold spots no larger than 10-by-10 feet. The university administration asks that when reserving spots, tailgaters respect the traditions of those who have tailgated the same area for several seasons.
Vehicles without parking passes must use University Avenue to load and unload tailgating equipment and supplies. No tents, chairs or other tailgating equipment are allowed on campus before 7:30 p.m. Friday. The 7:30 p.m. opening time applies to all areas on campus, not just the Grove and Circle.
The only exception is that tents and equipment from “approved tailgating vendors” will be allowed on campus before that time, provided they are stacked and stored under university-sponsored storage tents from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Those vendors must also clear the Grove and Circle at 6:30 p.m. and will be allowed to re-enter at 7:30 p.m. with the general public.
“We encourage the use of approved tailgating vendors, which have to adhere to strict rules in an effort to improve the overall experience for all Ole Miss fans and visitors,” said Michael Thompson, senior associate athletics director for communications and marketing. “Those vendors are held accountable for safety, customer service, cleanliness of tents and many other aspects of the overall experience.
Approved vendors pay the university an average of $5 per tent per game to be part of the official program. Proceeds from this year’s program are to be invested into the Grove and Circle to improve the tailgating experience for everyone. Some of the funds are already being used for new street signs at the walkway intersections in the Grove and for large LED countdown clocks to be placed around the Grove on Friday afternoons before games.
Full details about game day, including new rules for the Grove, Circle and campuswide tailgating, can be found at http://OleMissFB.com.