blvd info please...

[horns and stangs]

Haven't been to an SMU game since...well...about 1996 or so. Just moved to Dallas and looking forward to the season. Could someone give me some insight into the pre-game festivities around the blvd. starts pretty early? gotta hide booze in cups? worth renting a tent v. just showing up? etc... much appreciated in advance.

[mr. pony]

You gonna wear orange and talk about Vince and Mack?

[horns and stangs]

of course. you do know that people can get multiple degrees from multiple schools, right?

anyone else?

[DiamondM75]

The boulevard is basically divided into two halves. The half north of Binkley is for the permanent reserved rented tents, while the south half is first come first serve. To get a good spot on the south, you have to get there early.

Whether you should rent one of the permanent tents depends on how many people you will have. If you have a large group, you will probably want a tent. This is where the frats and other organizations gather. If you have a smaller group, then the south half should be fine.

Oh, I forgot, the area in front of Perkins School of Theology and west of Bishop is the non-alcohol section. There is ALWAYS PLENTY OF ROOM there.

[Mickey]

[quote="DiamondM75"]The boulevard is basically divided into two halves. The half north of Binkley is for the permanent reserved rented tents, while the south half is first come first serve. To get a good spot on the south, you have to get there early. {/quote]

The spaces are also rented out south of Binkley. I don't know if you can get spaces for individual games or not. I think that you can only rent locations for the whole season.

[PK]

Check this out for info:

http://smumustangs.cstv.com/trads/boulevard.html


Don't think there is a problem for folks over 21 needing to hide their booze in a cup, but I believe they don't want glass containers. Therefore, a cup is pretty much standard. I don't know about cans one way or the other.

[DiamondM]

South of Binkley parking spots and adjacent tailgating spots ARE reserved for the whole season (our group has had theirs reserved since Ford opened in 2000), and there is a waiting list I believe for the spots. However, to the extent there is room "down the center" between the reserved tailgating spots, anybody can just come and set up their stuff, and I think there are some that do -- but you'll have to park elsewhere and tote your stuff in or arrive before a particular time (check the www.smumustangs.com website) when you can drop off your stuff.

North of Binkley are SMU-owned semi-permanent tents that can be rented, but you can't park up there -- some are still available on a game by game basis according to a recent email from the Athletic Department. I think though that technically the same "if you find a spot in the middle" rule applies.

People from our spot usually get there about 8:30 - 9 am on gamedays to set up, and then we watch College Gameday on the Boulevard and the early games (with our satellite dish). We're a 3-meals-on-the-Boulevard gang, and we're not the only ones. But for most people, who are slightly more rational, a little while after lunch -- say 1round 2 or so is when they start arriving to set up their tents for a night game. By about 2 hours before kickoff it is really very crowded (depending on the game).

[LawSchoolPony]

Don't have to get there too early...we tailgate in the center part of the BLVD every game, and we are usually set up and ready to go about 4 hours before the game, and are often some of the only people out there. Usually, the tents are pretty much set up and then the people show up about 2 hrs before the game. Big games are of course busier.

We've never had any problems at all in having plenty of room for our tent. Parking is the bigger issue, but since we are there earlier, thats not even a problem. If you come 2-3 hours before the game, I suggest parking in HP off Abbott and just walking over.

[LawSchoolPony]

By the way...the security guards can be a real pain in the you know what...we had problems almost every game day trying to drop my 85 year old grandfather off at our tent, even though he would always get there at least 4 hours before game time when the BLVD was not busy. We always succeeded in finally convincing the guards to let us drop him off, and they finally got to the point where they remembered him later in the season.

We have had lots of problems trying to set up for our tent w/ the guards. I think the policies are supposedly being revised as to letting people drop off tent materials as long as its early enough before game time. which is a good idea. Anything to facilitate easy attendance and lots of fun!

[ALEX LIFESON]

I have had to almost fist fight some of those moron security guy's! I hope SMU will get the KGB ironed out this season!

[RGV Pony]

I have a silly question. At most SMU games I go to, I have one or more of my young ones in tow, so we don't do the Blvd. However, once or twice a year (like TCU last year), I'll bring a colleague along (as memory serves the one last year was a UNT alum), and we do the Blvd thing. Thing is, I never have the foggiest as to the best way to 'experience' the blvd besides walking up and down. Are the places where a guy can walk up and pay for a beer, or should we plan better next time and bring our own set up?

[Corso]

I think pretty much all booze is in cups, and while you can't buy it on campus, there were people last year "giving it away" in exchange for charitable donations (last year, the $$ went to Katrina relief).
And be over 21 - I heard they really cracked down on IDs last year.

[PonySoprano]

It is definitely all booze in "opaque containers" (i.e., plastic cups). While it is not always strictly enforced, from time-to-time I have seen security guards or even UP cops tell people to pour their beer into a cup if they are drinking from the bottle or can.

There are no alcohol sales on the Blvd. You need to bring your own. Its no problem to bring a cooler with you out to the Boulevard and have a "coldie" at the ready. However, at my tent we are more than happy to oblige a fellow fan with a "freebie" as I know most of us on the South Side of Binkley do.

Regarding the young ones, I find that most on the Boulevard are relatively tame, again moreso down South of Binkley where the majority of tailgaters are past our school years. In fact, in my group those that have children bring their kids out to the tailgate and the game. While alcohol is present, its not like you are bringing your kids into the middle of a fraternity toga party.