UTEP addresses a problem we have...

[RGV Pony]

Over on the TTech message board, I saw this article about TTech's road opponent UTEP. They've implemented a policy requiring tailgaters to either go to the game or go home. Interesting read. Of course, we'd probably have the problem of too many people opting for the go home option.

UTEP announces new policy: Go to game or go home

John Erfort / El Paso Times
El Paso Times

UTEP announced a new policy Friday that will require tailgaters, at the end of the first quarter, to get into the stadium -- or go home.

University of Texas at El Paso athletic director Bob Stull announced that the new tailgating policy calls for all tailgating for Miner home football games to end by the end of the first quarter.

The rule, which is similar to the tailgating policy of other NCAA Division 1 universities (including New Mexico and New Mexico State), is designed to get more people to buy tickets and attend the games.

After the first quarter, any fans still tailgating will be asked to use their tickets and enter the stadium or leave.

"If we had extravagant parking, it wouldn't be a problem," Stull said. "But the problem is that people with tickets can't get close to the stadium because the lots are taken up by people who are not going to the game.

"We want to take care of our ticketholders first and foremost. And we want to have as many parking spots available as possible for the people who are going to the games."

UTEP had just one sellout last year (51,500), for the homecoming game against Marshall. The Miners set a season home attendance record last year with an average of 47,899 fans per game.

But, the university wants to know, what if all the tailgaters had purchased tickets?

Finally, Stull cited concerns about fan safety.

"Another thing we're concerned about is the atmosphere and the safety of our fans," he said. "Some of those tailgates start early in the morning and go late into the night, and we had some incidents last year on campus that weren't pleasant. We want to make sure there's a good atmosphere around the stadium."

Stull also said he hoped this policy isn't taken the wrong way.

"We are not discouraging tailgating at all," he said. "We want people to have fun. Just go to the game, and after the game you can resume tailgating.

"We appreciate the type of enthusiasm we've developed around the games. That's what we've worked hard to get to. And we want our fans to have a great experience. We don't want to discourage people from having a good time. We just don't want to make it the party location for people who aren't going to the game."

Stull said that all fans will still be allowed to enter the lots (RVs must park in A-13 and must have a pass this year), but that the lots will be policed.

And there is one exception: Very large tailgates will be allowed leave one person behind to guard the group's belongings. Postgame tailgating will be allowed for one hour.

Season ticketholder Liz Parra of the East Side, who has been tailgating for 10 years and is part of a group of 20-25 people, said she thinks the new rule makes sense.

"I think it's good, but I think they need to go a step farther and ask for tickets (to get into the parking lots)," she said. "We tailgate on campus. If they would ask for tickets at the gate to the campus, that might help also. We have to get there by 10:30 or 11 a.m. (for night games) to get a spot. And oftentimes, it's hard even at that time because there's already a lot of people. A lot of students get in there and stay there and everyone joins them, and I don't know if they have tickets or not."

Parra admitted that in past years parking wasn't a problem.

The added inconvenience of the past few years, she admitted, isn't such a bad tradeoff for the team's success.

"You kind of forget about that when the moment arrives," she said. "We still enjoy it."

Asked how she thought other fans might react to the new policy, Parra said, "I don't know. I've always thought that most of the people had tickets and that's why they were there. I guess I was a little naive.

"But I don't think it will be that bad of a thing. I think it's a good thing."

John Erfort may be reached at [email protected]; 546-6164.

[mr. pony]

Sounds like a good policy.

[ponyte]

Personally, I don't give a hoot in Hades whether people on the Blvd attend or not. That is a great atmosphere that helps recruit kids to the campus. Unlike UTEP and others, SMU is not a state school. We need to expose kids to the best we have. Unfortunately, our football has not been a huge recruiting asset lately. We all expect that to change. In the mean time, I hope people enjoy the blvd and realize the vast fun that SMU has to offer.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Those Pony Express buses patrolling by Dallas Hall wouldn't hurt either. That's a pretty good hike from the north end of the 'Vard, to the north east side of Ford! Especially when you add in the heat, puffin' weed, and drunk as a skunk factor.

[McClown27]

I would love to see SMU enforce that rule with a bunch of Highland Park alumni wives.

[deepellumfrog]

We have the same problem in Fort Worth, except that its not really a problem.

UT, LSU, et al have as many or more people in the parking lot who never buy tickets to games, and just hang out for the game day atmosphere.
There is not an issue there because they sell out. I think that the people in the lots are part of the game day atmosphere, and there is no need to be punative just because you can't sell them the tickets you are looking to move. Maybe you could send some people around with discounted tickets for a few unanounced games a year to try to boost sales. Other than that, I think there are several more productive places to look for sales.

[MrMustang1965]

I would love to see SMU enforce that rule with a bunch of Highland Park alumni wives.

What the heck does that have to do with it? By the way, nice haiku.

[McClown27]

I would love to see SMU enforce that rule with a bunch of Highland Park alumni wives.

What the heck does that have to do with it? By the way, nice haiku.

My wife didn't go to the games with me when we were students. She supports the team, etc., but prefers to do other things. She always liked to go to the Boulevaard though. I would guess that is the major reason why Boulevaard attendance is greater than the game.

[ThadFilms]

I don't think that this is a good idea. Also, I don't like that they shut down the Blvd. after the games. I mean seriously... after a big win - say TCU last year - I wanted to go out and party on the Blvd afterwards. I only found a handful of stragglers. Sat down and had a beer with them, before we all got shoed away. But lucky for me, they were friends with a few cheerleaders - and I laid a couple wet sloppy kisses on two of them, which was really closer than I ever got to a cheerleader in college... and uh...

... but that's not my point...

The point is that the 'Vard should be open for two hours after games.

Also, on the one hand, I have a problem with folks not going to games, but on the other hand I don't have a problem with folks 'Varding it up during the game, if they have the SMU game on... I wonder if we can get some sort of local feed...

I say this because, living in Austin now, I went to a few Longhorns games last year - and the group that I tailgate with here in town, always have five to ten people who stay behind and man the tent. But they have the Texas game on. Seeing as nine times out of ten I don't really care too much whats going on in the game (esp. since last year, I really didn't think they were going to lose a game.... and of course they didn't) - I enjoyed the ability to wonder back to the tent and crack a beer and check in on some other big games. Usually I didn't, and it wouldn't be something that I would do at a Pony game... but we need stuff like that to add interest for SMU games.

I went to games in Austin simply because it was colllege football. Sometimes I would just go to the tailgate with the thought, okay if I don't get a ticket I'll just hang out here and drink beer. That's not a problem at SMU considering the abundance of tickets - but anything we can do to just get people out... add to it a winning product great. Of course, if we are winning and folks aren't wandering into the game until half time then that's a problem.

Maybe we need to start some sort of filing into the stadium tradition... follow the band in? But normally most fans don't care about being in the stadium 15-20 minutes before kick off. So somethihng... but don't close it down. Keep it open... even after the games, just for a bit, so folks can congragate and high five, and have another dog or piece of brisket.

[mrydel]

I want to hear more about you being "shoed". Were these like Reeboks or were they putting on real pony shoes?

[SMU Football Blog]

Part of the problem for these schools, and it is evident from the articles, is the lack of parking and the fact that non-ticketbuying customers are taking the parking spaces. There are very few parking spaces on campus at SMU, so, by and large, all parking stinks unless you know where to go. You will not alleviate the parking problem by herding the boulevard patrons to the game and off the boulevard. I want everybody at the game; if htey are not at the game, I want them on the boulevard. The one place I don't want them is at home. Leave it the way it is.

[ThadFilms]

I want to hear more about you being "shoed". Were these like Reeboks or were they putting on real pony shoes?

yeah... I kind of thought about that one for a second... I gues "shooed" is the proper spellined... seeing as you would "shoo" someone away - but when I typed "shooed" initially, it just did not "look right".

Bad Spellers of the World UNTIE!!!!

[mrydel]

I want to hear more about you being "shoed". Were these like Reeboks or were they putting on real pony shoes?

yeah... I kind of thought about that one for a second... I gues "shooed" is the proper spellined... seeing as you would "shoo" someone away - but when I typed "shooed" initially, it just did not "look right".

Bad Spellers of the World UNTIE!!!!

I thought maybe they had actually shoed you. Kind of a hazing type of deal. Oh well. (I do not condemn computer misspells)