Blvd closing time? Is this new?

[Special_Delivery_Smu_Fans]

"The Boulevard opens 3 hours prior to kickoff and closes approx. 20 minutes prior to kickoff."

http://www.smu.edu/athletics/football/the_boulevard.asp

Is this a new official statement or has that always been a published policy? I wonder if they are going to try and "enforce" this in some manner? Hopefully a more competitive team with June Jones in charge will take care of this and people will be motivated to leave the BLVD party for the games. Can anyone familar with other programs that have great tailgates comment? Do USC, LSU, Ole Miss tailgates shut completely down at kickoff or do they have fans that just stay at the tailgate and not go into the stadium?

[MrMustang1965]

Sounds like this will solve the 'in-and-out' policy, too.

[KnuckleStang]

I thought I heard somewhere that at Notre Dame, the tailgate area is secured on its borders and you need a ticket to get in. Then at game time, the cops shut it down and basically herd all the drunk fools into the stadium. Not a bad idea, if you ask me.

[One Trick Pony]

http://moattailgate.com/coppermine/disp ... eshow=5000

UCF fans showed up at 12:30 a.m for the ship. See photo slide show above.




Offical Rules
http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/brighthous ... ating.html

[Vitale]

Not sure this is a bad idea. Might convince the folks who go to the Boulevard and not the game to actually get inside the stadium.

[CalallenStang]

good policy. How about this one? BLVD closes when the band makes the parade to the stadium.

[westexSMU]

Great Policy to get SMU Fans into Ford before the game starts.

[ThadFilms]

I'm okay with it to an extent, but my favorite thing, is to return to the 'Vard to chat with folks after the game.

My hope is someday we are sold out all the time so they keep the 'Vard open teaming with folks who are watching the game on TV. I love to go to the Texas tailgates and hear the roar of the crowd while watching the game, and many others, on TVs while chit-chatting with college football fans of all types.

The saddest thing I remember is the two Michigan fans who kept coming out last year, everybody was enjoy their loss to Watchmacallit State at the beginning of the year but them. You had to feel for them. But it's nice on weekends when SMU doesn't have a home game to be out there amongst the crowds where you have, granted mostly Texas fans, but fans from all over. Talk football, drink beer, and watch football.... good times.

But for the next year or so, I'm okay with the 'Vard policy, we need as many fannies in the seats as possible.... even if they are in mrydel's seat.

[bagice]

Can anyone comment on the original question. Has this always been the policy, it has been in the rules for the Vard prior to this season, or is this something new?

My guess is that is has always been there and they really haven't enforced it and probably won't this year either.

[SMU2007]

can't they just give away free booze at the game? ford stadium would be packed to the gills

[BUS]

From what I remember, the Boulevard opens from midnight to midnight the day of the game.

Three hours before the game does not give enough time to set up and cook for the tailgate. At least 4 hours before the game is needed.

Its difficult to enforce this rule and get people into the game.

Go Mustangs

[PonySoprano]

My guess is that when they say the Boulevard opens 3 hours before the game, they mean that is when they will close Bishop to vehicle traffic (so if you have a spot on the Blvd., you need to be parked in that spot 3hrs before kickoff). Again - just a guess on my part, I have no official knowledge.

How are they going to "close" the Blvd 20 minutes before kickoff? Are the yellow jackets going to start at the main quad and "sweep" everyone into Ford?

[EastStang]

It may entail starting your food preparations at home and doing final cooking at the site. It may impact menu options. However, I've found from several years of going tailgating at Redskins games, that arriving two hours before the game is plenty of time to cook, eat, and get into the stadium. We've developed a pattern for the games of steak for the Cowboys and Giants games, brats for the Eagles, and chili for December games against other teams. And either Beer or Martini's. Use the cooking time for drinking. Eat and then stagger into the stadium.

[2112]

capital idea!...... now some of those drunks will stagger into ford stadium for a change........then we can hit the boulevard after the game to party

[RednBlue11]

I thought I heard somewhere that at Notre Dame, the tailgate area is secured on its borders and you need a ticket to get in. Then at game time, the cops shut it down and basically herd all the drunk fools into the stadium. Not a bad idea, if you ask me.

when i went to a game 3 years ago we just tailgated in the parking lot next to the stadium like most other people...in general they dont have the issue of being motivated to go to the game