PonyFans.com

Oh, and by the way, when is the athletics dept. planning on updating the website!?????????????? The page on the Blvd. still has the information from last year w/ the map showing "open tailgating" all over the Blvd.

Law school Pony - You can still tailgate for free on the BLVD - you just can't have a reserved spot with adjacent parking for free (last year it was $48) this year $480 - if you drop off your tent and supplies it is still free

d_pony: Are you sure? From the information provided here, it sounds like there will be no more free tailgating ("general tailgating") on the Boulevard anymore. Or anywhere else on campus (charging to tailgate in Doak Walker Plaza??? I'm always suspicious when the phrase "new tradition" is used - it's usually a bad thing.)

The wording is confusing, according to what's been copied here at the beginning of the thread. SMU is using the phrase "tailgating spots" when it really means parking spots combined with tailgating spots. It says that every "tailgating spot" will be reserved in 2007.

The cost increase for those paying to park on The Boulevard is ridiculous, but it will be an even more heinous crime if they don't allow average joes to set up a lawn chair on the south end of The Boulevard. We need to expose The Boulevard to more people, not make it elitist like everything else at SMU.

The brouchure says all spots are reserved, so it won't be a free-for-all. It also shows spots in Doak Walker Plaza for $30/game which also includes parking. I pay $10-$15 to park at Ms. Baird's, so take that out and it'll cost like $15-$20 for a tailgate spot for us "average joes." Plus I'll get better parking!

I still think the answer is for people to buddy up and split the cost...it's more fun with more people there anyway. BTW, I talked to my TCU friend over the weekend and he told me that his parking space and tailgate area right up next to the stadium under the liveoaks cost him $2500 a year. He is a rabid Frog fan and luckily can afford it...for now.

mrydel wrote:Brain's response is there today.

I am pleasantly stunned that my comment was actually posted. Steve is now Top 47 in my book and climbing

I've tried to stay out of this, but ... is this all to mean that a student can't walk out of his/her dorm and tailgate for free? Alumni can't walk on to campus and enjoy the Boulevard?

Or am I misreading this thread? I'm as loyal an SMU fan as there is, but this seems like a strategic catastrophe.

I find it interesting that President Turner found out about all of this at the same time that we did. Seems like he should have had input on it.

Where did you hear that? I know athletics is Steve-O's baby, but when the Boulevard was largely created by Turner and patterned after The Grove at Ole Miss -- Turner's old stomping ground -- I'd say it's not a good move to not run it past the Prez at a cocktail party or something. Turner clearly enjoys the Boulevard and the atmosphere, and I'm willing to bet he won't like it if the fans stay away from the Boulevard.

RE: "why doesn't SMU model their Blvd. policies after the best at the Grove?"

I was told that is exactly what SMU is doing.

A source told me that Orsini surveyed quite a few successful
tailgates (including Ole Miss) around the country before he
made these decisions and patterned the new SMU BLVD
policies after those programs.

SMUguy wrote:I've tried to stay out of this, but ... is this all to mean that a student can't walk out of his/her dorm and tailgate for free? Alumni can't walk on to campus and enjoy the Boulevard?

Or am I misreading this thread? I'm as loyal an SMU fan as there is, but this seems like a strategic catastrophe.

Sure, you will still be able to wander up and down the Vard and enjoy the handouts tailgaters offer you, you just can't drag a grill or a cooler out there and set it up any place you please...and if you're a student, you probably didn't do that anyway.

Special_Delivery_Smu_Fans wrote:A source told me that Orsini surveyed quite a few successful
tailgates (including Ole Miss) around the country before he
made these decisions and patterned the new SMU BLVD
policies after those programs

Those programs probably don't have the attendance problems SMU does.

jtstang wrote:

Special_Delivery_Smu_Fans wrote:A source told me that Orsini surveyed quite a few successful
tailgates (including Ole Miss) around the country before he
made these decisions and patterned the new SMU BLVD
policies after those programs

Those programs probably don't have the attendance problems SMU does.

those programs fans aren't as bitter

BUS- I will glady contribute to help pay the increased cost of tailgating. I'm sure others who frequent your spot will do the same.

FWIW, many schools have to adjust their tailgating policies. A couple of years ago Arkansas games in Little Rock, long known for their avid tailgating had to ban the burning of sofas in the tailgating area. I hope it does not come to that with us.