So myself and a group of recent grads are making the commitment to tailgate the Saturday games this year. My tailgating experience doesn't go much beyond being a guest, or drinking out of a case of beer next to a car. I have some topics for y'all out there that hopefully you can draw on your own tailgating experience to help me out.

• Portable charcoal vs propane grill?
• Car speakers vs. boombox vs. ihome (or equivalent)
• Tailgate tent from Walmart vs alternative
• TV options (I'm sure you can't pull a local signal in Athens, and portable Direct TV is out of my budget, but has anyone tried to stream something like ESPN 3 off one of those portable wifi devices?)
• Dry ice at the bottom of the cooler?
• Trash disposal

 

 

You should be able to pick up the OU Wifi connection and sign in as a guest....sometimes even old oak ids work....

I have limited tailgating experience, but here are my thoughts:
- Definitely go propane, so long as you're just grilling. If you want to BBQ/smoke something, then I in good conscience cannot condemn the use of charcoal or wood.
- Boombox
- We didn't have a tailgate tent, but one would have been nice.
- Zero experience with TV at a tailgate
- We just went with regular ice
- We used the truck bed as our dumpster, but we didn't make a huge mess so it wasn't something we thought about much.

Other thoughts:
- Always have plastic cups for beverages
- We tailgated away from Tailgreat Park in the orange lot. I liked being away from other people so my buddies and I could just do our thing.
-  I think, generally, simpler is better. You see some people (not necessarily in Athens) with such complicated tailgate set ups that they never actually make it to the game. I like cookouts, but Saturdays in the fall should be focused on the game.

With regards to parking and joining the OBC, can someone verify if my understanding of the pricing is right?

1 season ticket in the reserved seating would cost me $98 and then I could join the OBC at the minimal level for ($50 or $75?) and that would give me 1 season pass to the blue lot (convo?) for no additional charge?

I actually would probably prefer to park over in one of those two lots by the science labs, but if those are costing $20 a game (or are they only $5!?!) joining the OBC seems like its worthwhile financial move just for the parking. As much as I should be mindful of the costs here, if I am only spending <200 for a full season of tickets and parking, I really dont have a problem writing that check along with my student loan payment.

Also, when do they boot your car out of those lots? I would probably drive down for Saturday games then preferably leave the car there until when I leave Sunday morning. Is that allowed?

It's now $75 to join the OBC at the "Bobcat Fan" level. That will get you a parking pass to Tailgreat Park and the Blue lot. To get in the Orange lot, you need to be a "Letterwinner" - $350.

http://issuu.com/dossakow/docs/ohiobobcatclubbrochure?e=4842601/2316767

I appreciate that info
 

I was completely unaware of how inexpensive the "premium seating" in Peden is. I knew there were affordable options like the highly promoted Family Pack, but I expected the higher level tickets to be up around the prices of the Bobcat Black seats in hoops.
 

From a financial standpoint, I think I could easily convince a lot of young alums this is worthwhile. Its incredibly cheap, especially when you consider many don't have families yet so you are talking 1 ticket not 4...  Unfortunately, the time/effort selling point is a little more difficult. Still, I am encouraged by how feasible this seems.
 

Carry on with discussing tailgating.

Since we're talking about the OBC, I donated $75 to purchase tickets to the Louisville game. Does this count as one (1) $75 seat contribution for a football season ticket? Also, can me and a buddy combine individual season tickets (essentially still giving credit to both of us for donations) to earn a blue lot parking pass (AKA carpool)?

Also since we're talking about Louisville, the ticket agent mentioned there are free student tickets available, each student also receiving one (1) free guest ticket (that was last week though). For those who may be interested.

Thanks for the responses so far.