A preview of the scene for the first game
Earlier this week, UGA announced its plans to "improve the tailgate experience" via its new site GamedayGameplan.com. During its initial launch, the site did a solid job of communicating and explaining the reasons for the changes. However, the missing piece of the puzzle was the map that shows the Family Friendly Tailgate Zones.
That's where the proverbial rubber meets the road, and we see how much UGA grossly overreached in its zeal to bring back the Temperance Movement.
UGA published the map today, and the Family Zones are positively massive. Approximately 40% of North Campus is now reserved for non-drinking tailgates, and the ENTIRE Brooks Mall is reserved as well.
Here's the Map:
Click to Launch the map in a larger window.
Here are the obvious problems with the map:
- 1. Are there really so many tailgates that involve ZERO booze that you need such a large chunk of prime tailgating spots? To tailgate in these areas, you have to be a teetotaler on gameday. No booze permitted whatsoever. How many folks tailgate 100% booze free for ALL members of the group? Note: I didn't ask how many ATTEND the game 100% booze free, but how many tailgate that way.
2. Will the non-drinker only tailgates move to the reserved prime spots? Well, obviously not if they had a decent spot to begin with. It's not like the Trail of Tears where all the non-drinkers are going to be herded up and forced to the family zones to free up spots for the displaced drinkers.
3. What happens to mixed groups? We have a large group, but 30% don't drink anything and another 40% don't have more than 1 or 2. Of the rest, we're talking 2-3 folks that get a really solid buzz going. But no one has gotten out of hand. Ever. Are the 10-15 people in our group that don't drink anything going to move to the new zone? No. Why? Because, it's the drinkers that plan, cook and organize the thing for everyone.
4. With all the breeders in our group, we probably have 5-7 kids under the age of 6 that tailgate with us. We are family friendly. And we drink. And we bag our trash. Yet, we can't tailgate over there. If any of our guests were uncomfortable with our drinking, they could start their own tailgates. And they haven't.
5. The presence required to keep people from drinking in the Family Zones means more cops won't be in the Drinker Zones. Given the upheaval in people moving around, there's going to be more conflict in the drinker zones than the non-drinker zones.
6. The shotgun start at 7:00 am creates an even greater sense of urgency and forces people to get there earlier to stake out a place. Thus, creating more conflict.
As RoyOrbisonDawg (a non-drinker) said, "What's the point of putting grass on Brooks Mall if no one is going to tailgate over there?"
How frustrating. Basically, it looks like the people who tailgate on North Campus are being "punished" for the mess they made at Auburn last year. Which at some level, I can appreciate. However, instead of punishing EVERYONE, wouldn't it have made more sense to just fine the litter bugs, place more trashcans out and haul off the abusive drunks?
Why create new laws to pester everyone, when enforcing the old laws would've worked so much better? Or why not experiment with modest sized family zones before we move to lock down such large swaths of ultra prime real estate.
PWD
hat tip - The Anti-Orange Page
