Many students, amid return of external sound systems, returning to Lot 63 for tailgating

Christopher Rhode thinks Central Michigan University’s old tailgate is back and made a Facebook event to show it.

Rhode, a Mount Pleasant senior, created the Facebook event “TAILGATE IS BACK” following Tuesday’s announcement that external speakers would be allowed at Saturday’s tailgate at Lot 63 outside Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

More than 1,600 people have confirmed they will attend tailgate before CMU’s football game against Eastern Michigan University through the event.

“I’m completely shocked. I didn’t think anyone would actually invite their friends,” Rhode said.

Students who want to bring external speakers must register their vehicles and set up their systems by 8:30 a.m. Saturday in Lot 63. Passes can be purchased for $6 through the Athletics Department Ticket Office.

“It seems a lot more lenient. Hopefully people will realize it by next tailgate,” Rhode said.

A 21-person tailgating committee drafted a new policy in August banning the sound systems while also limiting students to six beers or one pint of liquor each, creating an emergency lane, setting up food vendors and more restrooms, and creating pedestrian checkpoints.

After tailgating in Lot 63 dropped to roughly 300-400 students in the football team’s first two home games, a group of students, including Student Government Association leaders, Greeks and students at large, formed an ad-hoc committee to discuss the issues with the Athletics Department. The department made the change in time for Saturday’s Homecoming game against Eastern Michigan University.

Student reaction

Kelly Lyons, a Muskegon junior, tailgated on Main Street for the first two games, but will be making the switch back to Lot 63 this weekend.

“I think I’ll go to tailgate over (going to) Main Street, just to check it out,” Lyons said. “I heard a lot of people are going.”

While many students seem happy with the changes, some remain skeptical.

“I think more people will go, but it still doesn’t sound like it will be as good,” said Tyler Emme, a Milford freshman.

Some students are continuing to boycott the new tailgate rules.

Shawn Martin, a Warren sophomore, has tailgated at his friends’ house on Main Street and does not plan on going back to Lot 63.

“(Main Street) has been better so far than the tailgate they have here,” Martin said. “Tailgating is a big part of the gameday experience and they took it away.”

Hotels see no change

Local hotels say business for Homecoming weekend is no different than last year.

The LaBelle hotel properties, which include the Comfort Inn and Suites Hotel and Conference Center, 2424 S. Mission St.; the Fairfield Inn and Suites, 2525 University Park Dr.; and the Super 8, 2323 S. Mission St, are mostly sold out for the weekend, said Vice President of Hotel Operations for LaBelle Property Management Glen Stanton.

“I don’t think the tailgating policy has had any impact of a negative nature on us at all,” he said.
Other hotels in the area also have said the same thing.

“We’re sold out for homecoming,” said Microtel Inn and Suites, 5500 E. Pickard St., Manager Debra Emery.

Local hotels still think Homecoming is one of the best weekends for business all year, said Rick Rautanen, general manager of Hampton Inn, 5205 Pickard St.

“Either alumni or parents, or fans (are) probably 90 percent of the folks coming,” Rautanen said.

The lower attendance some hotels experienced at the CMU footballs’s home opener could be attributed to the distance that Alcorn State University fans would have had to travel rather than the tailgating policy, Rautanen said.

-Staff Reporter Maryellen Tighe contributed to this story.