Seeing white tents go up on Thursdays and Fridays before an Auburn football home game is one of the most heart-warming things for an Auburn fan to experience. However, putting these tents everywhere is eliminating spaces for students to tailgate, as well as contributing to a disruption of their daily lives when tailgating starts early.
This disruption is evident and sometimes troublesome, as Auburn students are an important and large population of the fanbase, and they deserve the space to participate in community activities such as tailgating.
Utilizing every space on campus seems like the university is marketing campus for a money grab, especially when tailgating is free to students at other institutions. The minimum cost for a full season of tailgating at Ag Heritage park is $2,850, with an optional $300 parking pass, bringing the total to $3,150 without tax and service fees. When paying this price, tailgaters are given: a tent, a six-foot table with a table cloth, five chairs and a personalized sign. The only differences when paying the higher price, tailgaters are given: two tents, two tables, ten chairs, a 120-quart cooler and a personalized sign.
Both packages get a TV to watch the game or other games based on their choosing. Both packages also include set-up and take-down and come with a designated drop-off area for those going to a tent.
Bringing fans from both teams, alumni and other members of the Auburn Family to campus to take part in the festivities of game day is never an issue until students are not being taken care of in the same manner. We don’t want to push anyone off of their respective space; however, we want somewhere to tailgate as students too.
Students are losing space on game days due to the university's decision to sell most tailgating spaces to fans. There is also high risk in having drunk adults tailgating right outside of dorms and even trying to get into them to use the restroom.
Further, after tailgaters are gone, the spaces that tailgates were in don’t look as nice as they usually do. There's trash, crushed cans and grass missing, even in the smallest areas.
Of course, some organizations and colleges within Auburn have their own tailgate, like the IEEE tailgate or the College of Liberal Arts tailgate: “Kick Six with Dean Hicks.” We also realize that it’s normalized for students to tailgate at a frat house and some go to their family’s tents, but Auburn is failing to consider students that don’t know someone who has a tent or don't want to drink or go to frat houses before games.
Tailgating is a community event, especially here in the South. The Auburn Family comes from all over just to experience game day at an SEC school. Fans of Auburn are taken care of at these expensive tailgates, and students also want that experience too.
In the past, tailgating was important for students and fans alike. The first tailgate spot at Auburn was right outside of Jordan-Hare Stadium. In the 1960s, kids and students would walk up and down that area to get autographs from the players and coaches. This is how "Tiger Walk" and an extremely popular tailgate spot was born.
Tailgaters in 1978 | Photo contributed by Auburn University Libraries
There are photographs of families and friends tailgating, similar to what we see and know today. Tailgating is a community event. Auburn thrives on community, and it's something we're built around. Just as Auburn did in the past, they should have a spot for their students now. Instead, we're pushed out of our own spaces and priority is given to the fanbase that can afford an expensive tent.
Another space students are being pushed out of is student parking. Its even harder for students to have a space on campus, every open area on campus has been sold, with nothing saved or even offered for students. It's hard for students to even get parking during a home game. The parking issue isn't only on Saturday; it starts on Fridays when tailgaters camp out on campus and occupy spots used for "game day parking" while students still have class.
In having game day parking start so early, the inconvenience made is evident. Students happen to skip class just because they can't park anywhere and don't want to run the risk of being towed. Of course, football is one of the things that makes Auburn, Auburn, but school is too.
Having a tailgate area for students wouldn’t be any different than having a student section in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The booming student section in Jordan-Hare is what makes it one of the hardest stadiums to play in.
During SEC media day, defensive lineman Keldric Faulk commented on Jordan-Hare being difficult to play in.
"I think it's the hardest place in college football to play. You know the energy from our fans and players on the sidelines, it's different from anywhere else in college ball," Faulk said. "It's not easy to play in there. When we're out there on defense, we can barely hear anything. You can only imagine how the offense feels on the other side."
The students are making a difference in the game and the game day experience for everyone in the stadium. They bring an unmatched energy to games, but that energy starts outside of the stadium. Reserved tailgating spaces would make a huge difference in their attitude and participation.
Perhaps a space that functions like block seating or giving students an opportunity based on GPA could enable students to enjoy themselves before they go to the game. This would give student organizations the chance to participate. It would also offer an incentive for students to get involved in school and on campus. Not only would they be excited about football, but they'd also be proud of themselves for working so hard.
Being in the stadium and tailgating are both a huge parts of the game day experience. Students want and need a space to congregate and experience game day with each other before and during the actual game. A student tailgate would make game day a better experience for everyone.
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Brychelle Brooks, junior majoring in public and professional writing with a minor in information systems, has been with The Auburn Plainsman since August 2023. She previously served as the Campus Reporter and Opinion Editor. She is currently serving as the Newsletter Editor.
The Plainsman Editorial Board for the fall of 2024 is composed of Harlee Meydrech, Tucker Massey, Emily May, Sami Grace Donnelly, Piper Bosart, Connor Copeland, Esther Bindosano, Brychelle Brooks, Patrick Bingham, Grace Heim, Michaela Yielding, Rachel Swan, Ella Walton, Sam Vise, Luca Flores and Madison Champion.
