BCS Championship Game Tailgating Thread

by Nico2.0 on Dec 19, 2009 8:27 PM CST Comment 12 comments

Okay, since the general thread is way too broad and has too much going on in it, I'm breaking it down into three different threads:

Tailgating
Tickets to the game
Travel/hotel/stuff to do in LA

THIS IS THE TAILGATING THREAD

FanPosts are just that; posts created by the fans. They are in no way indicative of the opinions of SBN and the authors of Roll Bama Roll.

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Big screens around the Rose Bowl

I’ve seen a couple of folks on the other threads mention the possibility of large TV screens outside the stadium during the game. Does anybody have any verification on this? We don’t have tickets (yet!) but we’re going, and if we wind up without any tickets, we’ll be meeting some friends out there to watch it. But nobody seems to know if there’s any sports bar/restaurant/other establishment within a reasonable distance where we can watch. If these temporary screens do exist, then our problem is solved.

Is there going to be an official RBR tailgate party? Maybe there should be.

-D.

by DMaguire27 on Dec 19, 2009 11:39 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

Rumors

I read on a thread that the only people allowed to tailgate are those with tickets to the game. Is this true? I am going, but don’t have tickets and unless some kind soul wants to give them to me, I will not be spending $1,000 to buy one.

That being said, does anyone know what the deal with tailgaiting is? Are they all for ticket holders, or will there be tents, etc set up for everyone to hang out like the SEC championship game?

Roll Tide!!

by touncy28 on Dec 20, 2009 10:27 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I've heard

that at the offical parking places you need a ticket to park. I’m still trying to discover if there are people who park cars in their yard etc.

I hate the NCAA more than UT & AU combined. At least with UT & AU you got a fighting chance.

by 5026 on Dec 20, 2009 11:22 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Y'all rec these so they stick please.

RollBamaRoll.com

by Nico2.0 on Dec 20, 2009 3:26 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Response to parking Questions, tailgate options, etc.

There isn’t really much driveway/yard parking close to the stadium. You can try the neighborhoods up in the hills to the west, but everything is a hike and I can’t tell you what the cost would be. Nobody parks on their grass. It’s too fancy. The workers will most likely make you show your tickets to the game before they allow you to park on the golf course to the north of the Rose Bowl. If you don’t have tix, hitch with somebody from your hotel if they have room in their car. When you’re driving to the game, the last mile of your trip will take you an hour to get into the lot if you don’t get there by 10am or earlier. The easiest option would be to park in Pasadena and take the free shuttle to the stadium. It will likely still cost you $40 to park at that lot though. If your hotel is within 5-8 miles of Pasadena it might be cheaper to take a cab from your hotel to the free shuttle site. The tournament web site will link you to this parking option. Cabs won’t go directly up to the stadium as game time approaches. There aren’t a lot of tailgating options close by. All the bars are at least 1.5 miles away and Pasadena isn’t generally “rowdy.” At the Rose Bowl game I went to three years ago people just packed a cooler in their car and sat on the golf course or milled around closer to the stadium. The public tailgate option was free in 2007, but it looks like this option has been taken over by the espn tailgate. I’m not sold on paying $30 just to overpay for food and beer in this area. There really aren’t any other high quality options I’m seeing unless you know someone throwing a party by their car. I haven’t heard anything about an alumni tailgate or something similar yet though. If you park on the golf course bring a little flashlight or laser pointer to attach it to your keyring. The course is huge and very very dark after the game. It look almost an hour just to find my car after the 2007 game. I will not be parking on site again. I’m going the cab to free shuttle route, even it ends up costing me a bit more. If your intention is to pound large amounts of bourbon or beer leading up to the game, park on the course and bring your own. Just get there real early and remember to bring food. Also, get in line to enter the stadium an hour before kickoff if you want to actually be seated in time. Just my two cents, hope it helps. Roll Tide!

by MichiganianBamaGrad on Dec 21, 2009 9:51 AM CST reply actions 2 recs

Rec'd

Really good information, thanks!

I have a ticket to the game, but I have to get it will-call so I’m trying to figure out whether they’ll let me in the parking lot since I won’t have my physical ticket yet. I’d like to tailgate but certainly don’t want to pay $30 just to party where I’ve already parked my car…

by billycthulhu on Dec 21, 2009 12:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Parking lot question

I’m not sure if they’ll let you in or not. It probably depends on what kind of mood the parking guy is in. The $30 tailgate area is south of the stadium, parking/golf course is on the north. The espn area will probably have 12-20 food and beverage vendors, some football activities, a few tv’s, and merchandising stations. If you have some sort of verification that your tix are at will call I’d bring it with you to be safe.

by MichiganianBamaGrad on Dec 21, 2009 2:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey guys

I’m a Georgia/UCLA grad…just wanted to pass along my little bit of information for you.

MBG is right, you won’t be allowed to park down in the Rose Bowl parking lot (which is a giant golf course; seriously – you’ll be tailgating on a golf course) unless you have a ticket. You either have the option of cabbing it or taking the shuttle to the game.

The shuttle’s often referred to as the “Parson’s Shuttle” because it leaves from the Parsons Building in Pasadena. If you do decide to take a cab, most cabbies will only drop you off at Parsons, and NOT drop you off at the stadium. So just keep in mind when someone mentions to ‘take a cab’, most cabbies will only be amenable to dropping you off at Parsons, unless you lie and say you really need to visit someone on Linda Vista Avenue. ;)

The Rose Bowl itself is in a giant gully – there’s the golf course that you tailgate on, and that’s about it. The rest of the area is residential, so there’s not really a close bar that you can hike to following tailgating if you don’t have tickets (not to mention that the walk out is up a giant hill and if you’re drinking…well, trust me, it’s not a fun walk to make).

I highly highly recommend either taking the shuttle with a cooler and/or finding some friends with tickets to the game so that you can park and enjoy the tailgating. Tailgating on the golf course in Lots 5/6/7 is some of the best tailgating real-estate you’re apt to find anywhere. There’s plenty of spots underneath trees where you can probably lug some stuff and set up if you’re adventurous.

Regardless, you’ll have a great time. The stadium’s a little old but she’s got a lot of character and history, and the sight lines – even from the bad seats – are pretty damn good for a stadium that seats 90,000+.

by CAJason80 on Dec 22, 2009 6:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs