Semi OT: Tailgating in AA - Laws and Hot Spots
Headed to AA this weekend for the Nebraska game and I'm curious about tailgating - in general - as well as laws and enforcement. I've been searching the Reddit forums and AA laws for info but not finding much of anything recent/pertinent to how gameday actually plays out.
In Athens, you can walk around with drinks pretty much anywhere on campus grounds as long as you don't do anything idiotic right in front of a cop and it's all fine. You can carry beers around in a sack if you are mobile tailgating and walk with them all the way to the stadium as long as you dump them at the door. Downtown there are more strict rules like you can't step outside the bar's outdoor area with an open container or you can get ticketed.
Any advice on finding a fun tailgate open to visitors besides just walking up to random people? Sponsored tailgates are not allowed at UGA so I'm not accustomed to paying to enter but also didn't know if those are invite-only or some are/some aren't etc. I thought I saw mention of a few charity tailgates open to MGoBloggers but wasn't sure if they are still going. Our current plan is to leave hotel, walk around as much as possible, and drink but I don't want a $220 ticket for not knowing what's what.
September 17th, 2018 at 9:27 AM ^
It's not the same in Ann Arbor. From my understanding, open intox is not allowed unless you are on private property, or tailgating. I got an open intox ticket ($150) about 6 years ago for drinking a Coors Light while walking down the sidewalk. I was not drunk, yet I knew I was not supposed to be doing this, and paid for it. All you pretty much have to do is stand on someone's front lawn and drink, just don't do it while you're walking down the sidewalk.
September 17th, 2018 at 9:30 AM ^
Thank you - this helps. Does UM allow tailgating on all campus grounds or only specified spots?
September 17th, 2018 at 9:42 AM ^
The campus is so spread out that most of the tailgating around the stadium is either on private property, in parking lots, or on the golf course. Someone else can chime in here, but I do not believe you can drink on all campus grounds.
Your best bet to tailgate near the stadium is either on the golf course, or at Pioneer HS.
September 17th, 2018 at 9:45 AM ^
U of M has certain designated areas around the stadium for tailgating. The University of Michigan Athletic Department website lists them all as well as policies regarding alcohol.
There are also plenty of private areas near the stadium you can park as well.
My experience has been as long as you keep your alcohol in a cup and aren't walking around with it, the police will not bother you.
September 17th, 2018 at 9:50 AM ^
We are just gonna walk from the hotel I think but this link is helpful - thank you!
September 17th, 2018 at 9:43 AM ^
This is why winos keep their hooch in a paper bag. Or pour your booze in a cup. No one is going to stop you and test it for alcohol unless you're being an asshole.
Personally, I prefer drugs before the game just so I don't have to piss every 5 mins in the stadium.
#mybladderstoppedgrowingwhenIwas3
September 17th, 2018 at 9:49 AM ^
Yeah mostly same here - solo cup or koozie and it's not as blatant. In 20 years of tailgating in Ath, have seen some interesting scenarios of "being an asshole" that played out to having cops become involved....
September 17th, 2018 at 9:59 AM ^
I think it's like that in most places. They'll look the other way as long as you aren't being blatant about it.
September 17th, 2018 at 12:28 PM ^
I've also recieved an open intox ticket due to walking down a side walk with a beer. This was about 10 years ago walking to the bar at night, but the cop got 3 of us at once, all of age.
I'm pretty sure had we been smoking a joint, the fine would have have been a lot less than open consumption. I believe mine was closer to $225 and all 3 of us had to appear in court to pay the fine.
It's a lot more relaxed on game days, the police are there primarily for crowd control and a 'worst case scenario situation'. They aren't looking to write tickets or arrest people unless you give them a great reason.
September 17th, 2018 at 10:05 AM ^
It's Nebraska week. You could drink out of a corn husk, and the cops won't care.
September 17th, 2018 at 10:49 AM ^
I really want to start doing corn puns but I won't....it's Monday and I have to make it through the work week.
September 17th, 2018 at 10:31 AM ^
If you need to be moving, just keep it in a solo cup and move to a nearby tailgate when you sip -- works all the time even right in the middle of right by the stadium where the state police setup.
September 17th, 2018 at 10:49 AM ^
Thanks! I've only ever been to one home game before - was much younger and with my family then and we bought a parking lot at someone's house online. They invited us in to drink and let us use their restroom, etc. It was pretty rad.
September 17th, 2018 at 12:47 PM ^
The only campus property that's immediately surrounding the stadium is the parking lots connected south and southeast of the stadium and the golf course. People will be drinking plenty and openly.
Otherwise, nobody will be on the diag, for example. Everything else nearby is private residences where people tailgate. (And Pioneer HS which is very lax about a no drinking rule that I guess technically exists but you'd never know).
I probably wouldn't walk from a hotel to the area near the stadium with an open container. But like others have said, once you're in the neighborhood you are likely just walking from one person's tailgate to the next. Keep an eye out and step onto someone's yard when needed.
September 17th, 2018 at 1:04 PM ^
You can't cross a street with an open container. Stay put and drink, or finish your drink before moving on.
September 17th, 2018 at 1:21 PM ^
Just don't tailgate to the point where you ended up like the guy behind me on Saturday who passed out in the first half, but wasn't polite enough to just lay down in the stands. Instead, he just kept falling forward into me, prompting me to elbow him back into momentary consciousness so he would sit up. When medical came in the 4th quarter to wake him up and make sure he didn't have alcohol, sun, or not-enough-liquid poisoning, he yelled at them because "he was only taking a nap." Nevermind the fact that he pissed himself during "the nap."
Don't be that guy.
September 17th, 2018 at 2:17 PM ^
Yikes. Yeah, we're not going for that type of experience. We watched a guy, not once but twice, in different years (the same guy!), get medical assistance for being "allergic to tomatoes"...like the brown kind that come in a Jack Daniels bottle I guess.