UPDATE: Pay to party in the Grove?
by Errol Castens/NEMS Daily Journal
8 months ago | 1702 views | 12 12 comments | 14 14 recommendations | email to a friend | print
OXFORD – The University of Mississippi may charge fees for tailgating spaces in its fabled Grove next year.

Dr. Andy Mullins, executive assistant to the chancellor, said that is one remedy being considered to end a space-grabbing competition that has become a headache for administrators and police.

Despite a stated Grove opening of 6 p.m. Fridays before home games, fans and tent set-up companies had begun claiming spaces along the “Walk of Champions” as early as 7 a.m. Friday before home games, creating disruptions to the workday.

“Above all, this is about protecting our academic Fridays,” Mullins said.

The university's Gameday Committee will consider the proposal and make a recommendation to the Executive Council.

Read more in Friday's NEMS Daily Journal newspaper.

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comments (12)
« jojo1234 wrote on Friday, Dec 18 at 02:56 PM »
I will not be doing that and neither will friends and family. I had Friday classes this recent football season and had absolutely no problems getting to class on game weekends.. This is a sorry excuse for charging people for spots. As a recent graduate I want my school to look as good as possible because it represents me. I am starting to wonder more and more if I made the right decision to attend this school from out of state.
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« gatekeeper97 wrote on Friday, Dec 18 at 12:20 AM »
I heard from a friend that works in the athletic dept that they were considering a $1000 per year per spot to start, maybe higher. They said that with some polls and studies they've done that the demand is there for sure. I also heard that part of the idea was to help get some of the lower class people that are getting spots in the grove so it would be a little classier atmosphere. Sounds like Ole Miss dont it?
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« tupelohottytoddy@hughes.net wrote on Thursday, Dec 17 at 09:46 PM »
This a joke!!! Open up all those closed parking lots. We have had 13 season tix for years. During the Coach "O" seasons from he!!. Jones and Boone are digging deeper and deeper. Middle income folks will be shut out. But who will be in the stands? Think about that money hoggers!!!
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« tupelohottytoddy@hughes.net wrote on Thursday, Dec 17 at 09:40 PM »
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« tupelohottytoddy@hughes.net wrote on Thursday, Dec 17 at 09:39 PM »
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« bellablaire wrote on Thursday, Dec 17 at 08:26 PM »
The very idea! This is all about the M O N E Y!

Academic Fridays? Tell me where the academic classes are held in the Grove. I already pay upwards of $10,000 a year for my child to go to school there. I can tell you now I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER SEASON TICKET (Family of 5) if this happens. I might even consider encouraging my child to attend another school!
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« GratisDinero wrote on Thursday, Dec 17 at 06:36 PM »
Aw come on! "protecting our academic Fridays"? No one has a problem getting to class. Other than some folks standing in the Grove, the interior of the campus is the same during the day Friday as any other day. University Avenue is closed ahead of the opening of the Grove so traffic is actually lighter. Make no mistake...this is about money. Many will decide to stay home and not spend money in Oxford if this goes through. Careful...it may end up actually reducing revenues for the University!
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« MIKEOWEN wrote on Thursday, Dec 17 at 05:12 PM »
Why not reserve 10 % of the space for handicaps and allow all others to continue the tradition of first come ?
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« Voice09 wrote on Thursday, Dec 17 at 04:44 PM »
I think this is a fantastic idea. I remember it getting so bad on Fridays that it was impossible to get to class. In my opinion, the two options are 1)charge for spots, or, 2)not let people set up on Fridays at all in which case people still will find a way and then can face a fine for setting up early in which case they will be spending more money.
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« PontotocRebel wrote on Thursday, Dec 17 at 04:25 PM »
It figures....the rest of the country is on the war path of charging for everything and taxing the crap out of us, so why not our Alma Mater??? I wonder how much it will cost???? A penny for every blade of grass you take up? We fat people will be broke!!!!!
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« pilotricardo wrote on Thursday, Dec 17 at 04:19 PM »
moneymoneymoney....

MONEY!
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« olemissman86 wrote on Thursday, Dec 17 at 03:46 PM »
This is a stupid idea. All this is doing is creating another problem. I wish this administration would leave things alone. Its kind of a tradition to race for spots. People been doing it for years. I guess the older lazy people want to make sure they get "THEIR" spots. PATHETIC!! Maybe we should do the same for the outfields at baseball during Super Regionals.

People already have to spend a fortune for tickets, travel, lodging, food, etc. Now they want to tack on more money. A lot of people can't afford that. So I guess the university would rather screw this university up more than leave it the way it is. I'm ashamed to call this "MY" university. Quit changing stuff about this university and maybe we could get some more fans for a change. Jeez.
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