Many Washington Redskins fans have recently received what they deem to be very bad news. Fortunately, the news does not involve the team in any direct way, but it does affect fans who like to arrive early, set up shop and tailgate until kickoff. According to a letter recently mailed to some Redskins' suite holders, tailgating around FedEx Field will now be limited to "the last few rows of each lot." Tailgating is flat-out barred in Platinum Lots.
Team spokesmen, of course, are putting a much different spin on the situation. They have announced there will be a new parking lot opened up, which adds about 3,000 spaces. They have also reworked traffic patterns and parking policies -- in an effort to better handle the flow of incoming and outgoing traffic before and after the game.
The chief source of fan complaints on message boards thus far has been the portion of the letter sent to ticket holders which addresses where people park. In the past, spots were basically given on a first-come, first-served basis. As we understand it, in the past, people could arrive at the crack of dawn and take up several spots in the front row closest to the stadium.
No more, because now each vehicle will be directed to a specific spot by a parking attendant.
Moving forward, fans who wish to just park in a single spot and walk into the game will be given spots closest to the stadium. Fans who wish to nab several spots and tailgate for hours will be sent to the back of the parking lots.
"Everyone who wants to tailgate should be able to tailgate. We absolutely believe that," Gershman said. "This is designed to improve the experience for fans who want to tailgate."
"Our outside consultant analyzed the flow on roads and in the parking lots at FedEx Field, with cameras recording the traffic patterns. What we found was that when tailgaters spread into multiple spaces, it caused congestion in the lots, and resulted in inconvenience to everyone - the fans tailgating and the fans who were just looking to park in their assigned lots."
Obviously, two natural sides to the discussion appear immediately.
The pro-tailgaters will likely cry foul that they are being relegated to the back of the lot like some sort of nuisance. If you go to the effort of waking up at 5 AM, they'd argue, why can't you park right next to the stadium and be able to walk the shortest distance into the game once game time strikes. After all, it's an American football tradition to show up hours before a game, fire up the grill, crack open a few drinks and toss the pigskin around.
On the flip-side, some tailgate parties can get out of control and are not conducive to a family atmosphere. People who are annoyed or disgusted by some tailgate parties would likely to be extremely happy to hear they won't have to deal with this headache when attending Redskins games in the future.
Thus, there are some quite animated arguments across the internet on message boards and talk-radio lines in the DC area are buzzing. This will likely continue for a while.
As we could see in the above quotes, the Redskins are doing everything they can to try and accommodate both groups. You aren't always going to make everyone happy, and the big-time tailgaters are the ones disappointed here, even if the Redskins say they expect more tailgaters than ever.
FanHouse has contacted some Redskins' public relations personnel with the hopes of having a few more questions answered, and we'll update the story should any more information come to light.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-22-2009 @ 2:08PM
Adam said...
I heard the Cowboys did something like this in anticipation of opening the new stadium, and everyone hated it. Snyder (Dan Snyder, that is) seems to be, once again, catering to money than fan experience.
Reply
6-22-2009 @ 2:20PM
geb202 said...
Seems like a pretty reasonable policy. Leaving the lots (and as a pedestrian, trying to walk past the lots to the Metro) is a nightmare.
Reply
6-22-2009 @ 2:26PM
wdfisher57 said...
What a waste of news space. If the Redskins want to alienate the drunk portion of their fan base, its their buisness and stupid managementdecision to make and live with.
Reply
6-22-2009 @ 4:27PM
horatiowrd said...
this will be great, now all the tailgaters can huddle together and those who come to tailgate and never actually go into the game wont be making things all crowded.
Reply
6-22-2009 @ 4:42PM
skins2win said...
Its about time that someone has made it possible for a family with children to get into the stadium without being subjected to people that are hammered drunk at 11:30am. I once seen a man puking before noon and another the same day passed out(before half time) at a 1 o'clock game. Its rediculous that people would spend that kind of money to go and see the team they love, then miss most of the game cuz they got too drunk. Fans that go to support their team should not have to put up with this kind of behavior.
I like this idea. That guy that was puking before noon will not.
Reply
6-22-2009 @ 5:06PM
General Chaos said...
It appears that the Skins did not announce how they would safely transport the enibriated "drunk" fan across the parking lot to the stadium entrance. It's totally unfair to allow a fan, who is unable to walk, to have to crawl the entire length of the parking lot in order to get to the entrance turnstiles and "Hail to the Redskins". If a motorized tram is too expensive, I would suggest wheelbarrel rentals, to allow the less enibrated tailgating buddies to chuck their pals to the first row of parking spaces:right before kick-off. Cheers, Redskin Tailgaters!
Reply
7-23-2009 @ 1:05PM
dphill262 said...
Dont get that drunk that you cannot walk.Are you there for the game, or to get drunk?
6-22-2009 @ 5:11PM
gl572 said...
This also gives the people who spend the most money inside the stadium at the concession stands the best parking places.
Reply
6-22-2009 @ 5:14PM
ivo610 said...
Everyone knows the east coast cant tailgate for sh*t. This just proves it. Kansas City or Green Bay are the true homes of tailgating.
OMG there were drunk people at a football game?!? better hide the women and children.
Reply
6-24-2009 @ 11:07PM
myra said...
Ravens fans have #1 tailgating experiences.
6-22-2009 @ 5:39PM
saylorlonnie said...
sometimes you have to make changes for the best reasons and that is not always going to make people happy there has to be a good reason for them to do this. i am a cowboy fan so not sticking up for the owner. lets just have fun be happy
Reply
6-22-2009 @ 6:11PM
rmrmsix said...
The best way to deal with those teams that want to mess with fans that PAY THE BILLS would be STOP ATTENDING. Have a fan based get together at a park or a large parking lot not at the stadiums. Let the teams PAY their own BILLS! Remember the fans are for THE TEAMS!!
Reply
6-22-2009 @ 7:43PM
pah887 said...
I go to the 'Skins games and I can tell you that the drunks are out of control with their so-called "tailgating". It is more of an Animal House atmosphere. Plus, these folks tend to set up their parties right in the access lanes other fans have to use to drive to a parking spot. In some lots it can take 25 or 30 min. just to get through the crowds and park. Further, stadium rules specifically state you get ONE parking spot for parking, not tailgating. Tailgating is to be done near your vehicle but not blocking access lanes or other parking spots. Some folks appropriate 3 to 5 spots for their parties. As for management transporting a drunk across the lots to the game. I hope that writer was kidding. There really is no place for drunks in the stadium. I have no desire to have some drunken fool puke on me or my family or start a brawl. Remember the old saying "everything in moderation." It is possible to tailgate, have a few drinks and attend the game without antagonizing everyone in the vicinity.
Reply
6-22-2009 @ 7:55PM
Mike said...
Don't worry, by the middle of the season when their already 4 games out, fans will be selling there tickets anyway. The Redskins stink and will never win with that owner,,,,ever.
Reply
6-22-2009 @ 10:50PM
Victor Valerio said...
Dan Snyder....the worst thing that happened to the Redskins. The greedy SOB. Glad his 6 Flags venture is going under. Keep nickle and diming the fans who have stood by his team since he took ownership.....and they have all been some lousy and mediocre seasons.
Reply
6-22-2009 @ 10:54PM
Mario said...
I would like to see tail / partying gating outlawed completely. I believe it creates problems. Your there to watch a game! Go to a park and BBQ.
Reply
6-22-2009 @ 11:57PM
Stan said...
w/e
Reply
6-25-2009 @ 7:26AM
DOUG said...
THEY GOT THIS FROM THE DALLAS COWBOYS BECAUSE IT WAS SAID IT WAS BETTER FOR TRAFFIC AND IT WORKED. BS MY FAMILY HAS TICKETS FOR THE SORRY COWBOYS AND THEY SAID ALL OF THE FANS HATED IT AND IT DID NOT HELP OUT AT ALL. IT JUST PISSED EVERYONE OFF.IVE HAD SEASON TICKETS FOR FOR A COUPLE OF YRS NOW AND IM A DIE HARD FAN. DOING THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. TAILGATING HAS BEEN GOING ON EVEN IN RFK. EVERY TEAM TAILGATES.FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE CRYING ABOUT THE DRUNKS IN THE PARKING LOT FROM TAILGATING. GET OVER IT . PEOPLE DRINK INSIDE AND GET DRUNK. IF THATS THE CASE WHATS NEXT NO ACHOOL. I BRING MY GIRLS TO THE GAME AND IM ABLE TO GO AND HAVE N PROBLEMS WITH THEM. FOR THE GUY SAYIING TO OUTLAW TAILGATING AND BBQ AT A PARK. KEEP YOUR ASS AT HOME. ALSO I PAY FOR MY PARKING SO I SHOULD NOT BE TOLD WHERE I CAN PARK.
Reply
7-23-2009 @ 1:08PM
dphill262 said...
I also pay for my parking, and because some tailgaters take up multiple spots, I am unable to park in my assigned lot.