Okay, so it is actually pretty organized and a pretty big deal, the block. Like, it is "the thing to do" for greek life during the football season and since you only have to be 19 to get into the bars (and not drink, cough cough) they end up not leaving the bars even when the game starts?
With Lovie as the new coach / CU bars
Okay, so it is actually pretty organized and a pretty big deal, the block. Like, it is "the thing to do" for greek life during the football season and since you only have to be 19 to get into the bars (and not drink, cough cough) they end up not leaving the bars even when the game starts?
What is it that they need in that department?
Also, I wouldn't underrate the impact of recruiting the major sororities. Don't assume that it's just the guys who will want to go to the game.
I have often said about this that if you really want to solve the problem of thousands of students not showing up to the games, you need to win over six people: the presidents and social chairs of the Thetas, Tri-Delts and DG's. If they are in, their houses are in, and if their houses are in, every student on campus is in.
Quite how you accomplish that is another question entirely.
That is a great point...get the girls in and the guys will follow.
Just curious, why do most of the Greeks do the block at the bars? Is it just tradition?
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
God, I hope so. At Iowa, you were living under a rock if tailgating wasn't your entire social life come fall, haha. Even the adults and alumni treat it as a can't-miss activity on Saturdays. Illinois has the potential and the natural setup to have a killer tailgating atmosphere.
I agree...that grange grove has the potential to just flat out rock...let me ask this...could they sell booze there?
There's been rumors this could happen this year
There are some rules on the IFC books now regarding dry rush and social events that would screw over any fraternity having an event at grange grove. They'd need to update those and as of last year, were not willing to despite assurances from the DIA to allow fraternities to bring their own booze as well as keep the police at bay. It'll be interesting to see how this progresses moving forward.
Wait so the DIA is actually trying to get the frats at the Grange Grove and are telling them to bring booze but the IFC is saying no?
What is the concern? If they are ready know that they are all at the bar in the morning what's the big deal? Do you have any idea?
Thanks for the info. That's a piece that's gotta get figured out for sure.
It's legal liability stuff, it's the weight of institutionalized rules, this stuff doesn't always get figured out instantly.
Spot on :thumb:
Shoot, for 1 dollar pitchers I will come from 500 miles away!
Stevegarbs
- Mokena, IL
He didn't say what would be in those $1 pitchers...
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This is actually a good general idea IMO. Is there anywhere for campus/local businesses to post up in grange grove? Have them rent a spot for tailgating and allow them to do business there. It might not be $1 pitchers, but if they could sell food and alcohol or whatever, might it pull more students/Greeks in? Just an idea (that is partially stolen from dirty630 obv) and I'm sure there's a bunch of legal stuff I'm not even thinking of, but these businesses could have tailgating specials and events.
I live in Texas and haven't been to GG, so if this is happening already, is there a way to make it better to pull in more students?
Double Down
- Chicago, IL
The reason that you get $1 pitchers is because the fraternities pay the bar a ton of money to get that deal. Block is a huge portion of fraternities annual social calendar budget.
And the reason that you need to recruit the top 4 fraternities is because the fraternities pay for block, not the sororities. So if the sororities want to drink and have fun at Grange Grove for block, they are going to have to find a fraternity that wants to go first, not really the other way around.
As has been said before, if you have been to one of these blocks, you know that it is going to be a tough task getting block out of the bars.
For our Iowa City poster, Iowa has tailgate but it is a different scene than block. Block is day time clubbing with free drinks, not standing around outside drinking.
Thanks for the Intel. Much appreciated. If the frats are tied to the bars, is it easier to incentivize the bars to do special tailgating events and bring the frats with them? The bars and frats keep a partnership, the bars get the money from the frats for block, and the frats get their special dollar pitchers or whatever. However, just being there, the bars that are set up also become open to the general public, from whom they could also profit.
Again I really don't know much more than what you told me. Just trying to brainstorm for fun. Tailgating really enhances the game day experience IMO. I think the team will be worth it when Lovie gets the ball rolling.
Again I really don't know much more than what you told me. Just trying to brainstorm for fun. Tailgating really enhances the game day experience IMO. I think the team will be worth it when Lovie gets the ball rolling.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
My friend, it pains me to say that Iowa tailgating isn't Illinois tailgating (which, while fun, has been very, very low key when I've partaken in Champaign). I'm fairly certain I'm literally in this picture, which is just one tailgate in a backyard across the street from Kinnick Stadium:
Believe me, the party can and SHOULD be brought outside. You can provide the exact same experience for U of I students except outside and not in a sticky bar and also improve Memorial's gameday atmosphere! The frats here treat their tailgating location/setup as a status symbol (much like I'm sure your block bar says something about your frat?); they buy tons of kegs/bottles, hire DJs, pair with sororities, etc. Illinois' tailgating atmosphere has a long way to go, but I believe in the potential for it to be rowdy.
The thing is, Iowa students flock downtown right as the game is about to start, but the fact that the place to be before game time is by the stadium, it has to at least keep a few there and funnel a few extras into the stadium.
Double Down
- Chicago, IL
I know for sure that the first X hours are only open to the frats that paid for their "location" at the bar. Wristbands are given out and used until the fraternities use up their weekly tab. Tab runs out, kids are drunk and start spending their own money on drinks.
Double Down
- Chicago, IL
My friend, it pains me to say that Iowa tailgating isn't Illinois tailgating (which, while fun, has been very, very low key when I've partaken in Champaign). I'm fairly certain I'm literally in this picture, which is just one tailgate in a backyard across the street from Kinnick Stadium:
Believe me, the party can and SHOULD be brought outside. You can provide the exact same experience for U of I students except outside and not in a sticky bar and also improve Memorial's gameday atmosphere! The frats here treat their tailgating location/setup as a status symbol (much like I'm sure your block bar says something about your frat?); they buy tons of kegs/bottles, hire DJs, pair with sororities, etc. Illinois' tailgating atmosphere has a long way to go, but I believe in the potential for it to be rowdy.
The thing is, Iowa students flock downtown right as the game is about to start, but the fact that the place to be before game time is by the stadium, it has to at least keep a few there and funnel a few extras into the stadium.
Houses like this don't exist surrounding Memorial Stadium like they do Kinnick hence why I was saying its a different scene. I wasn't saying it was a better scene, just a different scene (outside by the stadium at iowa vs in a bar multiple blocks away at Illinois).
Thanks for the intel DD, especially that the frats are paying the full freight for Block, which I did not know.
2 things though:
Wait, who has been added to the old Three Kings?
Kids these days, amirite? :tsk:
2 things though:
Wait, who has been added to the old Three Kings?
Kids these days, amirite? :tsk:
I see. I feel like wristbands for the frats for their specials and different prices for the general public would be a win-win. Dunno how much it would cost a business to move for a day though, and if it's worth it from a financial standpoint.
Frats in GG is a good idea. Champaign bars in GG is a good idea. Not sure mixing the two of them is a good idea.
The thing you have to wrap your head around accepting here is mass-scale, broad-daylight, open-air underage drinking. Intermingling adults and students does not make that any easier.
The kids don't want weird old people up in their business either. Give them their own space and create a mutual understanding that underage drinking is acceptable, but bad behavior that disturbs the neighbors is not, and you're golden.
Last time I talked to someone in DIA about trying to recruit more Greek houses to do "block" in Grange Grove, they mentioned that one of the issues is that most houses sign yearlong contracts with the bars that lock them in for the season. So it may not be until next year that they can work around some of these contracts. I think they're working hard to get some student events there early in the year when some rush restrictions may prevent alcohol at official house events, but most of the season is already locked up for Greek houses at least.
The frustrating fact looking back as an alum is that while "Block" at the bar is definitely fun, it's literally something you can do every other day of the year. Tailgating (preferably in Grange Grove, but really anywhere) is an awesome experience you can only do 6 Saturdays a year. My last year at UI our house ran a tailgate instead of a traditional "Block" at a bar, and those Saturday tailgates are still one of my favorite memories of college. [rant over]
Also, there will be a beer garden in Grange Grove this year. :clappy: It'll be run by the stadium concession vendor, and it'll technically be a separate enclosed area (for liquor license issues), but beer will be available to purchase for anyone who doesn't bring their own. Great move!
The frustrating fact looking back as an alum is that while "Block" at the bar is definitely fun, it's literally something you can do every other day of the year. Tailgating (preferably in Grange Grove, but really anywhere) is an awesome experience you can only do 6 Saturdays a year. My last year at UI our house ran a tailgate instead of a traditional "Block" at a bar, and those Saturday tailgates are still one of my favorite memories of college. [rant over]
Also, there will be a beer garden in Grange Grove this year. :clappy: It'll be run by the stadium concession vendor, and it'll technically be a separate enclosed area (for liquor license issues), but beer will be available to purchase for anyone who doesn't bring their own. Great move!
Bingo :thumb: