Who's Going to Chicago?!? - 7/21/07 - FINAL UPDATE PG 1

[Summerlover]

First timer here for a Buffett concert. I am so excited. What took us so long? I don't have an answer and have no excuses but we are going and need your help with some questions.

Seeing tailgating is the thing to get the mood set, how early? We were thinking about 2 to 3 hours ahead of the concert start. Can't do that 9am start schedule.

Is it worth spening the $20 to park? What's the advantage to it.

We have lawn tickets. What can we expect. Should we leave the blanket in the car. Will it be like a lawn mosh pit (I have been there at Green Day).

Any other tips you'd like to share are welcome. Can't wait to open the pool, pour the drinks and listen to Jimmy outside. Cabinfever is setting in. Storms are about to start this morning and snow tomorrow.

[ejr]

First timer here for a Buffett concert. I am so excited. What took us so long? I don't have an answer and have no excuses but we are going and need your help with some questions.

Seeing tailgating is the thing to get the mood set, how early? We were thinking about 2 to 3 hours ahead of the concert start. Can't do that 9am start schedule.

Is it worth spening the $20 to park? What's the advantage to it.

We have lawn tickets. What can we expect. Should we leave the blanket in the car. Will it be like a lawn mosh pit (I have been there at Green Day).

Any other tips you'd like to share are welcome. Can't wait to open the pool, pour the drinks and listen to Jimmy outside. Cabinfever is setting in. Storms are about to start this morning and snow tomorrow.

First of all, welcome to BN!

I would suggest taking the time to read through the thread since most of what you ask is discussed, sometimes multiple times.

Someone else will need to answer the lawn question as I am always in the pavillion.

Tailgating seems to start earlier and earlier each year, and last year the Holiday Inn had a parking lot party before the tailgating. But if you get there 2-3 hours before the concert, you can expect to be one of the last to arrive in the lot-even if you can't tailgate all day (and neither can I) I would get there earlier so that you can walk around and see all that is going on-it gets more and more amazing each year!

The $20 parking will get you as close as you can park there (other than hadicapped) which can be a plus. I hate this parking lot since it is gravel and boulders and very rough walking, especially in the dark after the concert.

And spend some time here and get to know some of the BN folks-they are great, and lots of us will be at this concert!

[vagabonded]

First timer here for a Buffett concert. I am so excited. What took us so long? I don't have an answer and have no excuses but we are going and need your help with some questions.

Seeing tailgating is the thing to get the mood set, how early? We were thinking about 2 to 3 hours ahead of the concert start. Can't do that 9am start schedule.

Is it worth spening the $20 to park? What's the advantage to it.

We have lawn tickets. What can we expect. Should we leave the blanket in the car. Will it be like a lawn mosh pit (I have been there at Green Day).

Any other tips you'd like to share are welcome. Can't wait to open the pool, pour the drinks and listen to Jimmy outside. Cabinfever is setting in. Storms are about to start this morning and snow tomorrow.

Welcome to BN!!! I just attented my first show a few weeks ago in Orlando. What a great experience. Theres nobody better to first experience a tailgate with other than BuffettNews people either. I got the extra $20 dollar parking ticket. From what I understand (it's mentioned somehwere in one of the Chicago posts...) is that the $20 will get u parking on pavement and pretty close to the venue. The "regular parking" included in ticket cost has u parking on gravel or a similar surface. There should be tailgates all over though. But if there is a BN tailgate you should definitly check that out. As far as not being able to tailgate all day, if it's for work related reasons or otherwise obviously thats understandable. If its because you just dont want to drink for an extended period of time before the show, come park anyways. Just walking around you'll have such a great time and see all sorts of antics from ice luges to bands to games to crazy people (cause if they werent crazy theyd all go insane) running around in all sorts of get up to tiki huts and pirate ships and everything under the sun all over the place. it truely is an experience to go and walk around and see. obviously a most people at these shows now are phinnatics and it shows before hand! It's also an opportunity to meet BNers and other parrotheads to put some faces to names as were all chatting on msg forums. [END RANT] Hope I said something helpful to ya in there...

[CarolineStTireSwinger]

What time is everyone showing up??????????

[LonePalm1]

Good morning everyone,

I'm going to work on updates for the first page.

We are not that far behind the Alpine thread!! Lets try to keep up this year. Check in with you all later.

[mjeischen]

With the $20 your just parking on blacktop with a short walk to the gates. Not a biggie. $20 is a larger bottle of Captain Morgan though! Which leads to tailgating all day.

If you can get there and it's your first show I concur with others go for the experience if nothing else. What a great time! No need to drink all day but then there is no need not to either. My first tailgate and witnessing the things I saw sold me to absolutely make a show every year.

THE LAWN! I am not partial to either the lawn or pavillion. The Lawn brings out the same great people you hopefully met in the parking lot. It's a sea of happy people singing great songs! The downside is it is the Rookie section aka underage drinkers/college jackasses so there may be some unruly jerks out there. I've seen 1 fight and it was taken care of quickly by parrotheads myself included - then security came in. WE ARE ABOUT PHUN! You'll be fine in the lawn.

Beyond any and all else go and be open to a good time there is plenty of it to be had in many peculiar ways!

[narnianelf]

So... here's a question. Last year I was a total newbie to the tailgate experience. Like, I forgot to bring lawn chairs Needless to say, I had no idea where to find other BNer's. How/where do I find all you wonderful people in that sea of grass skirts, inflatable sharks, and Hawaiian shirts?

[ejr]

I am not a big drinker, and have real problems with the heat, so I had a beer or two, but mainly had ice water that I lugged around with me.

as for the parking--your call. I do find that lot miserable to walk around in because of the gravel/boulders, especially after the concert when you have been standing for hours. But once again, if you show up at 5 or 6, you will be about as far away from the pavillion as possible.

[CarolineStTireSwinger]

For anyone that cares, just went on Ticketbastard and found a single. Obstructed view but its available. Fins up!

[mjeischen]

We'll have to figure out a way to meet up . . . We'll figure out something. Perhaps we identify a couple of tailgaters as "Rally Points" and congregate around those points. These could be all day or at different points in the day. No idea . . . too soon to figure that out . . . my Physics for floating a blow-up doll with helium are simply not working out . . . . DAMNIT!

[Quiet and Shy]

For meeting up together, one thing that worked well last year was people actually collecting in the Holiday Inn pre-party lot earlier in the day and then driving over to the venue as a group later in the afternoon. That way we had several cars parked together, could tell others via cell phone where we were, and BNers could find us.

[vagabonded]

For meeting up together, one thing that worked well last year was people actually collecting in the Holiday Inn pre-party lot earlier in the day and then driving over to the venue as a group later in the afternoon. That way we had several cars parked together, could tell others via cell phone where we were, and BNers could find us.

Good plan. This could also lead to carpooling which could also in turn lead to less DUI's...

[chippewa]

For meeting up together, one thing that worked well last year was people actually collecting in the Holiday Inn pre-party lot earlier in the day and then driving over to the venue as a group later in the afternoon. That way we had several cars parked together, could tell others via cell phone where we were, and BNers could find us.

That worked out great in Tampa, and we had everybody parked together. Of course, the venue was only 500 feet away. Sounds like a plan.

[mjeischen]

Unfortunately I am going to have a small caravan of my own and this could be tough to manuever. I am gathering people from the south west and driving up. I'm not sure making the Holiday Inn is an option.

Did the Holiday Inn have parties Friday night too? I may sneak up to that if so.

[MDown]

For the lawn... I lvoe the lawn... bring a blanket to stake out your spot. With the lawn you run across the people who pushed it a little hard. You will step over people passed out, but it's no biggie... EVERYONE stands up, dancing, partying, etc... It's a little rowdy in spots, but that's the expectation.

Nothing like Green Day... The sod actually stays intact!

[TommyBahama]

First timer here for a Buffett concert. I am so excited. What took us so long? I don't have an answer and have no excuses but we are going and need your help with some questions.

Seeing tailgating is the thing to get the mood set, how early? We were thinking about 2 to 3 hours ahead of the concert start. Can't do that 9am start schedule.

Is it worth spening the $20 to park? What's the advantage to it.

We have lawn tickets. What can we expect. Should we leave the blanket in the car. Will it be like a lawn mosh pit (I have been there at Green Day).

Any other tips you'd like to share are welcome. Can't wait to open the pool, pour the drinks and listen to Jimmy outside. Cabinfever is setting in. Storms are about to start this morning and snow tomorrow.

Welcome to BN!!! I just attented my first show a few weeks ago in Orlando. What a great experience. Theres nobody better to first experience a tailgate with other than BuffettNews people either. I got the extra $20 dollar parking ticket. From what I understand (it's mentioned somehwere in one of the Chicago posts...) is that the $20 will get u parking on pavement and pretty close to the venue. The "regular parking" included in ticket cost has u parking on gravel or a similar surface. There should be tailgates all over though. But if there is a BN tailgate you should definitly check that out. As far as not being able to tailgate all day, if it's for work related reasons or otherwise obviously thats understandable. If its because you just dont want to drink for an extended period of time before the show, come park anyways. Just walking around you'll have such a great time and see all sorts of antics from ice luges to bands to games to crazy people (cause if they werent crazy theyd all go insane) running around in all sorts of get up to tiki huts and pirate ships and everything under the sun all over the place. it truely is an experience to go and walk around and see. obviously a most people at these shows now are phinnatics and it shows before hand! It's also an opportunity to meet BNers and other parrotheads to put some faces to names as were all chatting on msg forums. [END RANT] Hope I said something helpful to ya in there...

I see we taught you well in Orlando...actually i'll be meeting some new BNERS for the 1st time and a few i met at Alpine last year and it will be great seeing again!!

[TommyBahama]

For meeting up together, one thing that worked well last year was people actually collecting in the Holiday Inn pre-party lot earlier in the day and then driving over to the venue as a group later in the afternoon. That way we had several cars parked together, could tell others via cell phone where we were, and BNers could find us.

Usually someone does a phone list or a local will coordinate something for everyone.....like Jim did at Alpine and Z-man did at Orlando!!

[Summerlover]

Thanks for the responses. I talked with another couple that are going with us and told them we will just have to get there about mid-afternoon. We are from central Illinois so have about a 2 hour drive. Much to my surprise there isn't a place to stay anywhere close by. I have already learned quite a bit and next year I will be prepared.

What is the restroom situation when tailgating? Don't laugh, I'm female and it is a concern with the drinks flowing. Of course with the heat who knows.

[habourgirl]

Thanks for the responses. I talked with another couple that are going with us and told them we will just have to get there about mid-afternoon. We are from central Illinois so have about a 2 hour drive. Much to my surprise there isn't a place to stay anywhere close by. I have already learned quite a bit and next year I will be prepared.

What is the restroom situation when tailgating? Don't laugh, I'm female and it is a concern with the drinks flowing. Of course with the heat who knows.

at the Holiday Inn pre-tailgate tailgate (assuming they have that again this year like in years past), we use the restrooms inside the hotel. At the Tinely parking lot, it's a porto-potty situation - just remember to bring a roll of toilet paper and some hand sanitizer.

[Captain Morgan]

Thanks for the responses. I talked with another couple that are going with us and told them we will just have to get there about mid-afternoon. We are from central Illinois so have about a 2 hour drive. Much to my surprise there isn't a place to stay anywhere close by. I have already learned quite a bit and next year I will be prepared.

What is the restroom situation when tailgating? Don't laugh, I'm female and it is a concern with the drinks flowing. Of course with the heat who knows.

at the Holiday Inn pre-tailgate tailgate (assuming they have that again this year like in years past), we use the restrooms inside the hotel. At the Tinely parking lot, it's a porto-potty situation - just remember to bring a roll of toilet paper and some hand sanitizer.

I'm a guy, the world is my restroom