LIPH wrote:New Englanders will say Great Woods but I've been there twice and I wouldn't put it in my top 5.
Different strokes for different folks. With the sailing culture around New England from Bar Harbor down to Portsmouth, NH, through Cape Ann and great places like Plum Island and Newburyport, down through Boston and into Hingam and Nantasket, onto Plymouth and into Cape Cod and the Islands all the down through Newport, RI, and Mystic Seaport CT and Long Island Sound there is a definate and unique Buffett feel.
Yes, I would say Great Woods is the best. But they are all good. This year, Gillette will be the biggest. I can't imagine anything bigger. The best - remains to be seen for 2007.
Obviously. But the folks who show in the Great Woods are covered in salt - not from their blenders. It is like "escapism" everywhere else. To me, Great Woods is as close to "realism" for the Buffett sailing culture as you can get. And I know Jimmy would agree - not that it matters but he does love these waters . . . and my sailboat has been at the parking lot - close enough?
Nissan was always one of the greats b/c he usually played there over 4th of July weekend. The past couple of years he has played there on weeknights so it's been substantially less.
RinglingRingling wrote:I would put Tampa on the list with Dallas, and maybe even drop the CA venue, move them up to top-shelf; and Orlando has a special meaning as well.
I saw Jimmy in Tampa a couple years back at that new venue (can't think of the name) . . . show was awesome but I found the tailgate to be just okay. The lot was still half empty at 2PM.
My top five: Great Woods, Alpine, Jones Beach, The Box (does it count?), and whatever.
That year at Tampa (Ford) was the first year we had really been able to decently tailgate. The venue kept publicizing gates opening at 4.
It got much better the second time around. But I still don't think it compared to Irvine or Atlanta.
Some will go and some will stay. It doesn't matter anyway ......
big john wrote:I've only been to Starlake near Pittsburgh, Camden, Philadelphia, and
Merriweather Post in Maryland. Basically haven't had a bad experience
at any of them (discounting the young fool who wanted to square off
with me at Philadelphia 2005 and the near heatstroke in Camden last year).
But of that group Starlake is just barely at the top. Easy to get to.
Good crowd. Security without attitudes. Wooded area nearby.
Big John it's great to see you out and about hopefully we'll run into you at pittsburgh and camden/philly this summer
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do So throw off the bowlines Sail away from the safe harbor Catch the trade winds in your sails Explore Dream Discover
bcball44 wrote:Nissan was always one of the greats b/c he usually played there over 4th of July weekend. The past couple of years he has played there on weeknights so it's been substantially less.
Nissan is huge but we're starting to notice the college age hipsters taking over. Guys in their early 20's wearing Polo shirts with popped collars, just cruising around the lot looking for drunk women to score with. Most of those kids have never heard of JB. I felt really old when Jack Johnson did a cover of APLA40 at Merriweather and the kids in front of us saw us singing along, and asked us if this was a new Jack Johnson song.
"Storm clouds are raging all around my door, I think to myself I might not take it anymore"
i've only been to atlanta but what i saw was wild. there was food and very creative booths all over the place. my husband enjoyed the guy with a recliner at his booth. this girl came up to it for a free beer. so the guy gets his "shot" and she sits in the recliner,leans back and he pours part of the beer straight down her throat. that was interesting. we enjoyed the booths and the people as much as the concert. go hotlanta.
the best tailgate and show ive seen was at cinci....
I AGREE !! The Cinci tailgate is huuuuuge and more concentrated in one easily walked area. Now, as far as Nashville goes, the tailgating at the Best Western that year was good, but the tailgate parties were so scattered, it was easy to miss a lot of action.
Do not resent growing old. Many are denied the privilege.
I consider myself an old pro at JB concerts and pre-show tailgating, been going since 87, that said, I realize everybody has thier favorites.
I have been to...
Cincy
Atl
Columbus (Buckeye Lake)
Nashville
Chicago
My rankings based on best tailgating.....
5. Nashville (gates open 90 minutes before show, not much of a party)
4. Atl (pretty good atmosphere, a solid time)
3. Chicago (had a blast here last year, taligating began at 3)
2. Buckeye Lake (no longer an option, but a HUGE party!)
1. Cincy (this just has a "feel" the others don't have. The tailgating is UN-REAL, if you are there after noon, you are late!)
In the spirit of Jimmy, it's all in the glass of the beholder. It depends on the experiences you've had at each. I've sampled a few, hope to sample more (Irvine & Atlanta are on my list), and here are my impressions; but the only way to compare is to experience them for yourself.
I've been to Alpine, Chicago, Indy, Columbus, Cinci, and Greatwoods; some more than others, and I've been seeing Jimmy since '84. So I can safely say I've seen some tailgates.
The only 2 you can seriously consider from that list for tailgating honors, IMHO, are Alpine & Cinci. Alpine objectively & Cinci symbolically. I'm sorry to say that Chicago, Indy, and Columbus are simply pathetic shadows of the rest (and I live near Chicago so that pains me to say it, but its true.) Greatwoods, which most East coast fans consider Mecca, is nice & certainly a lot of folks have fun. I know I did. (How can you not with thousands of phans & some cold brew on a hot late summer afternoon?) The weekend RV camp over option is sweet. But the vast, vast majority of the parking lot is asphalt covered in semi phans parked too close together and playing any damn music they feel like while drinking cheap beer who could come early but choose to show up late. Some die hard phans from the South in the RV section try hard to loosen up the New England Puritan morality and there are a few modest exhibits of Tiki bars and the like, but generally a comotose crowd and only a few vehicles with moderate decorations. A couple attempts at party games but few takers and the 70's disco music bus gets more of a crowd than the wheel of fate; in summary, a huge number of very reserved - dare I say repressed - tailgaters share stories, some brews and a few (jello) shots but that's about it.
Cincinatti hosts a compact tailgate of note near the venue and down the road a bigger, family friendly Bar-B-que. No over-night but the main attraction does not require arriving particularly early as the phans are truly laid back about everything, including partying. Relatively huge amount of tailgating space per vehicle, extremely friendly amongst the devoted, and a tiny bus area that knows the score and flaunts it Jimmy style. If you ain't tailgatin' in the nearest 2 lots don't bother. These 2 lots nearest the venue are pretty damn good, and given the historic reverence due to Cinci as the birthplace of Parrotheads, you have to give Riverbend its due. But outside those 2 small lots (a few dozen spots nearest the venue) the tailgaters might as well be at any city park on any Sunday, with little Buffett spirit and no island dreams in sight. However, they are having fun cooking their cheeseburgers and although it is totaly G-rated with lots of fancy grills and uber-suburban SUVs, it is a good time for those who call themselves "fans". All in all, the Cinci Germania Society Octoberfest is just as much fun, but style points to the tight crowd who come early, party hard, and stay late.
Then there is Alpine, in a completely seperate league IMHO. The perenial Buffettnews forum post champion, and for a reason.
This is the venue where the phans know to rally en-masse to violate state highway laws (forcing state troopers to open the venue as the only solution to county laws limiting the venue to a modest pre-party) so hundreds of cars come hours before the venue opens resulting in traffic that causes a "public safety situation" - all for the sole pupose of partying. The concert is generally in late June/early July, the heart of summer. You'd think the need for island escapism would be minimal, but it is completely the opposite. The tailgate is massive, with literally tens of thousands of phans drawn from at least 6 states - big ones like Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan that require all day drives to get there and camping over - setting up in a grass field, including elaborate tikibars, drinking games, wheels of fate, a multi dozen bus area (which produces a disgusting amount of litter so I am totaly glad they charge a hefty fee per bus) that imports their own pre-concet bands, and hundreds (perhaps thousands) of phans that party in the lot after the show starts because they are just there for the biggest midwest beach party of their lives, sans ticket. Entire beaches are imported. Pirate ship buses, pickups, and party games that are more South Padre than Southern Wisconsin. Midwestern farm boys apply engineering skills to create garbage can sized frozen Margarittas, and everyone lets their hair down for a massive party of proportions I have not seen elsewhere - and I've looked. I can honestly say that this experience is near Greatful Dead in its epic proportions, the crowd is simpatico, the food is excellent and freely shared (at least in the first 10 rows of parking). The security staff spend a LOT of time downing burgers, jerk chicken, jello shots and beer, and very little time telling the girls to get their shirts back on. That works out well for them, and for those there for exhibitionist escapism, which if that's not the ideal of a Jimmy tailgate, I don't want to know what is.
Viva Jimmy! Viva Alpine!
Looking forward to meeting you, and all my parrothead friends
And there is hope for an Atlanta show this year too. It's been publicized that the city, who owns Lakewood, has different plans for this real estate. The web site for HiFi Buys does have shows posted with Brad Paisley listed for an August 2007 show so maybe a Buffett gig could be worked in.
Greatwoods, which most East coast fans consider Mecca, is nice & certainly a lot of folks have fun. I know I did. (How can you not with thousands of phans & some cold brew on a hot late summer afternoon?) The weekend RV camp over option is sweet. But the vast, vast majority of the parking lot is asphalt covered in semi phans parked too close together and playing any damn music they feel like while drinking cheap beer who could come early but choose to show up late. Some die hard phans from the South in the RV section try hard to loosen up the New England Puritan morality and there are a few modest exhibits of Tiki bars and the like, but generally a comotose crowd and only a few vehicles with moderate decorations. A couple attempts at party games but few takers and the 70's disco music bus gets more of a crowd than the wheel of fate; in summary, a huge number of very reserved - dare I say repressed - tailgaters share stories, some brews and a few (jello) shots but that's about it.
here we go
anyone want to counter?
Viva Jimmy! Viva Alpine![/quote]
LIPH wrote:New Englanders will say Great Woods but I've been there twice and I wouldn't put it in my top 5.
Different strokes for different folks. With the sailing culture around New England from Bar Harbor down to Portsmouth, NH, through Cape Ann and great places like Plum Island and Newburyport, down through Boston and into Hingam and Nantasket, onto Plymouth and into Cape Cod and the Islands all the down through Newport, RI, and Mystic Seaport CT and Long Island Sound there is a definate and unique Buffett feel.
Yes, I would say Great Woods is the best. But they are all good. This year, Gillette will be the biggest. I can't imagine anything bigger. The best - remains to be seen for 2007.
I hear the lots won't open until 3 or so for the Gillette shows. Let's hope those ugly rumors are untrue. Or we can all just show up early, clog up the streets and force them to let us park!
~Len Been stuck here so long down on zero, I'd just like to make it to one
I agree, Cincy is a pretty amazing tailgate scene. The setup in Atlanta was incredible too. I think, Alpine Valley is tough to beat just beause of the backdrop and layout of the whole place.
Come to think of it, we didnt no tailgating when I saw him at Wrigley in '05 and it may have been the best concert experience of my life.
Pizza Hut Park in Frisco will be a great area to tailgate and with the Dallas show being on a Saturday this year, I think i might get there by 11 am.
I have been to tampa, and great woods numerous times, great woods starts about 11 a.m. if you can hang its the best. But Gillette has the chance to be record Buffett breaking!!!
Sholleran, you had some very good points in your posts! I too have been going to shows since 86 and have been to about 70+ shows, so I have seen quite a few tailgates in various cities! I hope to see 70 + more!! Of the top, my home venue is Blossom ( outside Cle, Oh). It used to be a great place to see the show but they severly limited the tailgating to almost non existant- (so that could be why JB has avoided it)- However, the actual VENUE & sound wise- it is one the finest I 've been to. So if you care about the performance & sound- I'd recommend Blossom but not at all to tailgate.
Alright here's my personal opinion- although not in any particular order- Greatest tailgate venues:
Pittsburgh- Starlake-Post Gazette- open spaces, laid back security- nice venue to watch show once inside. Can also hear show clearly outside. VERY UNDERRATED!!
Great Woods- huge tailgate, great party in lots-awesome tailgate but once inside one of the worst venues to see a show- they ruined the lawn and sound needs some work if your getting drinks. Who puts permanent seats in the lawn?
Buckeye Lake- gone but not forgotten- big empty field in the middle of nowhere!! Great place even w/ mudslides.
Cincinnati- great if you pick the right lot- park @ the race track- DON'T park @ the Coney Island lot- have bike nazi's running around shooing you in- other lots are a blast but read the signs or ask because some lots allow tailgating and others don't- bad VENUE design inside-from the big beams blocking parts of the lawn to the underneath concession stands
Atlanta-if you can get into the lots early enough its a blast- run late (thanks Airtran) and there's not enough parking- pretty good tailgating but horrible venue- the Sounds walls s***- It's bad when your inside & you go to get a beer and you can't hear what song is on. awful design inside
Las Vegas-well, its Vegas- its more of a weekend party than tailgate- check out the LV parrothead club party @ Tommy Rocker's-usually guest appearances from some Coral Reefers. No real tailgate but its still fun.
Clarkston Mich & Orlando were pretty decent for the tailgate
Not to offend anyone but the following had moments but nothing to seperate themselves- Nashville no real tailgating lots around arena, same w/ Tampa & Knoxville, Big thumbs down to Blossom, Merryweather Post & Columbus-(Polaris)- the cops were too restrictive to really have a great tailgate.
I hope to add Alpine Valley, Irvine & Virginia Beach this year- and eventually Jones Beach & somewhere in Texas.
It sounds like Alpine Valley is the foremost but is there anywhere else that I must see? Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.
'I made enough money to buy Miami, but I p*** it away so fast'
Pittsburgh- June 21st
Blossom- July 19th
Chicago-July 23rd
Cincy- Aug 23rd
then bring on the left coast
hopefully we'll run into you at pittsburgh and camden/philly this summer 
