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If it's a safety issue, they shouldn't be selling alcohol inside, either, right? Yyyyyeah, riiiiight....

The biggest problem I see is the near impossibility of getting that many cars into the venue before the show actually starts. I'm thinking there will be a huge number of exceptionally p*ssed off fans who miss a good part of the show, sitting in traffic.

I think it's revolting that they chose not to announce the new policy until AFTER all the ticket sales. It took away the option for people to vote with their wallets. Take away the camaraderie of the tailgate (even if a strict alcohol policy was still in effect) and I won't be going to that show, because I go as much to socialize with my friends as to see the show.

Two thumbs DOWN, JLL.

Excellent point there about traffic, Jen. Unless you time it JUST right, it can literally take HOURS to get into the lots. And that's getting there noonish.

flipflopgirl wrote:

txaggirl91 wrote:In 07, Jimmy played Minute Maid Park in downtown Houston. There was to be no tailgating at all. Phritz and I organized a tailgate anyway. We rented out one of the parking lots close to the park. Everyone chipped in to cover the cost of the lot, cops to monitor who got in and out, etc. Phritz made sure we were cool with the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission - everyone had a wristband and if they were under 21, they had a different wristband. A lot more went on behind the scenes to make sure we were good with the city too.

Everyone had a grand time. I will never forget to look on the people who were working at Specs when we drove up in the UHaul.
A few weeks before the show, the venue decided to open a lot to tailgating. I think it was $50 a car.

I don't know if the Lube is located where you could do something like this but if you are interested in the specifics, let me know.

The Woodlands has a way to go with tailgating. It is a major step for them to even allow it. That community is so "uppity" they need to learn to relax and have a good time.

and that Houston tailgate was awesome!!!!

I would be p*** if this was my venue but I would want Jimmy to take a stand and threaten to cancel the show. We know they must have some clause in the rider about tailgating, at Pine Knob the only time they ever put porta-johns in the parking lot is for jimmy.

msu#1 wrote:I would be p*** if this was my venue but I would want Jimmy to take a stand and threaten to cancel the show. We know they must have some clause in the rider about tailgating, at Pine Knob the only time they ever put porta-johns in the parking lot is for jimmy.

There are millions of dollars involved, and not just for JB and the band but all the people who work on the tour (support staff, etc). I seriously doubt he'd threaten to cancel the show. And although I haven't seen a contract, I seriously doubt there's any rider about tailgating. He plays at several venues where there's either no tailgating (e.g. Shoreline) or it's curtailed by gate-opening times (e.g. Charlotte).

springparrot wrote:Tailgating is a privilege not a right.

The big thing here though, imho, is that a major tailgating venue switched the rules AFTER tickets were sold (not just for JB but for all their summer shows). Boo hiss. Tell people the rules have changed BEFORE they buy a ticket to what they assume will be a show with tailgating included (or for that matter, as others have said, the side stage acts at this weekend's country music festival). I for one would go to a show with tailgating (even if a strict no alcohol policy was enforced) but will not be going to JLL without tailgating to visit with friends. IMHO this venue perpetrated a fraud, since they sold tickets without stating a MAJOR change in policy.

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:

springparrot wrote:Tailgating is a privilege not a right.

The big thing here though, imho, is that a major tailgating venue switched the rules AFTER tickets were sold (not just for JB but for all their summer shows). Boo hiss. Tell people the rules have changed BEFORE they buy a ticket to what they assume will be a show with tailgating included (or for that matter, as others have said, the side stage acts at this weekend's country music festival). I for one would go to a show with tailgating (even if a strict no alcohol policy was enforced) but will not be going to JLL without tailgating to visit with friends. IMHO this venue perpetrated a fraud, since they sold tickets without stating a MAJOR change in policy.

This has been my point all along, Jen.......

Maybe JB's operation knew about this, didn't know about this, policy can changed, can't be changed, but I'd still like some kind of public comment from Bubba regarding this mess.

I'd be surprised if any of this has even reached Jimmy's radar - and that he'd be in a knot about it if it did. The venue was clearly wrong in selling tickets before announcing this big change but to assume that Jimmy gives even the smallest sh*t about it is kidding yourselves.

As one guy said in this video, people will just tailgate in other parking lots, and then the DD accident rate may be even higher

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/05/ji ... 60810.html

drunkpirate66 wrote:

phjrsaunt wrote:

urlcenter wrote:One of the reasons for the new no tailgating rule was a fatal accident after a Rascal Flatts show. The article on the homepage of BN has the details.

okay. there was in fact a fatal accident after a Buffett show at Nissan/JLL a year so ago. Is this the answer to the question "how many people have to die before they impose a no tailgating rule?" I'm sorry. Actually, no I'm not. This is stupid. I've been to Buffett shows before and not had a drop of alchohol and had super time. But when someone removes the option for me to make a decision about my own activities when I'm paying a LOT (for me) of money it p*** me off. Auntie gives this action from JLL a rare " " face.

You can make all the decisions you want and drink all you want and do whatever you want on your on property . . . as I am quite aware you know. But when you say, "when someone removes option for me . . . " you are wrong. You never had the option . . . legally. The ticket doesn't pay for your right to drink on someone else's property. It never did. Lots of Parrotheads think that is the reason why Jimmy Buffett charges huge amounts for sh*t seats. He doesn't give a rats as$ about your tailgating and he never has; other than the fact that more people go to his shows because of the party atmosphere. Open containers in parking lots is illegal. It always has been. And this is true at almost every venue where Jimmy Buffett plays.

From the Pizza Hut Park website page devoted to the 2 day Frisco tailgate:

• Please have all food and beverage stocked for the weekend because of the no in and out of the parking lot. ICE, LIMES, ALCOHOL, AND FOOD.

Gotta love Texas!

Poached from the Bristow thread and Bottle of Rum - even puritanical New England came to an agreement.


Maybe someone should let them know the agreement Great Woods (Comcast Center) made with local residents and police this year that will be in place for the long term. Why p*** off an entire population when there is a easy middle ground to make everyone happy.
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles ... 232658.txt

As part of the deal, the Comcast Center agreed to open its parking lot at least three hours before each show in response to traffic complaints from residents and businesses in Norton.

In recent years, the 19,900-seat concert venue had pushed back when it opened its lots, but the result had been tailgaters clogging roads and filling the parking spaces of businesses on Route 140 in Norton.

The exception to the three-hour rule will be the Jimmy Buffet show, when the parking lots will open at 11 a.m. for an 8 p.m. show to accommodate the older rocker's festive fans.

springparrot wrote:

surfpirate wrote:

springparrot wrote:

surfpirate wrote:

springparrot wrote:NO TAILGATING is what The Woodlands has been dealing with since the opening of the Pavilion.
Only for the last 2 years have they allowed it.
No tailgating didn't stop JB for coming back for many years.

If there is no tailgating, people won't like it, but they will get over it.

I will not *get over it*. I just won't go in the future.

But they are now tailgating.
Is it the same set up we have in Frisco?
Nope and it never will, but I had a great day with a terrific group of women in the parking lot this year

I will not waste my time and dollars at Jiffy Lube going forward if this policy remains in place. I will redirect my time and dollars into other *more sane policy* venues and other trip rock events. Jiffy Lube live will not receive my business. I have too many other options.

I'm sorry, I misunderstood...since you quoted me, I thought you were talking about The Woodlands show

Sorry. I was talking about Jiffy Lube.

I have seen Jimmy in concert nearly 100 times .... and the vast majority of those concerts
have been in my own backyard .... Merriweather Post Pavilion and Nissan/Jiffy Lube.

After this summer ... I will no longer attend any events at Jiffy Lube. Like I said,
I have too many other options as to where to spend my dollars.
I'll attend other trop rock events.

We in the DC metro area have been spoiled for 3 decades.

Between MPP and Nissan/Lube .... Jimmy has not missed our area for over 30 years.
Heck ... some years we had 3, 4 even 5 shows in the same summer when he played BOTH pavilions.

No more.

Jimmy ..... If you play Jiffy Lube in 2012 ...... count me out. Sorry dude.

Some people have said either Jimmy Buffett or someone in his organization should comment on this. Why? I don't know the details of his agreements with the various venues where he performs but I imagine his contract requires him to perform a concert on a specific date at a specific time. In return, the promoter agrees to pay him a set fee. I've always felt, and still do, as long as the promoter agrees to pay him his fee, he doesn't give a s*** about tailgate or no tailgate. If he did, he would never play Madison Square Garden. Not that it has a no tailgating policy, it's in the middle of NYC and there's no place to have a tailgate.

BahamaBreeze wrote:As one guy said in this video, people will just tailgate in other parking lots, and then the DD accident rate may be even higher

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/05/ji ... 60810.html

That was the first thing my wife said.

I really want to see this plan in action.

LIPH wrote:Some people have said either Jimmy Buffett or someone in his organization should comment on this. Why? I don't know the details of his agreements with the various venues where he performs but I imagine his contract requires him to perform a concert on a specific date at a specific time. In return, the promoter agrees to pay him a set fee. I've always felt, and still do, as long as the promoter agrees to pay him his fee, he doesn't give a s*** about tailgate or no tailgate. If he did, he would never play Madison Square Garden. Not that it has a no tailgating policy, it's in the middle of NYC and there's no place to have a tailgate.

Larry.....I totally agree with you.
I think the reason people are so pi**ed is that they bought tix with the plan to tailgate and visit with friends. In NYC, most people make alternate plans ahead of time. You know JLL is out there in the sticks and driving is required. JLL is deluding themselves if they think they can get open the lots 2 hours before the concert starts, have everyone parked and not have Wellington Rd look like a parking lot.

The first JB concert I went to at Nissan, I had to work until 4 (I know.....I know). We waited on Wellington Rd for 2 hours. Our next door neighbors had a similiar problem (he's FBI) two years ago and they didn't get to Wellington Rd. until 6:00. They missed half of the first half of the concert. We live 25 mins away. There is only one road in each direction to get in and out of JLL. This is going to be a nightmare that may start this weekend at WMZQ Fest.......it'll be interesting to see how this plays out over the course of the summer.

LIPH wrote:Some people have said either Jimmy Buffett or someone in his organization should comment on this. Why? I don't know the details of his agreements with the various venues where he performs but I imagine his contract requires him to perform a concert on a specific date at a specific time. In return, the promoter agrees to pay him a set fee. I've always felt, and still do, as long as the promoter agrees to pay him his fee, he doesn't give a s*** about tailgate or no tailgate. If he did, he would never play Madison Square Garden. Not that it has a no tailgating policy, it's in the middle of NYC and there's no place to have a tailgate.

I can't imagine that somewhere in JB's agreement for the 2011 show with JLL this "new policy" was not included. But, after 40 years of his promoting the pre-concert tailgates and the "Margaritaville experience" (wonder where the M-ville bus will go?), I disagree that JB doesn't owe us, his fans, an explanation. I'd just appreciate his saying that he's acknowledges that we all spent our hard earned dollars for a day-long gathering that we've come to expect and now won't happen. I'd respect him more if he came out and told JLL that this show will be his last there.

But, you may be right. He may truly not care about us or this situation. If so, then maybe my concert days with Mr. Buffett are really over......

Jiffy Lube Live’s summer season opens Saturday with a Jason Aldean concert sponsored by country radio station WMZQ (98.7 FM). But the new policy will be put to the ultimate test Aug. 27, when Buffett is scheduled to perform. His fans are tailgaters personified — and they aren’t pleased.

From the Washington Post this week ......

Jiffy Lube Live bans tailgating
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle ... story.html
By Chris Richards, Published: May 16

This summer, you won’t hear sizzling grills and sloshing coolers in the sprawling gravel parking lots that surround Jiffy Lube Live. Tailgating has been banned at the 25,000-capacity venue in Bristow that’s owned and operated by concert-promotion behemoth Live Nation.

That means no tents, no picnics and no alcohol will be allowed in the lots before hotly anticipated concerts from Toby Keith, Lil Wayne, Jimmy Buffett and others. The venue’s general manager, Matt Rogers, said the new policy is an effort to stem drunken driving, which, in the past two years, has taken four lives after concerts at Jiffy Lube Live.

“The safety of the fans is of paramount importance and we have an ongoing commitment to work with the local police department on all shows to ensure a safe environment for all of our fans,” Rogers said in an e-mail. “As always, we welcome all feedback and comments from our fans.”

Judging from an eruption of angry comments on Jiffy Lube Live’s Facebook page, that feedback amounts to a backlash. Many fans say they’ll boycott the venue this summer — which can’t be good news for Live Nation after summer-concert ticket sales plunged 12 percent last year nationwide. Jiffy Lube Live, which changed its name from Nissan Pavilion a year ago, is already infamous to any music fan who has endured that rush-hour slog into Northern Virginia’s farmlands.

Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Jiffy Lube Live’s main competitor, has a similar policy that bans open containers outside the venue. FedEx Field, on the other hand, allows tailgating at Washington Redskins games and concerts.

Rogers said Jiffy Lube Live banned pre-concert gatherings after consulting with area residents and police.

“It’s their decision,” said Sgt. Kim Chinn of the Prince William County police. “We support their policy, certainly. We want to keep the people safe.”

Chinn made the “no tolerance” policy clear: Anyone spotted drinking alcohol in the parking lot will be asked to stop. Anyone spotted drinking a second time will be escorted from the venue and issued a notice of trespass, banning him from the grounds.

Rogers said the policy was posted on Jiffy Lube Live’s Web site months ago, before tickets for the season went on sale. But because most fans wait for weather to get warm before they buy ice for their coolers, the controversy is just now starting to flare.

There are other changes, too. Parking lots will open later than in the past, generally one hour before the venue’s doors open. (Rogers encourages fans to call Jiffy Lube Live the week of a show to confirm times, which are subject to change.)

The new parking rules are expected to create greater traffic snarls — for which, Rogers said, the venue will bring in additional police and parking staff members.

“It’s probably going to be an issue for the first concert or two,” Chinn said.

Jiffy Lube Live’s summer season opens Saturday with a Jason Aldean concert sponsored by country radio station WMZQ (98.7 FM). But the new policy will be put to the ultimate test Aug. 27, when Buffett is scheduled to perform. His fans are tailgaters personified — and they aren’t pleased.

“Personally, most of us thought that it really sucked,” said Peter Chewning, president of the Washington Area Parrot Head Club, an organization of die-hard Buffett fans. He said members are torn over whether to boycott the concert, mainly because many have already purchased club-level seats.

On Facebook, some fans accused Jiffy Lube Live of implementing the policy in hopes of boosting concession sales inside the venue, where beer is considerably more pricey than a store-bought six-pack of PBR. Others wondered whether the policy would increase drunken driving because fans would be chugging throughout the concert instead of beforehand.

“The obvious point of the policy is to make more money on alcohol inside the concert,” one fan fumed on Facebook.“I hope every artist decides to have their concerts elsewhere.”

When asked whether concessions had anything to do with the tailgate ban, Rogers cited Virginia law, which prohibits drinking in public and public intoxication.

And were policies about alcohol sales inside the venue being altered to tamp down drunken driving?

“There are no additional policy changes at this point,” Rogers wrote.

Bfan53again wrote: ... I disagree that JB doesn't owe us, his fans, an explanation. I'd just appreciate his saying that he's acknowledges that we all spent our hard earned dollars for a day-long gathering that we've come to expect and now won't happen.

People have said things like this over the years and I never understood it. When I lay down my money for a concert ticket, I'm entitled to one thing - admission to the concert. Nothing else. Jimmy buffett doesn't owe me anything other than the best performance he can give the night of the concert.

Bfan53again wrote:

LIPH wrote:Some people have said either Jimmy Buffett or someone in his organization should comment on this. Why? I don't know the details of his agreements with the various venues where he performs but I imagine his contract requires him to perform a concert on a specific date at a specific time. In return, the promoter agrees to pay him a set fee. I've always felt, and still do, as long as the promoter agrees to pay him his fee, he doesn't give a s*** about tailgate or no tailgate. If he did, he would never play Madison Square Garden. Not that it has a no tailgating policy, it's in the middle of NYC and there's no place to have a tailgate.

I can't imagine that somewhere in JB's agreement for the 2011 show with JLL this "new policy" was not included. But, after 40 years of his promoting the pre-concert tailgates and the "Margaritaville experience" (wonder where the M-ville bus will go?), I disagree that JB doesn't owe us, his fans, an explanation. I'd just appreciate his saying that he's acknowledges that we all spent our hard earned dollars for a day-long gathering that we've come to expect and now won't happen. I'd respect him more if he came out and told JLL that this show will be his last there.

But, you may be right. He may truly not care about us or this situation. If so, then maybe my concert days with Mr. Buffett are really over......

No offense but he's an entertainer , not your mother. You purchase a ticket for his performance not his affection. So are you going to only going to go see bands who you feel appreciate you? Gimme a break.