Letter to Gary Barta concerning the new tailgating rules

Also I walked from my tailgate spot (near the corner of Koser and Melrose) to the game with my drink and the only person who gave me a warning was another fan. Weird, are the police targeting certain areas, or was I just lucky?

doesn’t have to include getting drunk, you know.

They have plenty of bars for people to have too much to drink, and you can even listen to music there without bothering police or neighbors.

And if you set up a “beer-pong” table, why are you shocked when people probably figure you are drinking. Try bags or lasso-golf, and people will be much less suspicious of you.

While I’ll admit that I’m not a morning drinker, and I don’t drink at the Iowa games, I also don’t like to tell people that they can’t responsibly have their beer. But, I have no problem with enforcing public container laws.

Finally, can you see why the City and University want to curtail some of the heavy alcohol use (maybe even abuse) when people are leaving cars there the night before, getting hammered all night, and then showing up to do more drinking in the morning? I know it is the way people act in IC, but to me, it seems a little much.

/teetotaler’d

Well, you can do what you want to us, but we’re not going to sit here and let you badmouth the United States of America! Gentlemen…..

then you walk out humming the star spangled banner……

yeah…. that would be good….

I’m the tall guy from the tailgate next door with the Blue Moon cans that came over and talked to you guys a couple times. I’m gonna throw my two cents in.

First, the ground rules of the encounter:
1) As described, the OP’s group was a group of youngish legal-age guys who appeared to have “pre-partied” a little bit even before getting there at 5:30. Not drunk, but they’d had a few. IMHO, absolutely nothing wrong with that.
2) Dude, your music was loud. Probably the only exaggeration in your story was the level of your music. Not loud for pre-2009 “amplified sound” BS, but definitely loud. You had concert speakers on tripods. Like our setup used to be…. frowny face.
3) They were indeed playing beer pong with only water, and had no containers open.
4) They were indeed fine upstanding citizens except for the loud-ish music. Never talked back to the cops or caused problems with anybody around them.
5) People were still allowed to get belligerently drunk by game time, cops only seemed to have an issue with loud music, drinking games, and dumping out open bottles of liquor.
6) For all the crazy-drunk people I saw, there again were no issues that needed any cops walking around. Just like every time.
7) The real issue with tailgating is the amount of garbage left behind. The walk back from the game was disheartening.

So here is where I start siding heavily on the side of the OP and saying that Chazz is wrong in his assessment. I saw the cops roll up, and if anything the OP is not emphasizing enough how dicky they were. They came in fast and jumped out yelling like these guys were criminals. They are NOT criminals and don’t deserve to be treated as such by some short dickhead because he gets to wear a silver star. The cop told them without warning to pack up their gear and leave the lot immediately, and he didn’t change his mind until well after it was reasonable to do so.

The cop’s main reason was “they’ve been broadcasting the rules for four weeks, there’s no excuse”. That is total bull. The only rules I’ve seen are conflicting and non-committal, dispersed basically on message boards with a ton of confusion. I don’t recall any hard and fast rule on no drinking games. And nowhere have they ever posted a coherent or even reasonable music level ordinance. “No amplified sound” is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. You can’t have sound without amplification. Your voice box is an amplifier. So is every stereo ever made, regardless of size. Also, the more reasonable of the two cops said he thought the rule was “something like 20 or 30 dB” allowed. That is an absurdly low number and probably came out of his ass since I don’t think they’ve passed any real ordinance. For reference, 30 dB is considered library quiet and 50-60 dB is normal conversation level. Farking ridiculous in enforcement, and also ridiculous in premise. Who is he bothering with music that can be heard 80 feet away on a tailgating Saturday at Myrtle? The 3 day cares that are the closest structures that are not open on Saturday? The houses across the street on Myrtle that have no problem taking advantage of tailgating to charge $30 for parking in their driveways? Or the people who live within earshot but do neither? Even those people absolutely bought their house knowing they were in tailgating alley on football Saturdays. So protect and serve whom?

OK, this post is already getting long enough so I’ll wrap up by defending my and others’ rights to get drunk while tailgating. While you may not do so Chazz, other people do. And whether they spend $50 in a bar or $15 with a 12-pack in traditional tailgating makes no difference to me. I agree with no open containers while on the street or while walking, and I agree with any level of DUI enforcement they can think up, but what the hell is wrong with people of legal drinking age enjoying a few drinks with friends, music, and games in an enclosed, enforced, and commonly understood area? So a person can host belligerent drunkenness in a private yard right on Melrose but because it’s a public lot, Myrtle has cops crawling all over it? And if you’re not causing trouble to others i have no problem if you get drunk enough to pee yourself. Until you cause harm to others there’s no problem. It’s not like these are Raider fans, scaring children and starting fights.

Gary Barta and the fun police of the City Council can suck my balls. Tailgating tradition is one of the reasons Iowa football is great, one of the reasons UI can sell tickets for $60/game minimum, and the primary reason UI football brings in $100M/yr according the latest study. If they do end up killing tailgating it won’t be long before that revenue number drops in half, and hopefully they change their minds to allow it back again, if anybody making these decisions has that kind of brain stem power.

the difference between drinking at 8:05 a.m. and 9:05 a.m. is … what exactly?

The hypocrisy is on the part of the administration, which knows that it cannot enforce public intoxication law without ruining game-day culture, so they provide no explicit guidance to the cops, who then are supposed to “do something” without being told what. I’m not a fan of subjective law enforcement.

BTW, were they really selectively waving over a subset of the departing traffic for sobriety checks? How the heck can they do that? What was probable cause? Checking 100% of cars, I guess, has been held legal (why, I don’t know) but I don’t understand how it’s legal to arbitrarily pull over a random subset.

It’s definitely a good time for the administration and city to decide to enforce the law or not, and not some of the laws except when they want to enforce all of the laws, except when they don’t, and wouldn’t it be easier if everyone understood the magic line of acceptable behavior, beyond which one is a “knucklehead”?

And it’s definitely a great time to have a designated driver on retainer.

Are you behaving like someone you would like to sit next to at the game or in the parking lot? I admire the planning ability of someone who sets up the night before and arranges a cab to get the tailgate ready, but really?

Would you want your $50+ per seat ticket for you and your spouse or kids to be next to one of these gents?

The cops will always be the toughest on the rules at first. It is far easier to let up than it is to clamp down harder (as we are all witnessing)

I think you’ve got more beef with the ICPD than Gary Barta, unless you think he told the cops, “I want you to harass the hell out of anyone with speakers.”

the new rules do not apply there.

We began drinking at 530 AM. I am a grad student, sat in the student section, and was likely one of the least openly drunk people around me. No tripping down stairs, no passing out. I got loud on third down, I cheered for big plays. I had a wonderful day aside from a (Nick) nasty neck sunburn. What I guess I’m saying is somewhat in line with Bellanca’s post. Setting an arbitrary time for when drinking can start is ridiculous. If people want to get drunk and can’t start until nine, well then they’ll just be shotgunning beers until game time. If people love the atmosphere and want to begin drinking responsibly early, where is the harm?

These kids (I can call them kids because I’m 25 now) didn’t even get a Goddamn warning to turn the music down. Shit, even PerMar was good enough to warn them against drinking AND THEY LISTENED!!! This is what really pisses me off. Let’s hear about the people getting harassed in the big donor lot near the press box – you will have trouble finding stories. It’s these big donors that will talk back about getting harassed and will walk away unticketed because they’ve paid for it, and it’s bullshit. Those fuckers are the same ones sitting between the 30s in the west grandstand who were CLEARLY the WORST section with regard to following the goldout request. These are the people who killed “the wave” multiple times during the game.

Money rules. Ticket a college kid with a beer, they’ll keep coming to the game. Ticket enough big donors and you start fucking yourself. And now what do we do? Stop tailgating? Fuck no. I’d rather have seven home football Saturdays than every other holiday combined. Write letters? The letters are coming from a fan base that has no real power because we will keep coming because we love Iowa football. The only reason all of this is happening now is because we are finally good enough, we finally have enough excitement, that people will put up with this. Why wasn’t this implemented in 2006? The answer is obvious.

I have tailgated responsibly for nearly eight years now. No tickets, no disturbances. I feel like I’m getting slapped in the face. And it is really irritating me that the people who do not get responsibly drunk on football Saturdays pull a holier than thou attitude and think their own practices should apply to everyone. I are you willing to tell me and other responsible people to screw off to avoid a few loud drunks?

I love Iowa football. And I don’t know what to do.

Yes, it may be because we have moer national eyes on us, and lots of big home games coming up this year.

But things are going to settle into a nice equilibrium as police fiure out what is and is not worth their resources, and tailgaters figure out what they can and cannot get away with.

It’s like when they started checking student IDs upon entry to the student section after that Michigan game in ‘03. That is, as far as I know, still policy. Haven’t seen it enforced since at least ’08, maybe longer ago.

and trying to emulate Ames.
Not allowing 18/19-21 y.o. in the bars is a recipe for problems.
There is a reason that Ames has had multiple riots, and up until Iowa City’s new bar ordinance, Ames was also the only college town (between Ceder Falls, Iowa City, and Ames) that didn’t allow under 21 y.o. into bars.
I do not find that correlation coincidental.
The new tailgating rules, seems to only encourage drunk driving (by having to be out of parking lots earlier) and slamming drinks instead of spreading the drinks out over time (by shortening the ‘safe to drink’ window).
Generally, drinking a lot over a long amount of time makes people puke, and pass out, and slamming a lot over a little amount of time makes people more rambunctious. (Granted, this is anecdotal, however I assume most would agree with personal observation/experience)
Lastly, as Bellanca said already, to have rules that are defined as ‘knucklehead’ by an AD is inexcusable, and very confusing.
And as this week will be my 1st trip to tailgate at Iowa City, personally infuriating. I called the ICPD, and the University police to try to get more clear answers of expected behavior (when do I have to leave certain lots, primarily), they didn’t know either. The ICPD suggested calling the UniPD, the UniPD suggested I get a brochure given to season ticket holders. I had may as well be told to learn to sail by buying a yacht and reading the manual in its glove compartment.
 These new, or more enforced rules seem to have been ill-conceived, at best.

No amplified music…duh…get a group of 20 people with incredibly loud musical instruments and a drum with pictures of a naked chick inside of it and and march around stopping at random tailgates playing music for beers.

How is this so hard to understand?

(disclaimer: I have no problem with the marching band that is referred to here.)z

I’ll be in town for a couple of the xSU games (M and tO). I would describe my preferred game day drinking routine as ‘early and often’ but I’m a big boy and I can handle it. I’m not going to barf on your kid’s shoes, I just like a good beer buzz early in the morning*.

From what I’ve heard thus far, I don’t like any of this. It sounds super half-cocked. The LAST thing the ICPD and the toycops need are laws that they are free to interpret themselves.

However, my opinion of the new laws will rest squarely on if I get fucked with by the cops or not.

*Yeah, I quoted a Sheryl Crow song. Big Deal.

I couldn’t find anything about that in the new law. Is that just for Myrtle?

Just saw these:
http://blackheartgoldpants.spreadshirt.com/knucklehead-A6476341/customize/color/316

Awesome.

I started reading this thread thinking how stupid Gary Barta and company were being. Drunken tailgating is an Iowa City tradition! But, the more I thought about it, I have started to sway the other way.
Before people start the bashing, please know that I have spent many a Saturday morning tailgating in a drunken stupor before heading into Kinnick to watch the game…in an even more drunken stupor. Those Saturdays remain some my best memories in my life. I am not some teetotaling tailgating virgin.
But, I do find it somewhat disturbing that we are taking this so seriously.
Consider this: We idolize Nile Kinnick. We hold our athletes to higher expectations in terms of behavior than most of us could even imagine doing. Our coach is the one of the most respected men in the country. We brag about how he does things "the right way." We dream of taking our kids to the game like our dads took us.
I am sorry, but I could care less about your right to play "water" pong and hang out in a grassy lot already drunk at 6am while listening to music that may or may not be too loud. I am not granting you victim status. I am not going to make a victim out of some 60 year old lady crossing the street with beer in her hand. She got a ticket. She didn’t get 20 to life.
My football hero died while serving his country after winning the Heisman Trophy. He served his country for rights far greater and more important than the right to public intoxication on football Saturdays. We used to defend this right, tongue in cheek. Now it has somehow become a real basic right for some of us. That is a bit disturbing.
I am honored to be part of this great football tradition in our state and in our country. I am now going to start respecting it the way it should be respected. I will still have a beer in my hand on game day and I will not judge those that continue to drink and tailgate more heavily. I was once there myself. But know that there actually are many of us, possibly even a majority of us, who go to the game under the legal limit because we feel it is more respectful to our fellow Hawkeyes, the game itself and the ongoing tradition that we are continuing.

I appreciate the well thought out response. Thanks. It beats being called old and a dick. I almost got a tattoo just below my belly button with those words.
 I also see beer pong and hanging out drinking as an Iowa football tradition. I do not, however, believe that getting drunk is a very respectable tradition. I watched a drunk guy decide to piss on the bathroom floor at Kinnick and splattering it all over a dad and his son. Great childhood memories! It was a buddy of mine who pissed on the floor. A normally very awesome and respectful guy. I have seen numerous fights break out while tailgating and in Kinnick because of people getting drunk. I know people that have gotten themselves kicked out of school because of what they did on game day after having one too many. I know dozens of girls who have been verbally and physically harassed while tailgating. I understand the crackdown. I realize the majority of people stay safe and respectful, but enough people don’t to warrant a crackdown on it. The tipping point was reached. Its not a bunch of teetotalers trying to fend of drinking in Iowa City. Actual bad shit happens because of the current lack of enforcement. For me, keeping some of that shit from happening is worth pissing off some tailgaters and tightening up the rules.
In regards to the police, I have the upmost respect for them. They are trained to go in tough and then step it back. They see some serious shit on a daily basis. A calm, innocent until proven guilty approach can get them killed. Sounds like they were asses to you all, but in the end they let you stay. Sucks to live in that world, but here we are.

I think the main mistake you’re making is that you’re assuming that playing beer pong or bags somehow leads to more drinking than without it. If anything, the people that were told to stop playing these drinking games walked back to their tailgate pissed-off and started pounding beers.

It’s sad to hear stories like the one you described. I know my family was in town for the weekend and my younger siblings witnessed some things that if possible I would have steered them away from. But I also think that no matter what, some of these things are unavoidable no matter how many rules the University enacts. It would be hard to argue that theres a venue with alcohol that you could bring kids to and not find something inappropriate, be at an Iowa Hawkeyes football game or a Kernals baseball game.

Does that just mean you hold the beer and proudly watch the sunrise without actually drinking the beer? Also while I may get hammered drunk I do so without playing drinking games, because drinking is not a game it’s a serious matter.

They posted this letter in the DI. Surprise surprise

I know a few guys on here (waterloochazz and Texas Hawkeye notably) have been openly supportive (somewhat) of the new tailgaiting rules. That tells me two things:

1) bad stuff is happening or else we wouldn’t have any support for the new rules
2) of everyone who posted on here only two people think it has gotten out of hand

Now you guys have both taken some unfair words but I think it is right to point out that if this is even remotely close to the actual ratio of people who do and do not like the new tailgating rules then there is a serious problem. How is a law fair if it is put into place without a public vote and is against the wishes of the people? Texas Hawkeye, you talked about American values and freedom. Is this freedom? Having rules forced on you because some members of the population can’t get it together?

We have public intox laws and open container laws for a reason. If those are ineffective then how is it American for a governing body to just start assigning rules without vote or any semblance of a democratic process? I understand the UI isn’t a democraticaly elected entity, but considering that Sally Mason is using our tax dollars to fund he little private army I do think they should have some accountability.

I am guessing that some people have had some really bad experiences with drunks in Iowa City. I am sorry that has been your experience, but it is the same thing as me saying that the douche bag who made fun of me being overweight at the Ohio State game is indicative of the entire away fan experience in Columbus. I know for a fact that isn’t true (most OSU fans are decent) but I remember that because we tend to remember shit like that a lot more. Whether it is stuff that is obviously wrong like someone barfing on a man and his son in a public restroom or something that is questionable like someone carrying an open container around (I have no problem with it but whatever) stuff happens. Letting single, unrelated events paint your entire picture of a group of people is stereotyping and it is wrong to base laws off of stereotypes.

Shorthand version: I understand the complaints, but I think the extent to which the really bad stuff happens is over exaggerated and the way that officials are going about solving this issue is completely wrong.