[NU Sports] Regulating Tailgates

[John Labbe]

The rule struck me, too, as going a little overboard to achieve what they want to achieve.

However, I don't know that the fact that it's "public property" makes any difference.  If it's public land, you're not allowed to consume alcohol there at anytime under the open-container laws.  Plus, the Chicago Park District generally bans alcohol in Chicago parks.  The Bears clearly bend this rule under some arrangement with the Park District and/or the city, so I think they could bend it back the other way at their choosing.

Regarding a person's mere presence in the parking lot, clearly the Bears have some arrangement under which they can exclude people without tickets from the stadium even though the stadium is on public land.  The same must apply to the parking lot.  This is not unlike any other public facility.  It's not necessarily open to everyone at all times.

I don't think it's a ruse to sell more beer in the stadium because the rule won't prohibit tailgating by ticket holders at any time, nor will it prohibit tailgating by anyone before the game begins.

Frankly, I've never tailgated before or during a Bears game, so I can't really say whether this rule is necessary, but given some of the behavior you see at and near NFL games, maybe it it.



 
On Wednesday, August 06, 2008, at 03:18PM, <cherron604 at aol.com> wrote:
>The Chicago Bears are effectively prohibiting tailgating during their games:
>
>http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/1093272,CST-NWS-bearstailgate06.article
>
>Though whether this means means kick-off to final gun, or some other time-frame, or how this can be enforced on public land (Soldier Field and most of the surrounding lots are owned by the Chicago Park District, i.e. the people) is not clear.? 
>
>Will police be prohibiting activities between noon and 3pm that are allowed at other times ?? Will private security enforce a private organization's rules on public property ?? Will food or beverages be confiscated at 2:30 but allowed at 3:30 ?? Doesn't the poorly defined time frame make the rule capricious ?? How can a private organization 'make rules' on publicly-owned land, without the permission of the public ?
>
>Or is this just a ruse to sell overpriced beer and food in the stadium, and not let fans bring their own to the parking lots ?
>
>I know alot of Dyche tailgaters stay out in the lot during games, or never come back after halftime.? Anybody heard if this kind of idea is on NU's radar ?? I would think NU would be on a much stronger footing (they own most of the lots), but I would hate to see it happen.
>
>(Keep copies of the Sun-Times away from Central Avenue...)
>
>Chuck Herron?? Tech '85
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