HONOLULU — Concerns for the bottom line caused the University of Hawaii to put off plans for upper-campus tailgating for its football fans until the final game of the upcoming 2024 season.
As recently as this week, UH Athletics was attempting to work with other campus entities to allow tailgating for the full season, the Rainbow Warriors' fourth at the on-campus Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. But the department faced expenses as high as $60,000 per game to do so in conjunction with other pregame activities on upper campus, Athletic Director Craig Angelos told Spectrum News.
“We said we do want to do it at least one time, so let’s do it the last game of the year,” Angelos said in a phone interview. “Try, see how it works, see what the costs are, see what we can shave off … going forward next year.
“We’ll try to come back with a more improved model after we see the results,” he added.
Fans have not been able to tailgate at UH football games since 2019 at Aloha Stadium, the last season prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and UH's subsequent forced move to campus upon the stadium's shuttering in December 2020.
Third-year UH coach Timmy Chang sounded wistful when asked about the subject after practice on Saturday, a week out from the Dec. 24 opener against Delaware State.
"I know where it’s come from. Being at Aloha Stadium, I’ve been a part of playing in there and I’ve been a part of the tailgates as well," said Chang, who spoke of establishing a gameday tradition on campus upon his hire in 2021. "All that excitement, that’s part of it. I think that’s part of what the state wants, the people want, the community. Coming to the games, enjoying the game with their family. And so, as we work toward that goal of getting there, I guess we control what we can, right? And that’s been my philosophy … hey, we’re in the stadium we are. It’s on campus. And hopefully we can get some tailgating. Just really get the community around and make it a family atmosphere."
UH on Friday announced its gameday entertainment for its seven home contests. It will offer its “Kickoff at the Les” pregame festivities at Les Murakami Stadium – similar to the last two years – for the first four home games. Once LMS begins to undergo its pending turf replacement project, football pregame fan activities will transition to upper campus for a “Pa‘ina on the Path” gathering at the Legacy Path from Dole Street up to Campus Center starting with the Oct. 26 homecoming game against Nevada. That will include a beer garden, Angelos confirmed.
UH said in the same release that “limited tailgating will be allowed for the Nov. 30 finale against New Mexico in a permitted, designated area.”
The school has discussed issuing 270 tailgating permits for parking stalls along Correa Road, between Campus Center and East-West Road, Angelos said. Season-ticket holders are to get priority on the passes.
Security costs were said to make up a large amount of the projected tailgating expenses.
As for its actual game experience in 2024, UH said it will add hawkers selling beer and water to fans in the stands and, to expedite concession lines, allow for sales of beer cans instead of pouring beverages into a cup for each customer.
It also announced it has switched the home sideline to the makai side of the field, a change from the makai sideline for the first three years at Ching Complex. UH cited more space, better shade and proximity to the locker room.
Visiting teams still do not have their own locker room at Ching Complex but will have access to an “air conditioned tented area” on the Les Murakami Stadium concourse.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.