Although ESPN will be at Friday's game and a large turnout is expected inside the stadium, it is unknown how many people will gather before the game in the tailgating parking lots.
Having never experienced a Friday night home game, Associate Athletics Director Matt Wolfert said, he is not sure how many fans will pack the tailgating lots prior Friday night.
On one hand the number of tailgaters could be larger than normal because there are no classes Saturday and students will be ready to start the weekend with a party in the parking lots, he said. On the other hand, Muncie residents and Ball State alumni might not get off work early enough to make it out to the stadium with enough time to enjoy the tailgating lots.
With the contrasting possibilities, Wolfert said he is interested to see how many fans pack the tailgating lots and the stadium.
One of this week's goals is for more students to come out than last week, which was 6.957, Wolfert said. A loftier goal of Wolfert's is for half of the Ball State student population to attend the game, which is more than 9,000 people. The record number of students at a home football game was 7,875 for the 2007 season opener against Miami University.
"I expect the students to be out en mass, have a good time, have responsibility," Wolfert said. "I think they are going to be fired up for being on national TV."
Even with the goals for a large turnout, Wolfert said the plans for regulating the tailgating lot will remain the same for Friday's game.
The university will continue with its rule that tailgating opens three hours prior to kickoff, which means the tailgating lots will open at 4 p.m. Friday. Although it is a Friday night game and some fans might like to start the weekend with a party, Wolfert said fans are ultimately there to go to the game.
Ball State's security policy will also remain the same for the Navy game, Wolfert said. Associate Athletics Director Pat Quinn does a great job working with the police and there is no need to increase security, Wolfert said.
Tailgating changes were implemented before the first game of the season, which will continue this week. Each week a band will play in the tailgating area, similar to the past. However, this year the band's stage was moved into the heart of the tailgating area, Wolfert said.
"It just creates a great, fun environment for the fans out there," he said.
TailgatingTailgating will begin at 4 p.m. and end at the start of the game, which begins at 7 p.m. A band will be in the tailgating area to provide entertainment for fans.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
