Pittsburg State Gorillas

At Pittsburg State University, tailgating has become almost as much a part of football game days as the football game itself. It is a game day atmosphere unlike any other in NCAA Division II.

Several hours before kickoff, dedicated Gorilla fans fire up their grills in the parking lots north and east of Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium and prepare for a day full of fun and great football action.

Many others will forego the work of cooking to join in the free tailgate party, GorillaFest, in Gorilla Village just east of the stadium on the banks of University Lake.

Companies or groups wishing to hold a bigger party may have large tents erected in the tailgate area northeast of University Lake.

Whether in Gorilla Village or the adjoining parking lots and grassy tailgate area, a festive atmosphere prevails on game day. There are games for youngsters, great music and food, plenty of Pitt State memorabilia, and crimson and gold just about everywhere.

Each game day has its own unique activities, but highlights of each include the “Gorilla Walk,” when fans from toddlers to senior citizens line the path that snakes through Gorilla Village to greet the football team as they walk to the stadium. Even veteran PSU football fans say they get goose bumps watching youngsters in oversized Pitt State jerseys reach up to get high-fives from their favorite football players. Another special feature of every game day is the pep rally led by the Pride of the Plains Marching Band, the Spirit Squad and Dance Team in Gorilla Village shortly before kickoff.

For information about Pitt State tailgating, including specific policies regarding sales, alcohol and tents, please call the PSU Alumni & Constituent Relations Office at 620-235-4758.

For GorillaFest information, click here.

Football Tailgating Policy

• Motor vehicles may occupy one parking space only. To maintain order and safety, vehicles arriving after a certain time (typically 5 hours before scheduled kick-off) will be directed to a specific location to park by parking staff and will not be able to select the space of their choice. Failure to comply with directions of parking staff may result in removal from the tailgate area. 
• Motor homes and RV's may occupy two parking spaces only.  Motor homes and RV’s are only allowed in lot located adjacent to Homer Street west of Weede Physical Education Building. 
• Participants may not sit or stand on top of vehicles or stand in beds of trucks.
• Trailers, furniture intended for interior household use (couches, chairs), elevator lifts etc. are prohibited in parking lots or tailgate areas. 
• Pets, with the exception of service animals (wearing identifying service animal vests), are prohibited in designated tailgate or adjacent areas.
• Parking spaces may not be reserved or saved for others. Individuals who want to tailgate adjacent to one another must arrive and enter parking lots and/or tailgate areas at the same time. No tailgating or assembly will be allowed in parking spaces that are not occupied by vehicles (vacant) or in traffic-ways.
• Parking lot traffic-ways may not be blocked for any reason (vehicles, pedestrians, tents, tables, equipment, games, activities, etc) and must remain open to vehicle traffic and emergency egress at all time. 
• Occupants of a parking space are responsible for the area surrounding their vehicle and the space immediately behind the parking space extending to the center of the traffic way behind the vehicle.
• Lots and grounds must be cleared within 90 minutes of end of game. 

• Possession and/or consumption of alcohol is limited to beer or cereal malt beverages from 12-ounce cans.  Kegs and other common containers are not allowed at any time. 
• Pedestrians who wish to bring alcohol into tailgate areas must do so by placing the 12-ounce cans into standard, enclosed insulated beverage coolers. Alcohol in its original packaging and/or other containers, including cardboard boxes, plastic six-pack rings, grocery sacks (plastic, paper, reusable), tubs, or any other containers beyond a standard insulated beverage coller will not be allowed to be brought in by pedestrians arriving at designated tailgate areas. 
• Possession and/or consumption of beer or cereal malt beverages may take place only in the parking lot immediately northeast and adjacent to Carnie Smith stadium, all parking lots immediately adjacent to McPherson Nurse Education Building and between McPherson Nurse Education Building and Weede Physical Education Building, as well as in designated areas up to 75 feet from the borders of these lots excluding the Gorilla Village and parking spaces adjacent to either side of McPherson Drive.  
• No one under 21 years of age is permitted to consume or possess beer or cereal malt beverages.
• Anyone possessing and/or consuming beer or cereal malt beverages shall possess valid identification establishing that he/she is 21 years of age or older and comply with request to show such identification when requested by law enforcement, game security personnel, or university official upon request.
• Possession and/or Consumption of beer or cereal malt beverages is only permitted at a tailgating activity where food and non-alcoholic beverages are being served.
• Drinking games (included but not limited to beer pong) or other orchestrated efforts that may promote excess drinking are prohibited.
• No one may possess or consume beer or cereal malt beverages from any device or apparatus designed to consume beer or cereal malt beverages at a greater than normal rate of speed (including but not limited to funnels or beer bongs).
• The sale of beer or cereal malt beverages is prohibited.
• Possession and/or consumption of beer or cereal malt beverages is prohibited in Gorilla Village and Carnie Smith Stadium (excluding skyboxes).
• All game day tailgaters are encouraged to participate in any PSU fundraising activities that take place in conjunction with tailgating activities.
• Failure to comply with this policy may result in criminal charges, loss of tailgating privileges or student disciplinary charges.  

Each individual is responsible for making sure that the tailgating area and grounds is maintained in a clean and orderly fashion.  No trash or recyclable items are to be discarded anywhere except trash and recycling containers placed in proper bins located throughout the tailgating areas. 

TOBACCO PRODUCTS ARE PROHIBITED. Pittsburg State is proud to be a tobacco free campus! Use of all tobacco products is prohibited in or on all University owned or leased properties. For more detailed information visit: www.pittstate.edu/info/tobacco-free