November 2023 Monthly Adventure
On Saturday, November 4, I decided to wake up early for game day and go to The University of Texas at Austin campus for some tailgating. The weather was nice and I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to watch the Texas Longhorns take on the Kansas State Wildcats in a lively environment. I was invited to a special tailgate hosted by the Vice President of Student Affairs (VPSA) and decided a couple of weeks ago to attend if the weather was ideal. If you plan on tailgating or just want to know what it's like to tailgate on campus during a Texas Football home game, you'll want to continue reading my recap!
Parking
Like all things sporting events, parking is limited and expensive. Parking is actually not too bad in terms of distance with some options being relatively close to Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium (DKR-TSM). That being said, parking is going to be $50 no matter where you want to park if parking in a designated campus garage or lot.
Bevo Boulevard
You don't need a ticket to the game to access all the free fun on Bevo Boulevard! With family-friendly games, activities, giveaways, and booths, there's plenty of things to do that will keep you occupied and entertained before kickoff. The Longhorn Network even hosts their pre-game show here. However, Disney/ESPN plans to sunset LHN once the 2023-2024 season concludes due to Texas joining the SEC next season. That might mean there will be more space for even more activities on Bevo Boulevard.
VPSA Fall Reunion Tailgate
This indoor tailgate for VPSA alumni and friends included brunch, snacks, drinks, a photo booth, a DJ, comfortable seating, bingo, giveaways, large screens and air conditioning! You really couldn't ask for much more. I've never been to a completely indoor tailgate before, and this one was hosted iside the San Jacinto Residence Hall Multipurpose Room. The location was perfect for those going to the game because it's right next DKR-TSM.
The best part about the tailgate (beside the fact that it was free for me to attend) was the contributions made to UT Outpost which is the food pantry and career closet on campus. I chose to donate some professional clothes that were no longer getting much use from me. In return, I received a sricort to show that I contributed and a woven bracelet.
Brunch food and drinks included: a breakfast taco bar, blueberry Greek yogurt parfaits, fresh fruit, chicken and waffles, water, hot coffee, and a bar with mixed drinks. I recently ate a lot of breakfast tacos in Austin, so I opted for just a blueberry parfait to start along with a cup of water. As the game started, new food was rotated into the stations. New items such as an assortment of chips and dips, kolaches, a veggie tray, and a cheese tray were added to the spread. I tried most of what was available in this second round of food. The bar was on the opposite side of the room from where I was sitting, so I just stuck to cups of cold water as my drink of choice for the tailgate.
Watching this game inside a building right next to the stadium by the end zone where the cannon goes off was a little odd because of the tv delay. Everyone in the room could hear the touchdown a few seconds before we even saw it on the screen because the cannons were audible enough with the backdoor of the event space being open almost the entire game. I left at the top of the fourth quarter to get a head start on the long walk back to my car and beat traffic, but I know the sound of the crowd at DKR-TSM, in addition to the cannons, would've been heard from inside the tailgating venue even with that backdoor closed as Texas pulled off the 33-30 win in overtime!
Wrap-Up
What a fun time this tailgate was! I got to contribute to a great cause, enjoy some free food, receive some nice giveaways, and reconnect with some familiar faces. Tailgating is normally a thing that takes place outdoors or at least partially outdoors, but this completely indoor tailgate was truly more my vibe than I had imagined. I loved every second of it and so much so that I didn't make to the other tailgate on my list. Oh yeah, I didn't mention it before, but I was supposed to visit two tailgates. The other one was outside across from the north end zone of the stadium and I didn't make it simply because I loved the amenities of the VPSA tailgate too much to leave them behind. There were restrooms, running water, and controlled temperatures. I decided that's what I needed to experience today more than the elements outside. I'll try to get to the outdoor tailgate that I missed out on at some point in the future. I'm just glad that Texas won the game -- even if it was a nail biter in overtime!
If you want the best of both worlds, I recommend tailgating! You get the the excitement of being in-person for game day with more affordable food and drink options along with all the angles of the game only tv can provide.
This post will conclude the Monthly Adventures Series for 2023. I have some trips planned in December and one of those will replace the monthly adventure for that month. The Monthly Adventures Series will return in January 2024 as Kimi's Travel Thoughts kicks off year three on this platform!
Feel free to leave comments below, tweet (@KimiThoughts), or leave a post/message on Facebook (@KimisTravelThoughts) !