UPIKE FOOTBALL: Tailgating with the Bears returns for 2019 home games

Tailgating with the Bears will continue in 2019, it was announced Wednesday by athletic officials.

Each of UPIKE’s five home games, including this Saturday night’s match-up with Bluefield (Va.) College, will have complimentary food and drinks for approximately 500 fans starting two hours prior to kickoff.

This is included with the purchase of your game-day ticket.

Sponsors will include Buffalo Wild Wings (Sept. 14 and Nov. 9); Giovanni’s Pizza (Sept. 21); Texas Roadhouse (Oct. 5); and Pig in a Poke (Oct. 26).

In addition to the tailgate, these restaurants will also be sponsoring a halftime contest, where fans and students can compete for a prize from the sponsoring restaurants.

A new addition for the 2019 season is our special game-day sponsor ticket offer. All fans in attendance will receive a ticket which will have a special coupon offer from that week’s game-day sponsor, so be sure to hold on to your tickets and support our local businesses!

Our regular co-sponsors for the season will be Pepsi, Jimmy John’s, Food City, and Aramark.

The traditional Bear Walk will take place an hour and forty-five minutes before kickoff through the tailgate area for fans to greet and support the players on their way to the locker room.