A group of fans tailgates as part of the Harmonic Woods tailgate on the UF campus during the 2024 season. However, with the season now over, the future of certain traditions is uncertain. At the center of it all is a significant concern: what will happen to on-campus tailgating on the grass areas throughout the heart of the campus?
For generations of Gator football fans, game days have been about more than just the action inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. It’s a full-day event, deeply rooted in longstanding tailgating customs that represent the spirit of the University of Florida.
Now that the 2024 season has ended, questions remain about the future of these traditions.
The biggest question is about the fate of on-campus tailgating in grassy areas across the central part of campus.
“It’s too early for us to comment on next season,” said Amy Armstrong, UF’s Director of Communications for the Office of the Vice President for Business Affairs, in an email. “In the coming months, we’ll have many conversations with our partners in UAA and others to ensure that all of our fans enjoy a great game-day experience on campus.”
During the 2024 season, UF officials placed signs and barricades in some areas of campus to discourage or prevent tailgating.
The first sign of potential changes appeared on September 7, before Florida’s second home game of the season. As early tailgaters arrived for the Gators’ game against Samford, they encountered an unexpected sight: barricades blocking prime spots on campus, including grassy areas along Museum Road and other traditional locations.
What began as a minor inconvenience quickly turned into frustration and confusion, with fans wondering whether this was a sign of a permanent shift in UF’s game-day parking policies.
These barriers not only altered the flow of the game-day experience, but for many fans, they felt like an unwelcome message. For Gator supporters who have attended games for decades, tailgating is more than just a pre-game event; it’s a ritual with deep personal and cultural significance.
“I’ve been tailgating in this same spot for 21 years. It’s been organized into what we call ‘Harmonic Woods,’” said Robert Martin, also known as “The Mayor of Gators Tailgating.”
Martin has been a fixture on Museum Road, where he and a rotating group of friends, family, and fellow fans have gathered for every home game in the same spot. Over the years, Harmonic Woods has become a place where Gator fans come together. The tailgate attracts over 100 fans each game, with one of the highlights being their unique version of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” where fans gather around a large drum and celebrate with their favorite beverages, adding excitement and energy to the pregame atmosphere.
With a strong sense of community, Harmonic Woods welcomes everyone, from students to alumni, and has gained recognition on Gators radio and social media. The tailgate also features a variety of competitive games and a wheel of opportunity, a prize
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