How are the gas prices going to hurt your tailgating?

[BZ770 2]

I usually go to one or two games a year. I can still make the drive this year with the gas prices, but for die hards that make the trip for every home game, they are going to get pinched. I have an Mid size SUV that we take and tailgate out of the back. I may skip out on buying merchandise from the bookstore or limiting purchases at the concession stand to ease the pain. I was wondering how that the people with the RV's and Motor Buses are going to respond. There may be more open spots for tailgating this year as people might be leaving them at home.

[kwagoner 214]

I usually go to one or two games a year. I can still make the drive this year with the gas prices, but for die hards that make the trip for every home game, they are going to get pinched. I have an Mid size SUV that we take and tailgate out of the back. I may skip out on buying merchandise from the bookstore or limiting purchases at the concession stand to ease the pain. I was wondering how that the people with the RV's and Motor Buses are going to respond. There may be more open spots for tailgating this year as people might be leaving them at home.

Some people I know will be parking their RV at various parks, friends houses, and wherever they can around Auburn. That way, they just drive a car instead.

[AUTiger1 0]

The Wife and I usually make two or three games a year and my brother and I usually make one game a year. I know that we are talking about just driving down, but we will not be driving anything that we will be able to tailgate out of so I guess it is going to kill ours. We will more than likely just drive down on game day and then drive home after the game and grab a bite to eat somewhere on the way or in Auburn.

We did that last year for the Ole Miss game and it wasn't that bad, we grabbed a bbq sammich outside the stadium. I can't remember the name of the stand but it is right outside the stadium and was convenient since we got there just in time for Tiger Walk.

[mowegl 4]

Honestly, if you can afford a true RV, I don't think it will have any effect at all. A few hundred dollars is chump change against a $100,000+ RV. I doubt it will have a huge effect on people with trailers either. Those arent cheap. Most season ticket holders with campers/rvs leave them in Auburn so really they are using about the same gas as anyone else to and from Auburn.

[aubigblue 21]

My wife and I are in the process of trading our suburban for

a mid size, we now have 2 in college, 1 at AU. so we are

downsizing. We don't know where we will put our tailgating

gear unless we leave it with our daughter in Auburn.

btw, trying to trade in a big suv will hurt your feelings.

[lca408 380]

Already got the mini-seasons on the way so its not going to affect us that much. Its a pain, but enjoying time with your family and friends at an Auburn tailgate, and later at the game is too important to abandon for an extra $30-40 a month. At least, it is for us.

I am in a great position seeing as how one of my fraternity brothers will be moving to Auburn this summer. He'll be able to mark our spot, set up the tent, etc, so I won't have to drive down from Birmingham every weekend to do it. I can't wait till Grad School on the Plains!

Ryan

[pensacola tiger 0]

Already got the mini-seasons on the way so its not going to affect us that much. Its a pain, but enjoying time with your family and friends at an Auburn tailgate, and later at the game is too important to abandon for an extra $30-40 a month. At least, it is for us.

I am in a great position seeing as how one of my fraternity brothers will be moving to Auburn this summer. He'll be able to mark our spot, set up the tent, etc, so I won't have to drive down from Birmingham every weekend to do it. I can't wait till Grad School on the Plains!

Ryan

Wow, I wish it would only cost me $30 - $40 extra per month. I don't drive an RV or even an SUV. I drive a 12 year old small car that gets pretty good gas milage. But I filled it up Friday and it was almost $60. And so it will cost me about $75 per game if the price of gas doesn't go up anymore (not very likely). As you all know the TUF donation went up this year as did the tickets. And now with the price of gas a game will have cost me about $150 before I buy tailgating food and spend any money in Auburn. I'll probably have to skip the "lesser" games and I hate that. I think we will see the stadium much less than full for all but the really good games. I think the economy in Auburn will be hurt as well. Even a friend of mine whose company helps with the ticket purchases so he can entertain clients has talked about how he's being about priced out of the market. Times are bad when 25+ year season ticket holders and people who have seen every home and away game for over 20 years are talking like that.

[au2004ece 30]

Already got the mini-seasons on the way so its not going to affect us that much. Its a pain, but enjoying time with your family and friends at an Auburn tailgate, and later at the game is too important to abandon for an extra $30-40 a month. At least, it is for us.

I am in a great position seeing as how one of my fraternity brothers will be moving to Auburn this summer. He'll be able to mark our spot, set up the tent, etc, so I won't have to drive down from Birmingham every weekend to do it. I can't wait till Grad School on the Plains!

Ryan

Wow, I wish it would only cost me $30 - $40 extra per month. I don't drive an RV or even an SUV. I drive a 12 year old small car that gets pretty good gas milage. But I filled it up Friday and it was almost $60. And so it will cost me about $75 per game if the price of gas doesn't go up anymore (not very likely). As you all know the TUF donation went up this year as did the tickets. And now with the price of gas a game will have cost me about $150 before I buy tailgating food and spend any money in Auburn. I'll probably have to skip the "lesser" games and I hate that. I think we will see the stadium much less than full for all but the really good games. I think the economy in Auburn will be hurt as well. Even a friend of mine whose company helps with the ticket purchases so he can entertain clients has talked about how he's being about priced out of the market. Times are bad when 25+ year season ticket holders and people who have seen every home and away game for over 20 years are talking like that.

Let's math this out.

So, it will cost you $75 in gas to get to a game at $4 per gallon. Last year gas was between $2.75 and $3 per gallon during football season. That means it cost you between $51 and $56 per game last year. Each game will only cost you $19-$24 more this year at $4 gas. That's not that big of a deal. And, I assume you live in Pensacola which is about 360 miles round trip. I would think most AU fans don't live that far away, at least the ones that normally go to games.

So, if you decided to come to a lesser game last year, would you really not come this year because it will cost $20 more, when you have already paid more than that for each ticket?

Here's the link to gas prices:

http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx?time=24

[kwagoner 214]

Here's the link to gas prices:

http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx?time=24

Those websites, for the most part are not accurate. I saw a thing on msn.com the other day regarding them. Most use credit card reports to gather cost data. They are updated very slowly and sometimes the prices refelect up to a week ago. That is really a problem considerding stations change their prices daily and sometimes multiple times in a day. Others are updated by spotters, but still do not accurately tell the price or even which station is lowest. One of the sites even recieved financial backing from Chevron, so go do the math on that. Of all they found out that the one on mapquest was best, but still was wrong twenty something percent of the time.

Given this study wasn't done in Alabama and it could be more accurate or innacurate depending on the region and/or the number of stations.

I'm not saying not to use it or that is it pure crap, but rather be hesitant in believing or trusting these sites.

[mowegl 4]

Its the US average. It's only changed $1/per gallon in the last year. If you don't believe that then take a look at your own records or use your memory.

All in all it wont have that big of an effect. Even though I don't have to travel, I'd find some other stuff to cut out of my budget before Auburn football.

[AU1941 6]

Its the US average. It's only changed $1/per gallon in the last year. If you don't believe that then take a look at your own records or use your memory.

All in all it wont have that big of an effect. Even though I don't have to travel, I'd find some other stuff to cut out of my budget before Auburn football.

I agree, cut back on something else. What's an extra $100-$200 in big scheme of things? It's Auburn Football and it only comes around once a year! WDE!

[au2004ece 30]

Here's the link to gas prices:

http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx?time=24

Those websites, for the most part are not accurate. I saw a thing on msn.com the other day regarding them. Most use credit card reports to gather cost data. They are updated very slowly and sometimes the prices refelect up to a week ago. That is really a problem considerding stations change their prices daily and sometimes multiple times in a day. Others are updated by spotters, but still do not accurately tell the price or even which station is lowest. One of the sites even recieved financial backing from Chevron, so go do the math on that. Of all they found out that the one on mapquest was best, but still was wrong twenty something percent of the time.

Given this study wasn't done in Alabama and it could be more accurate or innacurate depending on the region and/or the number of stations.

I'm not saying not to use it or that is it pure crap, but rather be hesitant in believing or trusting these sites.

What are you talking about? You must not have used the link. The link is to a graph of average US gas prices, not current station prices. I used it to analyze how much more it will cost in gas this year vs last year to attend a game.

[kwagoner 214]

What are you talking about? You must not have used the link. The link is to a graph of average US gas prices, not current station prices. I used it to analyze how much more it will cost in gas this year vs last year to attend a game.

True, I didn't click it. I just saw gasbuddy, so assumed (yes I know what that does) that is what you were looking for as most use it for that reason. I see where you are coming from. my bad.

[AuburnSniper21 0]

I will probably not go to all the cupcakes. I am only an hour away but that is still about $40 in gas there and back. I would get out cheaper to order it on PPV and sit on my couch in my undies.

[kwagoner 214]

sit on my couch in my undies.

I'm glad you don't have an avatar up yet. j/k

Welcome to the board.

[RVTiger 0]

I have a big RV. It gets 7.5 MPG. It's 220 miles round trip frrom my house. Multiply that times 7 home games and I will travel 1,540 miles at 7.5 MPG, which equates to about 205 gallons for the season. At $4 per gallon, that's $820. But here's the kicker: I have to run the generator to keep cool and run the TV's. That thing uses 1/2 gal/hr. When it's hot, it will run from Friday to Sunday, using another 25 gallons per week or so. But I'm going to make it regardless. What it has cut out is the away games. I used to take it to all of them. I haven't in 3 years. I still go, but it's cheaper to travel in my car and rent a hotel room.

[pensacola tiger 0]

I will probably not go to all the cupcakes. I am only an hour away but that is still about $40 in gas there and back. I would get out cheaper to order it on PPV and sit on my couch in my undies.

Thanks. I guess some of the people on this sight don't have to live within a budget but I do and an extra $20 - $30 per week for gas plust the other costs is something to consider.

[eibua12 81]

I will probably not go to all the cupcakes. I am only an hour away but that is still about $40 in gas there and back. I would get out cheaper to order it on PPV and sit on my couch in my undies.

Thanks. I guess some of the people on this sight don't have to live within a budget but I do and an extra $20 - $30 per week for gas plust the other costs is something to consider.

Well I guess you need to reallocate your budget just like moving your 401k around when one assest goes up in value (this case is cost)

Hey Mods I have a recommendation for you! Can you put a sticking in the Football forum or a sub area for car pooling where people can connect to travel to Auburn games together (notice games not just football party people). Call it the AUNATION Goes green forum and let us all do something for the environment.

[weaglewagon 1]

i live in knoxville and that's 330 miles each way. luckily we have a toyota corolla that gets over 30 mph, so that's only 2 tanks of gas for about $80-$85. we'll still be at 4 home games plus @ Vandy & @ Bama. a few extra dollars a weekend aren't really worth giving up the one thing i live for each year.

[dyehardaufan 0]

Wow, I wish it would only cost me $30 - $40 extra per month. I don't drive an RV or even an SUV. I drive a 12 year old small car that gets pretty good gas milage. But I filled it up Friday and it was almost $60. And so it will cost me about $75 per game if the price of gas doesn't go up anymore (not very likely). As you all know the TUF donation went up this year as did the tickets. And now with the price of gas a game will have cost me about $150 before I buy tailgating food and spend any money in Auburn. I'll probably have to skip the "lesser" games and I hate that. I think we will see the stadium much less than full for all but the really good games. I think the economy in Auburn will be hurt as well. Even a friend of mine whose company helps with the ticket purchases so he can entertain clients has talked about how he's being about priced out of the market. Times are bad when 25+ year season ticket holders and people who have seen every home and away game for over 20 years are talking like that.

It does seem like they are trying to price out the avg auburn fan and I do hear many fans complain about the rising cost of TUF and tickets(but i hear more negativity about the way the university has screwed RV parking) But from my experience people are not giving up their tickets, I've tried the last few years to move up to the middle donation and AU has said none are available and also scholarship donor seating has a rediculous long waiting list. I hear more people say they are just gonna give up going to games due to tailgating has become a pain(due to AU regulations and getting further off campus) than the rising prices and the current economy.