DJAMILA NOELLE GROSSMAN/Arizona Daily Wildcat Engineering management junior Mike Sonenberg cheers at the UA Spring Game Saturday. Sonenberg is one member of Zona Zoo who tailgated before the game.

On a day mixed with sprinkling rain and blazing sunlight, Saturday's Zona Zoo tailgate party before the spring football game had fewer tailgaters than last year, which some students said resulted from the weird weather.

"It was pretty freakin' hot," said Toby Slade, a media arts senior.

About 100 people showed up to the free tailgate party on Bear Down Field, which featured Slade's band Haley Jane, drinks and snacks, and outdoor games like Frisbee. Students were also able to vote for the design of next year's Zona Zoo T-shirt.

The event, organized by Arizona Athletics and the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, was held for the second year in a row so students could get together and get excited about next year's football season and to rally around the team, said Amber Harryman, ASUA spirit director.

About 400 students went to last year's tailgate party on the UA Mall, and Zona Zoo might try the location again next year, said Harryman, a classics junior.

"We didn't have the turnout we expected, but you don't know how it will work until you try it," Harryman said. "(Bear Down Field) is a really cool space, but we might go to the Mall next year to move to a more central location."

Harryman said she thinks Bear Down Field's close proximity to the football stadium attracted a lot of non-students to the event, which was only open to students.

However, she said the event still went well and she did not want to focus on the number of students who attended.

"It's beautiful weather today, and all the people here seem to be having a good time," Harryman said. "And that's what matters to me."

Katie Johnson, a business administration senior, said she planned to go to the game when she heard about the tailgate and decided to check it out.

"I thought it was really fun," said Johnson, a member of the Arizona gymnastics team. "I just played Frisbee with friends at the event and the band played really good songs."

Amy Meyer, a sophomore majoring in German and psychology, said she has been to other shows by Haley Jane and wanted to come support them.

"But it's more fun when there's a bigger crowd because then there's more crowd energy," Meyer said. "But it was hot out, so that probably deterred (students) from showing up."

Students who went to the football game but missed the tailgate said they either didn't know about it or didn't know many details.

Jeff Beran, an engineering management junior, said he tailgates during the regular-season games but did not know about the Zona Zoo tailgate party.

"I think it's more low-key for a spring game," Beran said. "I just wanted to see how much progress (football coach Mike) Stoops has made after his first year."

Kristine Flanigan, a business and art freshman, said she found out about the tailgate when people were passing out fliers on the Mall but didn't go because she didn't "know enough about it."

"I would have loved to go if I knew more about it," said Flanigan, who also said she went to all the football games last season. "I'm big on school spirit."

Harryman said Zona Zoo is also planning a beach-theme promotional event for Sunday's baseball game, which will be broadcasted nationally on ESPN.