The Wildcats may have beat Washington State Saturday, but the real excitement was on the UA Mall before the game even started.

Tailgating on the Mall is a University of Arizona tradition that continues to grow.

The Mall is broken down into 30-foot by 30-foot spaces available to the public, said Juanita Fabre, who organizes tailgating for the Athletic Department's Wildcat Club.

There are 125 spaces available on a first come first served basis, with prices ranging from $45 to $60, Fabre said. She said reserved spaces run $60 per space.

Fabre said 80 reserved spaces were sold for Saturday's game.

The non reserved slots run along the south side of East University Boulevard, north of McKale Center, said Kari Shellhorn, a Wildcat Club intern. She said the reserved spaces occupy the rest of the Mall.

Local businesses, student organizations and even law enforcement agencies will reserve space, Shellhorn said.

"It's a lot of fun once you get everyone out here," Shellhorn said.

On Saturday, for example, the U.S. Air Force used space for an information display that included a Humvee and military K-9s.

Another space was occupied by Budd and Ramona Almundson, and their friends Tom and Jane Flynn. The Almundsons have been tailgating at the UA for 15 years.

When they started, the Almundsons tailgated on Wildcat Field just north of Arizona Stadium, Budd Almundson said.

"That was nice because it was not very far to walk," he said.

The first come first served area opens five hours before game time, and the Almundsons, whose son was a UA student for two years, arrived between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to claim a spot.

Budd Almundson said that over the years, tailgating rules have changed. He said, for example, tailgaters must now leave the Mall one hour after the game ends.

Previously, Jane Flynn said, "people would stay until two in the morning."

Beer and wine are allowed on the Mall, but hard liquor is no longer permitted, Budd Almundson said.

The couples joked that they see more fans in cowboy boots since the hard liquor ban because the boots are better for hiding bottles.

Another change is the amount of commercial activity on the Mall, Budd Almundson said.

"It's an opportunity to meet our listeners," said Terry Daniels, promotions director for KNST, KRQQ and KWFM radio stations. He said the stations, located in tents just east of the Optical Sciences Center, have been at UA tailgate parties for 10 years.

But Daniels said tailgating has become hugely popular in the last eight years.

This season, the radio stations have a partnership with Chuy's Mesquite Broiler to provide free food to fans, Daniels said. He said 1,400 fans are served at the Chuy's tent each week.

"It's a great opportunity (for businesses) to associate themselves with the UA Wildcats," Daniels said.

Lauren Lesho, UA student and assistant to the promotions department at all three radio stations, said she enjoys meeting the different types of fans on the Mall.

"It's a job, but it's not work," Lesho said.

Shellhorn said the UA tailgate parties are among the country's largest.

Washington State alumni Jeff Johnson said he has been to similar events at the University of Michigan and the University of Tennessee among others. He said UA tailgates rival those.

"Pregame parties are specialties of college campuses," Johnson said.

And the parties continues to grow.

Tom Flynn said tailgating expanded to the north side of University Boulevard just this year.

Jane Flynn joked, "The game is incidental."

"It's just a lot of fun," Daniels said.

---

Daily Wildcat News Opinions Sports PoliceBeat Comics