Concert-goers Not Happy About Tailgating Ban at Jiffy Lube Live

Jiffy Lube Live has announced a new policy when it comes to tailgating in its parking lot - it's not allowed, according to a report by the Washington Post.

No grilling, drinking or even making yourself at home with a pop-up tent will be allowed—at all.

 The decision comes just before the start of the busy concert season, which kicks off this Saturday, May 21, with the popular WMZQ Fest. The Post reports the venue will now take a ‘no tolerance’ approach to tailgating in its parking lot, with police giving first time offenders a warning, but those caught a second time will get charged with trespassing and kicked out of the venue.

And concert-goers and nearby residents are not happy.

A Facebook page titled ‘Boycott Jiffy Lube Live Tailgating Policy’   has nearly 5,000 people 'liking' their anti-tailgating ban message since the venue made the announcement.

 Some posters are expressing how happy they are not to have purchased tickets to various shows this season, citing traffic issues expected to be made worse by the new rule and high costs of food and beverages inside the Bristow pavilion.

 A posting on the venue’s Facebook page  by one local concert-goer said she’s glad she didn’t buy tickets to an upcoming concert, because she doesn’t want to support a venue that doesn’t support the fans by banning tailgating in an effort to make money off their overly priced beer.

 Another poster said the decision to not open the parking lot at Jiffy Lube Live until 3 p.m. this Saturday will cause major backup woes as thousands of people will be allowed a narrow time frame to try and make their way to their seats for a beginning  show time of 4:15 p.m.

 The news has even reached popular Jiffy Lube Live performer, Jimmy Buffet. In a message thread on his website the question was asked “just how does pavilion staff plan on enforcing the new policy at an amphitheater that holds 25,000 people?”

 “The safety of the fans is of paramount importance and we have an ongoing commitment to work with the local police department on all shows to ensure a safe environment for all of our fans. As part of this commitment, it has been determined that it is in the best interest of the fans and their overall experience at the venue to not allow tailgating,” the venue wrote on its Facebook page.

 Another post on the “Boycott Jiffy Lube Live Tailgating Policy” Facebook page said the local police reportedly had nothing to do with the decision to ban tailgating.

 But Prince William County police did confirm the venue will be strictly enforcing the new rules in contrast to previous years when drinking in the parking lot was not allowed but often overlooked as long as people behaved themselves.

 Prince William County Sgt. Kim Chinn told the Post, “We support their policy, certainly. We want to keep the people safe.”

The venue’s general manager, Matt Rogers, also told the Post that the new policy is an effort to stem drunken driving, which, in the past two years, has taken four lives after concerts at Jiffy Lube Live.