Gridiron Bash brings fans, Coach Miles, Kid Rock, Sara Evans together

[Comment Below]

By Jason Andreasen

There has never been a concert inside Tiger Stadium. There has never been a competition designed to determine who among 16 D-I universities has the most rabid fanbase. Never before have Kid Rock, Les Miles, Sara Evans and Mike the Tiger been in the same structure at the same time. Until now.

Friday, April 4 will see Tiger Stadium host The Gridiron Bash, an event unlike anything Baton Rouge has ever seen. Part large-scale concert, part National Championship celebration, part pep-rally, the night is meant to pay homage not only to the athletes of LSU, but to their fans as well. The event will kick off at 8 p.m. with LSU’s Head Football Coach, Les Miles, serving as the emcee for the evening.

“Miles is literally saying, ‘Look, I’ve got a great voice, I can sing, I can dance. I love Kid Rock,’” joked Shawn Garrity, CEO of MSL Sports, the company taking The Gridiron Bash across the country in April. “He said, ‘I want this for our fans, I want it for our program.’ He is extremely enthusiastic about this.”

But what the hell is it?

On March 8, a cushy RV rolled into LSU to promote The Gridiron Bash and parked outside Alex Box Stadium prior to an LSU baseball game to explain what was coming their way. While plenty of passersby might have wondered what the colorful camper was all about, Garrity had an answer for anyone who asked.

“The Gridiron Bash is the ultimate fan competition,” said Garrity. “It’s the first time fans can actually, in a quantitative manner, mathematically prove they’re the best fans around the country. If they’re competing, they need their cheerleaders, their band, the things that are customary on a Saturday. There will be tailgating and great performing artists to celebrate LSU and their fans. Really, it’s a rare thing when the fans get recognized.”

The competition for fanbase supremacy will be determined by a mathematical formula that is comprised of 70 percent ticket sales to the April 4 event and 30 percent text voting. At deadline, LSU was ranked ninth behind the likes of Alabama, Penn State and Rutgers. There is more than bragging rights on the line, though.

The top three schools, as determined by the aforementioned equation, will split a $1.75 million purse presented by USA Today, with $1 million going to the top school, $500,000 going to second and the third place school will receive $250,000. Those prizes will go directly to the Athletic Departments of the winning schools.

“A lot of people think that because of licensing dollars, food and beverage and the gate for a football game, that the athletic programs are strongly funded and they’re flush with cash,” said Garrity. “The truth is that there are so many men’s and women’s sports that are non-revenue generators that are a major expense. That’s why you see all of a sudden the announcement that the wrestling team got cut, etc. To raise these funds for the athletic departments really helps to support these young adults.”

In addition, LSU will also receive all the money from food and beverage sales.

“If you look at the community, we feel it’s anywhere from $3-5 for every $1 generated in that arena, with the different bars and restaurants,” said Garrity.

The event will be held the night before the first spring football game. The Gridiron Bash is intended to not only celebrate last year’s success, but also to start this year off on the right foot. Those who purchase a ticket to the event are also admitted to the spring game on April 5 and will have the same seat available to them.

LSU is the first of the 16 schools to host The Gridiron Bash. The tickets themselves run $41. If you’d like to find out more about the April 4 event, the concert that will be held within Tiger Stadium or how to vote for LSU within the competition, go to GridironBash.com.

E-mail the author at JasonAndreasen@tigerweekly.com

Originally Published: Issue 601 - March 26, 2008

Share on Facebook

Back to the top