What is DevilsGate?
DevilsGate, the first of which will occur today starting at 3:30 p.m., is an University initiative organized by Duke Athletics and Duke Student Government intended to get more students in the stands to cheer on the football team, said junior Tucker Albert, DSG vice president for social culture. The event will feature free food, live entertainment, and Duke Football shirts. DevilsGate will happen for every home football game.
Currently there are 12 tents that will be set up in front of the entrance to Wallace Wade stadium that selective living groups, Greek groups and other student organizations can request. Each game will have live entertainment in the form of a DJ or band as well as free food and t-shirt giveaways.
Who will be at the Elon game?
Currently the 12 tents will be shared by 15 groups – three selective living groups, the National Pan-Hellenic Council and 11 Interfraternity Council groups.
Though initially attendance was a main concern, Albert said turnout is currently expected to be high.
“We are hoping that as student groups start going, they will tell their friends who will tell others and get a snowball effect going,” Albert said.
Is anything else new?
There will be a special game day bus that will go from East Campus to Central Campus to Towerview Rd to compensate for longer wait times in between buses during the weekend.
What came before tailgate?
DevilsGate is the most recent in a series of programs created to replace the infamous, bacchanalian event formerly known as Tailgate, which was cancelled after a minor was found unconscious.
The first replacement was Football Gameday in which student groups were allowed to host private barbecues on the Main West Quadrangle as well as the residential quadrangles. A more unified concept called New Tailgating then emerged, which was initially supposed to be located across from Koskinen stadium but was relocated to the main quad due to security concerns.
Last year the event was given over to The Inferno to host and was initially located on the main quad with tents that student groups could request. Towards the end of the year, the tailgate concept was moved to the area in front of Wallace Wade stadium but without the tents, which brings us to this year's event which will have tents and be in close vicinity to the football stadium.
Will DevilsGate outlast the previous contenders? It remains to be seen.
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