FSU is moving the Friday night 'block party' to College Town (Update)

Great move by FSU.

http://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/2017/08/23/fsu-moves-block-party-adds-tailgate-event-game-weekends/594010001/

Florida State fans will have two new options to help them celebrate home football game weekends this season. 

The Seminoles’ official Friday Night Block Party - the night before games - has been moved from Kleman Plaza to CollegeTown, the city’s new entertainment district located in the shadow of Doak Campbell Stadium.

The free event will be based at the intersection of Woodward Avenue and Madison Street and feature live music and onsite vendors as in the past from 5 to 10 p.m.

On home game days, FSU will host a new public tailgate party outside the stadium. 

The Coca-Cola Tailgate Zone will be a ticketed event that will provide fans with food from 4 Rivers Smokehouse, beverage drinks, a cash bar, access to restrooms, a 25-foot screen and other televisions to view games being played around the country. 

 (Photo: Chuck McClenton/Tallahassee Demo)

Jason Dennard, the Seminoles’ associate athletics director for new revenue generation and marketing, believes the events will further enhance a fan’s experience on game weekends. 

“We abandoned the word game day years ago in exchange for game weekends," Dennard said.

"It’s a value proposition when someone decides to travel to Tallahassee to see their favorite team or to watch from home." 

Previous acts at the popular Block Party have included country music stars Jake Owen, Thomas Rhett, Sam Hunt, and Florida-Georgia Line among many others.

The country duo from Texas, SmithField, opens this year's event on Friday, Sept. 8.

Dennard also pointed out fans attending the Block Party will be pleased with an abundance of parking options in and near CollegeTown. 

 

The game-day tailgate, located on the Dick Howser Stadium side of the stadium near Gate K, will open four hours prior to kickoff and end 30 minutes prior to the game’s start. 

The event will also feature live music or DJs at all games and a lounge area with outdoor furniture. 

Tickets are only being sold in advance of the tailgate and can be purchased at Seminoles.com (under tickets menu and football events). 

Admission ranges from $15 to $45 per game for youth and adults, and season-ticket packages are available. 

"We want to provide fans with a variety of options to bolster their weekend experience," Dennard said. 

FSU opens its home schedule Sept. 9 against Louisiana-Monroe. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Home games also include Miami (Sept. 16), N.C. State (Sept. 23), Louisville (Oct. 21), Syracuse (Nov. 4) and Delaware State (Nov. 18). 

https://floridastate.forums.rivals.com/threads/it-aint-downtown.182415/#post-3012544


Madison Social

8/8/17

Hello Everyone- I figured I would chime in.

1. The Block Party and the Downtown Getdown is not the same thing. The Block Party was at Kleman Plaza.

2. We will be shutting down Woodward and Madison St. The band will be on Woodward playing down Madison St.

3. This is a true partnership with IMG and FSU. Unlike its previous location, we are chipping in for the costs...as we should.

4. Where to park-- the age old question with our area. You have three options, two of which are free:
-Lot located at the corner of Woodward Ave. and St. Augustine St. These spaces are free.
- The St. Augustine parking garage. These spaces are free.
- Parking garage off Lorene St between Gaines and Madison St. This garage is managed by a private company. You can pay at the meter or through the mobile app ParkByApp (all one word).

5. Considering we own four businesses in the area- Madison Social, Township, Centrale, and Social Catering & Events (and working on a bakery concept in Midtown), I would say CollegeTown has been a success. Madison Social has increased revenue each year and even with Township across the street we have not missed a beat.

6. I am not sure what "more college bars" means but I am assuming pricing ($2 well drinks in plastic cups, shot specials, etc). There are several options for people seeking "college bars" in Tallahassee and-- as a grad-- I hold these places close to my heart. But, why duplicate the options that are already available? We have proven since day one there are more interesting ways to grab your attention and deliver (hopefully) a elevated experience.

7. Not a question, but a quick note about the Madison Social brand particularly. I have yet to go on a vacation, worn the logo, and not been told "Are you from Tallahassee?" or "Go Noles!"...just by seeing the black and white logo. That is a tremendous success and one we are proud of. Last week I was in Montana and went on a small 2 mile hike at Logan Pass to a place called Hidden Lake. I asked a guy to take my wife and I's picture and he saw the logo and asked "Are you from Tallahassee?" He had come to Madison Social during some games as he was at a small school in Alabama. Just awesome meeting people.

8. Also not a question but back to the success of CT, between our four brands we have 250 employees. We have changed lives for some and provided steady income for others. We are a pretty large economic driver.

Anyway, happy to answer any questions and feel free to email me at matt@madisonsocial.com if you need anything.

Matt Thompson, Managing Partner, For The Table Hospitality

I am not the developer but I can tell you the all in rent (CAM included) for CT is the highest in the city from what I know. So any dreams of $2 drinks all night is not feasible and is something I would oppose to the overall brand of the district. CT is the only district that has successfully made students, young professionals, and Tallahassee residents unite in one area on a consistent basis. I mention all the time that Madison Social is a clearinghouse for Tallahassee and when Proof moved in a mile away- they also became another anchor.

The push is food. CT as a district has dinner to late night down but we need lunch business. However, after 3+ years parking is finally stable and it will be interesting as to how Tallahassee responds to paid parking. I look at lunch as a long term play because lunch has doubled in 3+ years at Madison Social from where we started.

As for music- just had a meeting today but I can tell you not having music has not hindered any of our establishments and 1. there is a perceived talent issue in Tallahassee 2. there is a consistency issue in Tallahassee 3. people do not really want it. Take Madison Social-- we have the biggest brand in Tallahassee with the biggest reach. Everyone knows you can have a "conversation" with us and in 3+ years we may have received maybe five requests for live music. The return for our money just isn't there. There will be some attempts at consistent live music in the area-- and I believe it is part of Tin Lizzy's DNA-- but from our perspective it is not money well spent nor something any of our audiences desire.

Finally we grow by talent. We had a baker in our talent pool since day one and have always wanted to do something. The Lenny's location in Midtown opened and it became too good to pass up for a bakery concept along with some other key partners. The bakery can also help us move down the line of getting vertically integrated.



"The downtown get down or Friday night block party, is now in College Town. It was moved from adams and college avenue over to the college town area. They also announced all the country acts that would be performing this year. "

"The city runs Downtown get down and FSU runs the block party which was held at kleman plaza. I'm sure Downtown get down is staying downtown and the block party is moving to College Town. "