Jiffy Lube Live tailgate boycotters plan to party elsewhere

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Prince William County police Chief Charlie T. Deane on Wednesday said Jiffy Lube Live's decision to ban tailgating at the Bristow pavilion is a great idea.

He said his department has “struggled and struggled” to reduce drunken driving stemming from makeshift tailgating parties in the amphitheater parking lot.

 “We applaud their action, and think it is a step in the right direction,” Deane said.  “I understand some people might not agree … but I firmly believe it is the right thing to do.”
Deane is right about one thing. There are at least 4,600 people who disagree.

After getting his tickets for Saturday's WMZQFest, and noting the "No Tailgating" note stamped on them, Manassas resident Chris Gellner started a Facebook page in response.

His "Boycott Jiffy Lube Live Tailgating Policy" page started out with about 50 fans, but after a story appeared this weekend on insidenova.com and in the News & Messenger, his fan base has jumped to more than 4,500 "likes" -- and it's growing every second.

"When you've got 4,000 people saying they're against this policy, you'd think as a business you'd take another look at it," Gellner said Wednesday.

Jiffy Lube officials, on their own Facebook page, wrote that safety is behind the decision.

“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.”

Gellner, who calls himself a tailgating addict, said it's a big part of the concert-going experience.

"It's a huge culture," said Gellner, 26. "You meet so many people, and they become part of your tailgating family. As soon as the word got out about this policy, you can tell what it means to people."

Gellner said Jiffy Lube officials should enforce their long-held rule of no drinking in the parking lot, and no underage drinking, rather than punish everyone who comes to the amphitheater, which holds 25,000 people.

But Chief Deane said police have always had a high number of arrests at the pavilion—both from inbound and outbound from the parking lot—including both juvenile, and adult, drivers. 
He said police have also done everything they could do in terms of public education and other methods, including having warning signs in the lot, to curb drunk driving associated with the venue.

Since 2009, four people have died in drunken driving crashes following concerts at Jiffy Lube Live.

In September 2009, a drunken Stafford County man driving home from a Jimmy Buffett concert at Jiffy Lube hit a car on Prince William Parkway, killing a woman and her 2-year-old grandson.

And last August, 15-year-old Derek Meffert and 18-year-old Steven Dixon died in a crash on Logmill Road in Haymarket, on their way home from a Rascal Flatts concert at Jiffy Lube. Police say alcohol and speed were factors in the crash.

Gellner said he questions Jiffy Lube's statement about fan safety.

"They're still going to sell beer inside, so there will be less time to sober up afterward," he said. "If you want to make it a safety issue, then make it a dry venue."

Saturday's soldout WMZQFest will be the first test of the venue's tailgating ban. But it's not going to stop the party, Gellner said.

"We're going offsite," he said. "We're having a tailgate party not too far away from the venue, then we're all going to head over to the show."