DETROIT – Eastern Market will institute some new safety changes for tailgating events after a shooting earlier in the season left two people dead.
It happened Sept. 15 at Shed 6 in the Eastern Market neighborhood. Police said two men got into a confrontation and one of them pulled out a gun and fired shots.
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The new tailgating policies will start Oct. 27 and will be in effect for all events moving forward.
Officials with Eastern Market said they’re committed to making sure their tailgating events remain fun and safe.
General policies:
- All tailgate activities must be conducted in accordance with the law.
- All tailgating tickets must be purchased in advance at easternmarket.org.
- Tailgate and parking lots open approximately four hours in advance of kick off at 9 a.m. for 1 p.m. games; noon for 4 p.m. games and 4 p.m. for 8 p.m. games.
- All parking lots close and vehicles must be removed within 60 minutes after the game. No overnight parking is allowed.
- Tailgating is permitted only in posted lots. Tailgating is not allowed on any public streets, sidewalks, private property, or alleys.
- All vehicles within tailgating areas must follow any instructions posted and given by Eastern Market Partnership personnel.
- Tents larger than 10x10 are prohibited.
Prohibited activities:
- Weapons or firearms are strictly prohibited. This extends to both real weapons and facsimile weapons, such as toy guns, swords, knives, hatchets or bombs that might be part of a costume.
- Selling of items or soliciting of any promotional event or marketing activities by guests is prohibited.
- Disorderly conduct is not permitted and will be addressed in accordance with the law.
NEW Ticketing Policies and Procedures:
- Upon arrival, ticketholders must present their Eventbrite ticket for scanning and will receive a vehicle hang tag for TWO designated adjacent parking spots and 10 wristbands for up to 10 tailgaters per area.
- Eastern Market personnel will direct ticketholders to their designated spots.
- Tags and wristbands will be color-coded to each game and not transferable to future tailgate events.
- Individual tailgate areas have been reconfigured to allow for safe, comfortable, and enjoyable tailgating to occur within the parking spot footprint.
Food and Beverage Policies
- Alcohol must be contained within the tailgate lots, and underage drinking is prohibited.
- Only State-approved gas/propane grills with fuel valve shut-offs and self-contained charcoal grills are permitted.
- Only self-starting coals or gas grills are allowed in the tailgating footprint. No lighter fluid is allowed on the premises.
- Deep fryers and cooking oil are not allowed on the premises.
- In parking lot tailgating areas, guests may bring and prepare food for consumption by their family and friends only. Food cannot be offered for sale.
Clean Up Policies
- Guests must return their area back to its original state before leaving the tailgating area.
- Tailgating areas must be kept in a neat and orderly condition, and all trash must be disposed of in proper receptacles. We have added additional trash receptacles throughout the tailgating footprint and around the market for garbage removal convenience.
- All hot coal must be extinguished and placed in the hot coal bins located in all tailgating lots.
Additional Event Policies and Procedures:
- Eastern Market will post signage enforcing the prohibition of weapons and firearms.
- By order of the Fire Marshall, no tailgating will be allowed in drive lanes within parking lots.
- Emergency services personnel will be on-site in case of emergency.
- In addition to Eastern Market Partnership personnel and a private security detail, Detroit Police officers will be stationed throughout the tailgating footprint to support the event.
A full list of policies at Eastern Market can be found on its official website.
