Tailgating at Maryville College is not just a parking-lot activity — it is a full Blount County tradition. From Honaker Field Saturday-morning fan-zone setups to alumni tents on the Sandy Springs side of campus, the Scots faithful know how to throw down. Here is how to make your tailgate the one everyone walks over to.
Why Maryville College tailgates need pro rentals
The lot is paved, the wind off the Foothills is real, and the alumni crowd has been doing this for 200+ years. A pop-up canopy from a big-box store will not survive a 25mph gust. We deliver heavy-duty tents that hold up + tables, chairs, food-prep gear, and the secret weapon: a mechanical bull that turns your tailgate into “the spot.”
Tent sizing for the Maryville College parking lot
- 10-15 guests: 10×20 frame tent — fits one full-size pickup-bed grill + 2 cocktail tables
- 20-30 guests: 20×20 frame tent — 4 round tables, gives shade for the food line
- 40-60 guests (group/family tailgate): 20×40 — full seated meal capacity
- Greek chapter or alumni group (80+): 30×40 or two 20×30s side-by-side
All tents include side walls (deploy on rainy or windy game days). Browse our Maryville tent inventory.
Mech bull as a crowd magnet
The 40-ft circle fits in 2 parking spaces. We have watched neighboring tailgates abandon their own setups to come ride. For Greek chapter recruitment events, this is a $1,099 ROI move — at $1,099/3hr with 2 trained operators included, it pays for itself in attention.
Table + chair math
- 1 8-ft rectangle table for food service
- 2 cocktail tables for standing crowd
- 4-6 stools at each cocktail
- For seated meals: 60-inch rounds (seat 10) + folding banquet chairs
Power solutions
Lot power is essentially nil. Plan generators for: TV, music, food warmers, phone charging, lights for after-game wind-down. One 5,000W gen covers a 30-person tailgate. Two gens for 60+.
Foam party for the kids tent
Family tailgates with under-12s love a 2-hour foam party setup ($279/2hrs). Kids stay in the foam zone, parents watch the game.
Sample 50-person family tailgate bundle
- 20×30 frame tent with side walls
- 5 6-ft tables + 50 chairs
- 1 5,000W generator
- Mechanical bull (3 hrs, 2 ops)
- Foam party 2 hrs (kids tent)
Total: $2,400-$3,000. Best ROI on the lot.
Sample 100-person alumni/chapter tailgate
- 30×40 frame tent
- 10 60-inch rounds + 100 banquet chairs
- 2 generators
- Mechanical bull (3 hrs)
- 20×30 cocktail tent (extension)
Total: $3,800-$4,800.
Tear-down after the game
We tear down after the game, not before kickoff. Your group keeps using the tent for the post-game crowd. We arrive ~30 min after final whistle, have you packed 90 min later.
Booking lead time
Home games book 3-4 weeks out. Big rivalry games and Homecoming book 8 weeks out. Call (865) 419-0090 — $50 deposit holds the date.
Why tailgate organizers pick PBHR
Since 2020, 950+ 5-star reviews, fully insured, locally owned. We deliver to Maryville across multiple seasons. We know which spots have wind exposure, which need extra weighting, and which parking spaces fit a 30×40 tent. Corporate alumni events + Greek chapter events welcome.