I was at the tailgate before 8 a.m. Sunday, like I had been for more than 10 years.

By that morning, cars belonging to people who had parked the night before to save their tailgate spots were being towed out of the lot.

This wasn’t some empty parking lot nobody was using.

For close to 15 years, Seahawks fans have made this parking lot near Krispy Kreme part of their game-day tradition. Groups show up early, set up their tents, grills, music, and tables, and spend the day together before heading toward the stadium.

But last Sunday, that tradition was destroyed.

The lot was cleared, and the SODO Business Improvement Area began setting up its new organized tailgate event.

Seahawks Fans Start Rebelling Against New Tailgate

The SODO-organized area was set up, but Seahawks fans weren’t exactly lining up to participate.

Instead, fans who had been displaced were around the area, talking about what had happened.

Fans were clearly unhappy, and many colorful metaphors ensued.

Lots of booing went on for hours.

The result was an empty parking lot throughout the day.

SODO Says Seahawks Fans Have No Right

They acknowledge fans have been using the public lot for years, but say it is public property and that longtime use doesn’t give fans a right to the space.

Their explanation is that the new organized tailgate is intended to formalize tailgating with permitting, sanitation, waste management, and accountability.

SODO Is Mistaken About What Seahawks Tailgating Is

This is where I think the SODO organization may have completely misunderstood what Seahawks tailgating is about.

Tailgating isn’t necessarily something you need to buy.

We bring our own food.

We bring our own grills.

We bring our own tables.

And we share.

That’s what makes it special.

You might walk into a tailgate you’ve never been to before, and somebody will hand you a plate of food. You meet another Seahawks fan, talk football, take some pictures, and suddenly you’ve made a new friend.

That’s Seahawks tailgating.

It’s a community built over years.

You can’t replace that by putting up tents, bringing in vendors, and calling it a tailgate.

My Question for SODO Business Improvement Area

Imagine someone told you that you couldn’t use your own house anymore.

No warning.

No real conversation.

They removed your belongings, changed how the space was being used and then opened a restaurant there.

Then they turned around and said:

“Hey, come on in and buy some food.”

Wouldn’t that seem a little tone deaf?

That is exactly how longtime Seahawks tailgaters who were displaced felt last Sunday.

There is a huge difference between creating something new and pushing aside a tradition that Seahawks fans have built themselves over more than a decade.

Seahawks Fans Made Their Feelings Clear

I was there.

I saw the cars being towed.

I saw the lot cleared.

I saw the SODO event being set up.

And I saw Seahawks fans who were clearly unhappy with how it happened.

Most importantly, we’re not going away.

We are calling on fans to boycott the SODO tailgate. If you walk by, let them know how unhappy you are.

I am sure there will be more loud booing this weekend when the 49ers come to town.

Because Seahawks tailgating wasn’t created by an organization.

The fans created it, and we won’t stop until we get it back.

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