A new phenomenon among Sun Devil fans has some tailgaters rethinking the way they interact before ASU home football games.
“Railgating,” or tailgating on the light rail, usually consists of using the train to stop off at restaurants and bars along the rail line before going to sporting events.
Nick Bastian, creator of raillife.com, a Web site informing people about activities around the light rail in Tempe and Phoenix, said railgating is the next big thing.
“It’s a community resource for people to know about cool things happening along the light rail,” Bastian said. “We try to reach out to not just students, but anybody who lives close or anybody who wants to come in for a game and use it.”
He came up with the idea for the Web site four years ago when the light rail was in its early construction planning stages.
Bastian, who also works in real estate, said he saw a lot of sprawl within the Valley and educating people about what was happening around the rail line was an issue that needed to be addressed.
“We [at raillife.com] mainly try to write about fun things that are happening or things that are happening from or with the Metro,” he said.
A new culture is beginning to form in the Valley where people take the light rail to stop off at various restaurants to eat, drink and socialize with friends, Bastian said.
Businesses near the rail line are starting to cater to these types of customers by offering a different atmosphere and discounts.
Michael Monti, owner of Monti’s La Casa Vieja near the Mill Avenue and Third Street light rail stop in Tempe, said the synergy of social media and light rail in the Valley has allowed for his business to capitalize on new customers.
“We knew there would be opportunity, but it’s up to us to make of it what we can,” he said.
Monti said restaurants in the Valley have been using social media to get the word out about special discounts and create awareness of their businesses.
It’s difficult to attribute how much business is being created by railgaters, but Monti said he has seen positive effects.
“It’s definitely attributable,” Monti said. “I’ve had several specific events where 20 or 30 people have showed up [because of social media].”
Elvon Bertsch, 29, a night manager at The Lucky Devil, a sports bar in Tempe, said his bar is seeing a younger crowd railgating on game nights.
“We get a pretty big crowd of ASU kids before and after the game,” he said.
Bertsch said the business serves railgaters and students by offering drink and food specials specifically for them.
“It brings a lot people that normally wouldn’t show up here; it’s pretty important,” he said.
Physics freshman Andrew Ryno said he started railgating in September and has been ever since. He usually goes with a group of about 10 people to various restaurants near the rail line in Tempe, he said.
“It’s a great way to hang out with people I know and work with before and after the games,” Ryno said.
Reach the reporter at dbjoraas@asu.edu.
