Bell Center Tailgate Challenge
Paul Mann and his team are going for their third people’s choice award this year at the Bell Center Tailgate Challenge. The LSU/Mardi Gras theme team are, left to right, Steven Langham, Lance Hutcheson, Paul Mann, Kaden Weldon, Scott Weldon, Kim Weldon and Brandon Weldon. Photo courtesy of the Bell Center.
The Bell Center Tailgate Challenge
- 1700 29th Court South
- Saturday, Aug. 29
- 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
- $15 adults, $5 ages 4-10, free 3 and under
- thebellcenter.org
The gauntlet will be thrown down on Aug. 29 for the Bell Center Tailgate Challenge.
For this, the sixth annual fundraiser, the field of competition will be at The Bell Center itself, 29th Court South at Central Avenue.
“This is the first time we’ve held the challenge at home, and it’ll be great to have people see where we are,” said Kelly Peoples, fund development director. “We’ll have live music, a kids zone sponsored by Covenant Classical Schools, different cheerleader and dance teams, plus a lot of shade.”
The Bell Center offers early intervention for children from birth to 3 years of age with special needs or who may be at risk for development delay. Services include physical and occupational therapy, speech and language pathology and early childhood especial education.
Peoples said this year’s goal is to have 50 teams of challengers, each with their own themed tent, who will attempt to outdo each other to claim the awards for best tasting food, best team spirit and best all around.
“We ask the teams to offer samples of their food to the crowd, and our judges are WJOX radio personalities,” she said. “But then the crowd votes on the people’s choice winner.”
Chelsea native and Alabama fan Paul Mann, along with a neighbor who pulls for Auburn and an LSU fan friend, has won the people’s choice trophy two years in a row.
“The first year we did the a ‘house divided’ theme and in 2014, a LSU/Mardi Gras celebration — with a Cajun boil, lots of bead throwing, Moon Pies, the whole shebang,” Mann said. “That was such a success, we’re going to do it again this year.”
While Mann has a real affinity for the Tailgate Challenge, it can’t compare with his love of the Bell Center, where his son A.J. was enrolled from 2010 to 2014. Diagnosed with Down syndrome, A.J. began at the Bell Center at six months, Mann said.
“It was great for him because he started learning skills such as speech and social, even singing, at such a young age, and he’s so much better prepared now to go to school,” Mann said. “It also helps the parents because it’s a community with other families in similar situations.”
Peoples said she expects about 1,000 people to attend this year’s Tailgate Challenge, in addition to the 500 team members competing. Team tents are $150 and include 10 admission tickets. Gate entrance tickets are free to those ages three and under, $5 for ages four to 10 and $15 for all others.
Mann said he and his teammates will be at The Bell Center bright and early Aug. 29, ready to make a run at their third people’s choice title.
“The Bell Center does so much for the community, helps so many children and this is a big fundraiser for them, so it’s a win-win-win for those who take part, those who attend and the kids,” he said. “Plus, with lots of fun, lots of food and a few beers, it’s a great warm-up for football season.”