Governor Mike DeWine’s announcement granting sports his blessing to move forward Tuesday was met with the initial elation it deserved.
But as more details emerged, many were not thrilled with the stipulations as it relates to spectators at events.
Chiefly, the suggestion that only family members, or someone extremely close to the player, be allowed to attend. Otherwise, sorry about your luck.
How exactly this will be implemented has yet to be decided. The individual schools are being tasked with coming up with their own policies.
No matter what way you look at it though, there will be a lot of interested fans left wanting when tickets are made available.
Nowhere locally will this be felt more than the village of Shadyside. Few communities support their high school sports teams with the show of support and fervor offered up on a nightly basis in Tiger Town.
And it’s not just the football team. EVERY team gets that type of support. Got to a Lady Tigers’ basketball game on an average Monday night during the regular season. That gym is packed.
“It comes from a long history of winning, but Shadyside support no matter the record though,” said the younger Matt Coffland of the Tiger Pub. “It’s been that way for a long time, and I don’t see it changing.
“Tiger Town represents.”
Like the sands of the coliseum in ancient Rome, the beating heart of Shadyside is Tigers’ athletics.
The Cofflands knows this. Matt’s Tiger Pub has been open in town since 1991 and serving food, drinks, and entertainment to the public.
Following the announcement, Matt took to Facebook to let citizens know that the pub will be offerings its assistance on game night.
Come Watch and Support the Team
Coffland announced on the Shadyside, Ohio Facebook page that because of the restrictions, he’s going to find a way to stream the games at the Tiger Pub on game night.
There will be a cover charge to enter and 100 percent of that charge will go back to the school.
He noted the football moms and band parents will be losing out on money with far less than capacity attendance allowed at games.
In addition to the cover charge, Coffland is considering running his own 50-50 raffle on game nights. The pub-side proceeds will be donated back to the school. He would hope the winner’s half would be too, but it’s obviously not a requirement.
Given where the winnings are headed, the house may add a bit to the pot itself.
“I normally sweeten the pot no matter what,” Coffland said. “Sometimes people are aware. Sometimes I just do it. The important thing is the money is staying local and going to the deserving groups which need it.”
Normally the pub’s kitchen closes are kickoff during game night. But football fans need to eat so the kitchen will likely stay open later as well.
“I’m considering keeping my kitchen open through halftime of the game, possibly later,” Coffland said. “I normally cut it off at kickoff of home games but that is all subject to change and the hours will be extended.”
Bars Have Restrictions Too
Even closing the kitchen at say 8:30-9 p.m. on a Friday night seems early, but like sports, drinking establishments are subject to COVID-related regulations too.
The Tiger Pub must close by 10 p.m.
That’s another reason Coffland is empathetic to what the football-based organizations will be going through in terms of revenue loss. He’s been dealing with it for months.
And by helping the football moms and band parents, as well as providing the throngs of Orange and Black faithful a place to watch their beloved Tigers, he’s also helping his own business and employees.
“If I can gain some business, which is difficult in the 7-9 p.m. time slot, and give back at the same time, it doesn’t get any better than that,” Coffland said. “It’s a win-win for all sides. Go Tigers!”
For more information, check out the Tiger Pub’s web page or visit it on Facebook.
