Street rally planned downtown

Jessica Jackson

Fans will gather in the streets Friday to celebrate a new football season at the collegiate and high school level.

Downtown Stillwater’s Rally in the Street will kick off at 8 p.m. Friday and will offer fans a celebration complete with music from the Turnpike Troubadours.

“Something different, completely different, is we’ve invited Georgia fans to participate in it,” Business Improvement District Coordinator Angela McLaughlin said. “It’s definitely a team we can all get along with in the spirit of football ... I think it just adds to the atmosphere.”

Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Cristy Morrison said they invited Georgia fans to help show off the city.

“To show them just Stillwater hospitality and there’s something for them to do,” she said. “The athletic department thought that was a really fun (idea) ... too.”

She said she’d even like to see it build to where away teams bring their pep bands and pep squads to the event as well.

McLaughlin said the business organization teamed up with the tourism group and Oklahoma State University athletics for the event, which is replacing Friday Night in Front of the Foundation, a traditional pep rally for students.

“We just kind of combined efforts of all three of us. It’s kind of a win-win-win,” Morrison said. “It kind of helps all of us.”

The free event is the same night as the first Pioneer home game, but McLaughlin said she hopes fans will be able to make it to the rally after the game.

“We’re trying to promote both (teams) at the same time,” she said. “I feel like (Pioneer fans) will be able to catch most of the event.”

The three groups have been planning the rally for about a year and scheduled it before the Stillwater High School Pioneers had their schedule yet, she said.

Along with the live music, guests will get to see some Cowboys pre-game clips and enjoy a rally with Pistol Pete and OSU pom squad. Concessions, including alcohol beverages, will also be available, she said.

If 1,000 to 2,000 people attend, McLaughlin said, she will consider the event a success.

McLaughlin said they are planning a similar event Oct. 30 before the game with University of Texas.

“It creates more of an entertainment district in our downtown area,” Morrison said. “I think a lot of my counterparts in other university cities are just in awe in all three of our organizations working together ... I think there will be a lot of communities watching what we do.”



RALLY IN THE STREET

• When: 8-11 p.m. Friday

• Where: Corner of Seventh Avenue and Main Street

• COST: Free.

• Parking: Seventh Avenue and Lewis Street and Husband Street at Eighth and Ninth avenues.