‘Hogs on the Square’ a hit

‘Hogs on the Square’ a hit

Chamber officials pleased with courtyard gathering, planning a repeat in 2018

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Although the home team lost, Marion officials say they are thrilled with the turnout for their Hogs on the Square watch party, and are already working on one for next year.

“As far as I’m concerned, it was a great success,” said Marion Chamber of Commerce Vice President Tracy Brick. “Everyone had a great time.”

The Chamber turned courthouse square into a giant tailgate party on October 14 for local fans of the Arkansas Razorbacks to come together to watch the Hogs take the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Fans got to set up a tent or spread a blanket and watch the game on a 20 by 18 foot Jumbotron with their friends and neighbors in a family friendly environment.

Brick said they counted about 250 people who showed up for the event.

“We had people come out early around 3 p.m. to set up and some who came right around kickoff,” Brick said. “We had some pretty elaborate tents with game time tailgaters enjoying the usual game time fare. Others just brought a chair or a blanket. We had kids and older people. It was everything we hoped for.”

The quality of the broadcast on the Jumbotron was also fantastic, Brick said.

Even the occasional train didn’t seem to interrupt the game too much.

More importantly, the weather cooperated perfectly with game time temperatures at an unseasonably high 80s. The only downside was that the Hogs lost 41-9 to the former national champs.

Other than that, Brick said fans had a fun time and it was nice to see locals come out to enjoy the courthouse square.

“I had some people say ‘why did you pick that game?,’” Brick said. “But it really wasn’t about the game. It was about getting people to come to the square and to generate some community spirit.”

Brick said they have already picked a date for next year’s Hogs on the Square.

The event will be held September 20 when the Razorbacks take on Texas A& M.

“We won’t know kick off time until a couple of weeks before the game,” Brick said. “We had looked at a November game for next year, but I just don’t want to run the risk of rain or it being too cold. Plus, the way the Hogs are playing, we might want to get them at the beginning of the season.”

Brick said organizers have plenty of ideas they are mulling over about how to make next year’s event bigger.

“We’re talking about adding a best tailgate food competition,” Brick said.

“We have also talked about a corn hole competition, and maybe even a bocce ball competition. We have whole bunch of ideas. And I think we will have even more people show up next year.”

By Mark Randall