Where do you pregame?

[By George.]

It’s that time of year again, leaves are falling, chill is in the air and the return of Mason Basketball is 2 days away. I'm excited to return to the ritual of hitting up local Fairfax bars, slamming some 2 buck brews, pounding wings and walking into Eagle Bank Arena dawning my green and gold. Over the past 11 seasons, we at By George have pregamed at almost every local spot around EBA but we’ve recently decided to make Red Hot Blue our go-to pregame spot. Three seasons ago we wanted to watch a CBI tourney game at a local Mason bar. Assuming Brion's Grill is the official Mason bar, we showed up thinking they’d be playing the game but when we sat down at the bar and asked if they were showing the GMU vs. Houston game they looked at us like "WTF". Not only did they not know the game was televised, they weren’t even willing to put the game on. We called over to Hard Times and not only were they showing the game but they had a free nacho bar (for all Mason basketball games). The Texas Wings were bangin’ and the tall beers were cheap. I know I have seen some of you at the side bar for watch parties crushing some free nachos.

We started going to Red Hot and Blue last season as we know the general manager. Management has expressed interest in becoming a pregame Mason destination. I am hoping to bring you guys some good news here shortly but I'm waiting on confirmation.

I too have a lot of fun predicting the starting lineup, our new offense and new 2016 recruits but a majority of my excitement is dedicated to our game day traditions. What are some pre game mason traditions you have? And where do you choose to pregame; Brions, Fat Tuesdays, Red Hot Blue, Hard Times, Green Turtle parking lot or......?

 

[masonjoe]

Can't fault a bartender at Brion's for not knowing that a Mason game at the end of march that wasn't the NCAA tournament was on and playing on the AXS.tv station. There essentially is no real pregame spot, there's some that show up to Brion's but other than homecoming it's pretty dead.

 

[G M U]

I think By George brings up a fundamental problem that’s plagued our program for the last several years. What are we doing to change the culture off the court? I applaud By George, Giant Killer for attempting to breathe a new sign of life to a program that’s grown rather stale (thanks Hewitt). Our fan base, like it or not, is getting older and haven’t acquired many new younger fans due to the lack of recent success. I personally go to Hard Times, but would gladly join a new movement at Red Hot Blue.

 

[patriot1957]

Hard Times is pretty unbearable unless you're a smoker

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

I used to go to BWU because they were the cheapest and had the sluttiest women but I usually don't go there now because they are closed.

Now it's that convenience store curb a few doors down from Fat Tuesday's. Sometimes the woods in between that shopping center and the houses out back.

 

[gmu05]

My go to is presidents park with a case of Natty.

 

[PoorManProfit]

My parents basement.

 

[MasonCrew]

I'd go to Brion's or Auld Shebang. With pot now legal in DC, I'll probably smoke my brains out then roll on the orange line to the game.

 

[BandWagon18]

Premise invalid: I'm there before anyone walks in

 

[mrmangos02]

I used to go to BWU because they were the cheapest and had the sluttiest women

HAHAHAHA. Fun fact, asked my wife on our first date there.....she reminded me as I was quoting this to her

 

[phoenix-arizona]

Fat's or Brions. I used to love BWU for some Thursday night football and hung over teaching Fridays.

 

[TweederGMU]

I used to go to BWU because they were the cheapest and had the sluttiest women but I usually don't go there now because they are closed.

Now it's that convenience store curb a few doors down from Fat Tuesday's. Sometimes the woods in between that shopping center and the houses out back.

Now I know why they have your ID hanging up behind the counter

 

[GiantKiller_Co]

It sucks that the university doesn't allow tailgating for Basketball. They allow it outside of Mason Stadium for soccer but hey, whatcha gonna do. I'm sure fans, alumni and students would tailgate if they allowed it.

 

[GreenLantern]

Since I am coming straight from DC to Reston, grab the wife, then to Fairfax, I'll likely have my pregame with a 7-11 hot dog in the car trying to make the game on time!

 

[mkaufman1]

It sucks that the university doesn't allow tailgating for Basketball. They allow it outside of Mason Stadium for soccer but hey, whatcha gonna do. I'm sure fans, alumni and students would tailgate if they allowed it.

Unfortunately basketball isn't really a "tailgating" friendly sport considering the weather for most of the games is cold. The only time anything going on for tailgating is really opening night when theres festivities and Homecoming.

 

[GMUSig03]

You can tailgate if you are smart about it - just no open containers. Get some soda bottles and slim in some rum/vodka, or get one of those "water" bottles that is not see through and has a closed lid and fill it with whatever you want. Not that Tweeder and I would know anything about it...

 

[Raider_SPE]

We started going to Red Hot and Blue last season as we know the general manager. Management has expressed interest in becoming a pregame Mason destination. I am hoping to bring you guys some good news here shortly but I'm waiting on confirmation.

When we have time and want some food, RH&B is usually the spot we hit up before the game. Rib-wich combo, appetizer deals and large beers.

 

[Haxormax]

When I was a wee-lad undergrad TKE, we tailgated every game. We were the only ones usually but we never got messed with by security. I doubt they'd mess with people that are clearly not students.

That being said, I live in Philly now, so MJROB and I drink sadly awaiting GMU to make us sad.

 

[By George.]

Sounds to me like there are some people that need a pregame spot. As much as I love drinking with trees, I'd rather drink with fellow Mason bball fans. By George will be hosting pregame happy hours (and away game watch parties, details to come later) at Red Hot & Blue in Fairfax. First 5 fans to come up to us, we will be wearing By George gear, and tells us the frosh your most excited for will get a free beer!

 

[masonjoe]

What is "By George"?