C6 tailgate canceled over alcohol violation, co-founder says
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The C6 tailgate before Sunday's Eagles-Rams divisional playoff matchup has been canceled because of an alcohol violation issued to one of its founders, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The C6 tailgate has been a decades-long staple at the Wells Fargo Center, providing fans with an entertainment hub before Birds' home games.
Driving the news: Representatives of the Wells Fargo Center informed the C6 crew Friday that it was temporarily banning the group from holding tailgates in its lot, C6 co-founder Sean Holden tells Axios.
- "We are sorry we are unable to provide you the C6 experience during this pivotal weekend," the group said in a statement Friday. "We look forward to making memories in 2025 and beyond."
State of play: Many fans openly drink at tailgates outside the stadium without consequences.
- But it's against state law to sell alcohol without a license, which Holden says the C6 doesn't have.
- The group doesn't sell drinks, but it was asking for donations for a charity they had partnered with at last week's tailgate, Holden says. The donations aren't mandatory.
Holden says he has hired a lawyer to fight the citation in court.
- "I certainly feel hurt because we put so much of our lives into C6," Holden says. "We're a beacon of light for a lot of people. … We have to make the right decisions going forward."
Representatives for Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Wells Fargo Center, didn't immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment.
Catch up quick: The C6 group says it has supplied food and drink for free to thousands of people who have attended its tailgates over the years.
- C6 offsets the costs through sponsorships, and sometimes pays out of the organizers' own pockets. The season-long production costs an estimated $25,000 collectively.
What's next: Holden says he's holding out hope that an agreement can be worked out with the arena that'll allow the group to host a tailgate if the Birds advance to the NFC Championship Game.
- "It's a big blow," he says. "There was no ill intention for what we were doing."