Circle Up! tailgate will turn Indy gold and black on September 1

Purdue fans are invited to put on their gold and black and kick off the 2017 football season in style at the Circle Up! Boiler Tailgate 2.0 on Indianapolis’ Monument Circle on Friday, September 1. (Submitted graphic) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Boiler Business Exchange of Indianapolis invites Purdue fans to put on their gold and black and kick off the 2017 football season in style at the Circle Up! Boiler Tailgate 2.0 on Indianapolis’ Monument Circle on Friday, September 1.

Purdue Pete, the university pep band and cheerleaders will be in attendance along with several Purdue athletic greats, and the Boilermaker Special will be giving rides around the downtown area. Purdue President Mitch Daniels, football coach Jeff Brohm and Athletics Director Mike Bobinski will take the stage to speak at 1:45 p.m. as the football team arrives to the sounds of the Hail Purdue fight song. The Boilermakers kick off the season against Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Louisville Cardinals at Lucas Oil Stadium at 8 p.m. on September 2.

The free program begins at noon and is hosted by a pair of Purdue graduates: Indianapolis TV personalities Angela Buchman from WTHR and Kevin Gregory from WRTV. Food trucks and offerings from some of Purdue fans’ favorite restaurants in the West Lafayette area will be available for fans of all ages, while beer will be available for purchase for those over 21. 

 “We have approval from the police, the City of Indianapolis, and the Indiana War Memorial to have beer throughout the entire event inside the barricades shutting down each spoke of Monument Circle,” said Pete Quinn, chairman of the Boiler Business Exchange. “Once people are carded and get their drinks, they don't have to stay in any roped off area, and are free to check out the entire tailgate.”

"We at the Boiler Business Exchange are really excited to organize the 2017 CircleUP! tailgate and pep session, where we are preparing for greater than 10,000 Boilermakers faithful to paint downtown Indianapolis Gold and Black," said Matt Folk, president of the BBE.

The goal of the Boilermaker Business Exchange is to raise the profile of Purdue University in Indianapolis and to support Purdue University, the Purdue Alumni Association and the John Purdue Club.  This is a nonprofit group that has tapped into the business community of Indianapolis to help promote Purdue by hosting high profile events, encouraging attendance at the various Purdue events and keeping its members engaged with the university.

The BBE will be having a networking event at the Columbia Club preceding the tailgate where Daniels will deliver a state of Purdue address. Cost is $50 to attend, registration is available here. This event is expected to sell out.

Event Details:

Circle Up! Boiler Tailgate 2.0

Friday September 1

Noon – 2:30 p.m.

Monument Circle, Indianapolis

Writer: Tim Doty, 765-496-2571, doty2@purdue.edu

Sources: Pete Quinn, pete.quinn@colliers.com

Matt Folk, mfolk@tmcc.com