CHARLESTON, W.Va – A marquee event for West Virginia football fans and alumni hits Charleston on Saturday with Mountaineers Night Out, a WVU tailgate turned fundraiser centered around the game against Kansas.
Organizer Jim Strawn said the event is bringing gold and blue supporters together for some fun and some good causes.
“We’re going to have a tailgate, watching football party/fun/fundraiser for the West Virginia Kids Cancer Crusaders and the Bob Burdette Center,” he said.
Mountaineers Night Out is the brainchild of the late Doug Skaff, Jr., who helped develop the event before his passing earlier this year. A tribute to Skaff will be part of the event during halftime of the game.
In addition to the watch party for the game, tickets include food and drink, games, music, and the opportunity to bid on auction items. Strawn believes that certainly makes the $50 ticket worth it.
“$50 with all that food and spirit and beverages, that comes with the $50. Wear your blue and gold and then be there for the tribute for Doug. I just think it’s going to be a special Saturday,” he said.
With as much planned for Saturday evening as there is, focus is still on the charitable causes that benefit from the funds raised.
“There’s a lot of things happening, but the best part, for me, is that we’re raising money for the kids with cancer, the West Virginia Kids Cancer Crusaders and the Bob Burdette Center,” Strawn said.
The list of activities is long, and there might just be something for every kind of Mountaineer fan, something that’s gone a long way with ticket sales.
“We hope to have 3, 4, maybe upwards of 500 of our closest Mountaineer fans rooting on the Mountaineers to beat the Jayhawks,” Strawn said.
Mountaineers Night Out begins at the Red Carpet Pavilion on Saturday at 4pm, and the WVU game kicks off at 6. Tickets are available by going online to MountaineersNightOut.com.