The Columbia Improvement district plans to introduce a Tiger Town tailgate zone in downtown Columbia.
By Orla O'Muiri
The set up would close down local streets during fall weekends. Sports fans would also be able to drink alcohol in the street, inside the marked area. Tiger town organizer Greg Steinhoff said he wants to calm local merchants' fears.
"With Missouri moving to the SEC, there will be literally thousands more visitors to Columbia," said Steinhoff, "and this is the reason we are doing this. We wanted to see the downtown businesses benefit."
Protest flyers were apparently taped to vendors' doors Wednesday morning.