Once again Lawrence and Kansas University will work together this fall to turn college football enthusiasm into a weekend of celebration.

The Big Blue Weekends will return on weekends the Jayhawks play in Lawrence. Already KU and Lawrence officials are making plans.

	www.visitlawrence.com

“There will be something in place again this year and we’re still discussing what we might do,” said Troy Roberts, convention and sports sales manager for the Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We’re going to build off the football atmosphere,” said Lee Johnson, director of marketing for the KU Athletic Corp. “We have talks going on now with several people.”

Big Blue Weekends started in 1996 as a joint effort involving the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, KUAC and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Last year’s theme was “Feel the Pride.”

In the past, celebrations generally have started about 7 p.m. Fridays. Last year pep rallies, street fairs and other activities were held in downtown Lawrence. A few bars signed up to hold tailgate parties prior to games. Those attending the parties then bused to KU’s Memorial Stadium.

“Our goal is to get people to come to Lawrence and stay the entire weekend,” Roberts said. “Last year I think we made good strides.”

The Convention and Visitors Bureau sent out about 100,000 mailers to people nationwide who had ties to KU football, Roberts said. The mailers told about Lawrence as well as football and listed the bureau’s Web site, www.visitlawrence.com.

Last year Big Blue Weekends got a big boost when KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway announced that alcohol would be allowed at pregame tailgating parties. Certain areas in the parking lots around Memorial Stadium were designated for allowing alcohol. The ban against alcohol and alcohol sales inside the stadium, however, continued.

The allowance of alcohol at tailgating parties was an experiment. Hemenway said he would review the issue before this year’s football season to see if it will continue. No decision has been made.

Whatever the decision, KU and Lawrence officials are optimistic about what Big Blue Weekends will bring this year.

“It’s a matter of capturing the excitement that surrounds college athletics and the big football games,” Johnson said. “It’s just like one big pep rally.”