Jimmy Buffett returns to Frisco on May 4 after one-year break

by Sarah Blaskovich

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May the Fourth be with you! Wait, that's another kind of fan.

FRISCO — We've been waiting for weeks for the final announcement, and on Monday morning, it finally came: After a one-year break from performing in Frisco, Jimmy Buffett will be back in Frisco’s “finland” for a show on May 4 at FC Dallas Stadium as part of his "Songs From St. Somewhere" Tour 2013.

The concert and pre-concert experience in Frisco was regularly considered by Parrotheads as one of the nation’s best. In 2012, when the concert moved to Gexa Energy Pavilion in Dallas, tailgating was limited and the pre-concert festivities were noticeably sedated -- though the concert was packed. A return to Frisco means a bigger emphasis on tailgating.

“We see it as more than a show: It’s more of a destination,” said Nick Shafer, vice president of stadium operations at FC Dallas Stadium. “People come from all over to hang out for the whole weekend.”

In years past, we've seen riding lawn chairs, flying Jell-O shots, and pirate-clad men and women who spend nearly 48 hours singing, dancing, and drinking in the parking lot. Many of the most avid fans sleep in cars or RVs Friday through Sunday.

Buffett fan Gary Smith, who lives in Plano, said the atmosphere was better in Frisco than Dallas. "It was a lot larger, a lot more things going on," he said. "Now, I will say, in Frisco, there’s a certain disappointment there because you get a certain number of people who tailgate there and don’t know anything about Jimmy Buffett. But it’s a great atmosphere. It seems like they really bend over backwards to let us do what we want to do, within reason."

FC Dallas Stadium has room for 24,000 to 28,000 concertgoers, though as many as 40,000 or more are expected the weekend of May 4, Shafer said. The gates will open at 9 a.m. Friday, May 3, for fans who want to spend the weekend partying in the parking lot. About 5,800 parking spaces are available on FC Dallas grounds for cars and RVs, not including grass parking and non-venue parking.

Shafer hopes to bring back the atmosphere Buffett fans found in Frisco two years ago: “We know how important it is for the fans,” he said. “We hope to have the same atmosphere we had the year prior [in 2011]. That’s hopefully why Jimmy chose to come back here.”

One big change this year is that golf carts will not be allowed in the parking lots. In concerts past, the parking lot in Frisco has become jammed with fans and golf carts a few hours prior to the Saturday night show. “It’s starting to get a little crazy, and this year, we want to ensure everyone’s safety,” Shafer said.

Concert tickets are available for pre-sale Tuesday through Thursday for Buffett fans on a special list. Tickets open to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, February 15. Ticket prices range from $45 to $126, Shafer said.

Prices for parking spaces are $80 for a single car Friday through Sunday morning; $230 for an RV or camper (which incudes 4 spots) for the same time frame; or $40 for a car on Saturday only. The Jimmy Buffett VIP Gold Lot Overnight Parking – guaranteed, pre-sold parking – costs $500. Other pricing is available at fcdallasstadium.com.

The concert is organized by live entertainment company AEGLive, and Senior Marketing Manager Scott Strong said the company is thrilled to be part of the tour’s return to Frisco. Since Buffett’s earliest days performing in Frisco, the area near Main Street and the Dallas North Tollway has built up to include dozens of restaurants, shops, and bars within easy walking distance to FC Dallas Stadium.

Jackson Browne will open for Buffett.

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