'Trying to pick up the pieces': Why the Bearcat Bash is happening later than expected

The Bearcat Bash is coming to Short Vine this college football season, but organizers are now aiming for an October start date.

The University of Cincinnati football tailgate was first announced in July and proposed a blockwide takeover by Bearcats fans on Vine Street. The plan was for the area to become a destination for fans to tailgate before home games and watch them live on a jumbo screen. This would allow a crowd to patronize nearby businesses and roam between restaurants and bars, Rich Owens, the event's initial organizer, told WCPO.

ESPN Radio sports host Mo Egger, UC football legend Tony Pike and Bearcat Journal's Chad Brendel were set to host a live pregame show. Etrayn would perform a DJ set.

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But, on Sept. 5, six days before UC's home opener against Kennesaw State University, the Bearcat Bash Twitter account retweeted an announcement from Trace Fowler, president of local sports media company Chatterbox Sports.

The tailgate wasn't happening.

In the tweeted video, Fowler said Chatterbox Sports, which initially agreed to produce media for the event, was now taking full control over the Bash because the necessary permits and other details had not been acquired.

"As a company, we're proud of what we build and we like to do a good job. So, we said we're either gonna take (the event) over fully or back out," Fowler told The Enquirer.

Fowler said he was introduced to Owens in July through Pike, and that Chatterbox signed on as a third-party contractor that would handle the event's radio personalities, DJ set and video board. Owens, Fowler said, agreed to take care of the permits, security, portable bathrooms and other logistics.

"We were holding up our end of the bargain, and unfortunately the other side kind of dropped the ball," he said. "Now we're trying to pick up the pieces."

In a Facebook message, Owens said the Bash had to be postponed to October because it "logistically wasn't ready." When asked why permit applications for the event were not previously submitted, he did not respond.

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Chatterbox has teamed with Business DNA Group, which works with the Short Vine Association, to apply for permits. This month, Fowler and the group applied for a special events permit through the city government, as well as an F permit, which will allow them to sell beer, through the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control.

Business DNA Group managing partner Meshell Giblin said business owners on Short Vine are "absolutely thrilled" the event is going to take place.

"It's really a chance to reintroduce Short Vine to a new generation of people," she said.

Chatterbox Sports is also coordinating the event's video board, sound system, set and talent. The personality lineup will be the same, except for Egger, who is being replaced by Chatterbox podcaster Brandon Saho, Fowler said.

Owens will still be involved as a sales representative, according to Fowler.

Chatterbox is aiming to host the first Bearcat Bash on Oct. 8, UC's homecoming game against South Florida University. After that, the event will be held for select home games on Nov. 5, Nov. 11 and Nov. 26, according to the special event permit application.

"The main message that I want people to understand is that if Chatterbox is involved, we're going to do it right," Fowler said. "It'll look like the renderings. It'll be everything that we want it to be."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC football tailgate Bearcat Bash postponed to October. Here's why