Originally published August 29, 2014
By Rodrigo Castaneda
UTEP News Service
Celebrating its Centennial and moving into the next 100 years, The University of Texas at El Paso is pleased to host Minerpalooza, the largest pep rally in the Paso del Norte region, 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, Sept. 5 at the P-9 parking lot north of Sun Bowl Stadium on the UTEP campus.
The University has made sure this Minerpalooza will be the “Party of the Century.”
“Being UTEP’s Centennial, Minerpalooza will be bigger and bolder than ever before, featuring world-renowned talent, one-of-a-kind giveaways and the engagement of 100 UTEP student organizations,” said Catie McCorry-Andalis, Ed.D., UTEP associate vice president and dean of students.
This year, Minerpalooza will offer something for everybody. The event is free and open to all ages. There will be live music, activity booths, inflatables, food and beverage vendors, a beer and wine garden, and a kids’ zone at Kidd Field.
The pep rally to kick off the 2014 Miner football season is at 6:45 p.m. at Minerpalooza’s main stage and there will be a fireworks display in the background of the musical performances starting at 10 p.m.
After the fireworks, the headlining act, The Cataracs, will play.
Other artists lending their talents to this year’s event are local funk favorites Fungi Mungle at 6:15 p.m., the up-and-coming Matt U Johnson at 7:45 p.m., Latin Grammy-nominated Cristina Eustace at 8:30 p.m., and hip-hop and electronic dance music artist Tim Gunter at 9:50 p.m.
The 24-year-old, back-to-school tradition is one of El Paso’s largest fundraisers. The event benefits UTEP student organizations.
“Minerpalooza gives students an opportunity to see the athletics side of UTEP if they are not familiar with it,” said Veronica Gonzalez, assistant director of Student Publications. “It gives them the opportunity to get involved and see how much fun it is to participate in activities outside of the classroom. It really gets the school spirit up!”
Students enjoy themselves at Minerpalooza, often serving as volunteers at the event or for registered student organization booths.
“Minerpalooza is a fun way for students to interact with staff and student organizations that might help them in the future by getting them more involved in campus activities,” said Anna Almeida, a senior majoring in organizational and corporate communications. She also is the advertising coordinator for UTEP Student Publications.
Almeida, who has attended Minerpalooza in the past, recommended the event, saying it can serve as a great opportunity to network, get involved in UTEP and the community, and celebrate the beginning of the football season in a fun and different way.
Free parking will be available in lots P-6, P-7, P-11, the Sun Bowl Parking Garage, R-2, R-3 and R-4. Paid parking will be available at the Glory Road Transfer Center for $10. A campus map with the parking lots may be found at maps.utep.edu.
Free ADA shuttle services will run between parking lots S-3 and P-9 every 10 minutes from 5:30 p.m. to midnight.
The day after Minerpalooza, fans will flock to Sun Bowl Stadium to support the Miners as they play their first home game against Texas Tech’s Red Raiders at 9 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6.
Prior to the Texas Tech game, fans can start tailgating at outer campus lots beginning at 8 a.m. Tailgating in Miner Alley, located between the UTEP Bookstore and the Sun Bowl Parking Garage, will begin at 2 p.m.
For more information regarding UTEP’s tailgating policies, visit tailgate.utep.edu.
A comprehensive gameday guide for Miner enthusiasts about the new season is available at www.utepathletics.com/gameday/.
Miners of all ages are readying their orange and blue and making one thing clear: a new and exciting football season has arrived, leaving the path open to new opportunities and achievements for the University and its Miners for the next 100 years.