Who: All ZE Brothers (and invited Nupes), plus our families, friends, and guests
What: ZE Homecoming Tailgate 2026 — “THE ZE FRAT HOUSE”
When: Saturday, November 7th, 2026 — Kickoff time posted once released
Where: Williams‑Brice Stadium Area — Final address will be added closer to date
Why: To celebrate the ZE Brotherhood & Bond through a premium, secure, high‑quality, fun, and tradition‑centered tailgate experience — with the Gamecocks on a massive Jumbotron, a sound‑stage, DJ Frosty, catered food, premium bar service, Brotherhood activities, and more.
How: Brothers pay their appropriate Premium Fee (and any Premium Guests) through the Brothers‑Only Payment Portal on this website.

IMPORTANT: No day-of payments.
Final payment deadline: Wednesday, October 7th, 2026.

Two Ways to Experience the ZE FRAT HOUSE

We operate on a Premium + General model designed for clarity, fairness, and excellence.

PREMIUM EXPERIENCE (PAID)

For ALL ZE Brothers — and any guests you bring with you

Premium is our full experience, and every attendee inside Premium pays a fee. This ensures fairness, high quality, and full cost coverage.

Premium Access Includes:

• Full‑service catered food (multiple stations)

• Premium bar (non‑alcoholic, beer, wine; spirits included per policy)

• Bartender‑staffed beverage service

• Covered and shaded seating, high‑tops, 8’ tables, rounds of 10

• Full entertainment package:

  • Jumbotron with dedicated sound

  • DJ Frosty + Sound Stage + MC

  • Karaoke, Spades, Dominoes, competitions, 50/50 Raffle

• Brotherhood & Bond programming throughout the day

• Photo & video capture

• ZE branded décor, signage, keepsake items

• Security, sanitation

• A customized Premium Lanyard Keepsake (your credential + souvenir)

• Access to the full ZE FRAT HOUSE experience

Premium Fee Levels

• Premium Brother: $150

• Premium Senior Brother (65+): $75

• Premium Undergraduate Brother: $50

• Premium Guest: $50

• Premium Undergraduate Guest: $40

All Premium attendees must pre-pay. No day-of payments or exceptions.
The vision is for all ZE Brothers to be in Premium. 

GENERAL EXPERIENCE (COMPLIMENTARY) $0

For Friends of ZE — up to 125 wristbands total

General access is for guests of Brothers who are not participating in Premium.

General Includes:

• Covered tent area (bring your own chairs)

• Nupe Juice & water (bartender‑served)

• Jumbotron viewing

• Full tailgate energy (music, vibes, atmosphere)

General Does NOT Include:

• Food

• Bar access

• Premium seating/tables

• Keepsakes

• Any Premium amenities

How to Reserve General Wristbands

General wristbands (max 125) must be reserved through:
Bro. David Jackson — providing the exact name for each wristband.
Contact: dgjackson08@gmail.com or 803-563-3946

Once the 125 are assigned, General is officially closed. A fee will be assessed for entry into the tailgate area by the administrators of the full space. Complimentary for General individuals with ZE wristbands will be offered in the ZE General Area. 

Upgrade Path

Any Friend/Guest who wants full access must secure a Premium Guest Fee through a ZE Brother.

PAYMENT PROCESS

BROTHERS: HOW TO SECURE YOUR PREMIUM ACCESS

1. Visit the Brothers‑Only Portal (Website) 

2. Choose Your Fee Type

3. Submit Payment

4. Receive Confirmation 

5. Pick Up Your Premium Lanyard on event day 

Final Payment Deadline

All payments due by Wednesday, October 7th, 2026. Absolutely no day-of payments.

Installment Plans

8‑month payment plans available Saturday, Feb 7th → Wednesday, Oct 7th, 2026 via Zelle:

• Bro. David Jackson — 803‑586‑7590 • dgjackson08@gmail.com

• Bro. Jermaine Britton — 803‑546‑9591 • brittonjermaine442@gmail.com

All transactions are verified by the Finance & Sponsorship Sub‑Committee.

THE BROTHERHOOD & THE BOND

At the core of THE ZE FRAT HOUSE is what makes ZE special — our Brotherhood and our Bond.
This year’s experience brings that energy forward with intentionally curated activities:

Brotherhood‑Focused Experiences

• Card Games: Spades, Bid Whist, or any other games Brothers may wish to play.

• Dominoes

• Karaoke

• DJ & Sound Stage

• 50/50 Raffle

• Group photos

• Bond moments woven throughout the day

• Direct celebrations of ZE tradition

• Storytelling and line recognitions

• Kane Twirling 

Have other Brotherhood ideas for the tailgate?
Send to Brothers Herman Pryor, Jr. & Dominique “Niko” Gray.

SPONSORSHIP

Support the Experience. Strengthen the Legacy.

Sponsorship helps us underwrite production, infrastructure, hospitality, and the aesthetic that makes this a premium, ZE‑standard experience.

All Sponsors Receive:

• Digital & physical signage recognition 

• MC shoutouts during the event

• Some on stage day of recognitions 

SPONSOR WHAT YOU LOVE — EVERYTHING MAY BE SPONSORED

• Jumbotron

• Sound Stage / DJ Frosty / MC

• Premium Bar

• Catering stations

• Ice & Hydration

• Photography/Videography

• Branding & Signage

• Credentials (Lanyards, Wristbands)

• Brotherhood Activities

• Any line item from our full list of 30+ cost categories

WAYS TO SPONSOR

• Individual Brother

• Line

• Group of Brothers

• Business/Corporate Donor 

LINE COMPETITION

Which line will raise the most to support the experience?

• Counts: Cash, in‑kind donations, corporate matches

• Leaderboard updated monthly

• Winner recognized on stage at the tailgate

Cutoff: Weds., Oct 7th, 2026

ZE DIAMOND PREMIUM RESERVED SPONSORED TABLES

3 Available — First Come, First Serve

Includes:

• 3 reserved tables in the tailgate

• Best Jumbotron sightline

• Listed alcohol, bottle service

• Table amenities + keepsakes

• Name placard at table

• 10 seats per table

Fee: $500 (covers table + amenities only)
Seats still require Premium Fee per attendee

Reserve via the ticket ZE Diamond Premium Reserved Sponsored Tables ticket above.

Any sponsorship questions please reach out to:
David Jackson, Spring 2002 dgjackson08@gmail.com 803-586-7590
Aaron Plush, Fall 1996 aaronrplush@gmail.com 954-864-0434
Jermaine Britton, Fall 1993 brittonjermaine442@gmail.com 803-546-5409

COST TRANSPARENCY

WHAT YOUR ASSESSMENT PAYS FOR

Our experience includes over 30 production categories including:

• Entertainment & Production
  DJ Frosty full package, stage, lighting, Jumbotron, fire cannons, karaoke, photographer/videographer
• Infrastructure & Power
  Generators, A/V, tents, fencing, chairs, tables, linens, lighting
• Branding
  ZE Frat House entrance, street sign, KAPSI letters, décor, signage, keepsakes
• Hospitality
  Catering, bartending, alcohol/chasers, Nupe Juice, water, ice, coolers, gaming
• Admin & Compliance
  Security, bank account setup, web development, apparel consulting, setup/breakdown crew, petty cash

All excess or remaining funds rollover  to 2027.

All payments Non-refundable. 

APPAREL

ZE Homecoming Tailgate 2026 Apparel
Apparel is not included in the tailgate ticket fee and is an additional cost. 
Options include:

• Drop Shoulder Short Sleeve
• Drop Shoulder Long Sleeve
• Sweatshirt
• Hoodie

All at cost to Brothers.

YES, you may order 1, 2, 3, or all 4 of the styles available. 

You may purchase when registering for the tailgate or separately.

Homecoming Apparel Order Deadline & Wear Request 

Price includes Raw Cost + shipping ($8) + Platform Processing Fee

Order cutoff: All apparel orders must be placed on or before Saturday, August 1st, 2026.
(No late orders will be accepted and no extras will be ordered) 

Shipping timeline: All orders will be shipped directly to Brothers on or before Wednesday, October 7th, 2026 — exactly one month before the Tailgate (Saturday, November 7th, 2026).

What we expect from Brothers

    •    Wear the apparel at the Tailgate. Every Brother is asked to wear the Homecoming Apparel at the Tailgate.

    •    Please do not wear the apparel before the Tailgate. Brothers are kindly asked not to wear the apparel prior to the Tailgate, and especially not at any other Homecoming activities prior to the tailgate. 

Quick reminders

    •    No orders after Saturday, August 1st, 2026

    •    Shipping will be completed on or before Wednesday, October 7th, 2026 allowing everyone to receive apparel in time for the Tailgate.

The vision is to see every ZE Brother wearing the apparel to display complete ZE solidarity! 

    •    If you have questions about sizing, orders, or delivery, please contact Brothers Ty Walker 843.855.8101 or Aaron Plush 954.864.0434

LODGING

To make planning easier for Brothers attending, two hotel room blocks have been reserved near campus. Each hotel has a limited number of rooms available at our discounted group rate.

⚠️ Reservation Deadline: October 5, 2026
Rooms are limited and will be released after this date, so we encourage you to book early.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Columbia

📍 230 Greystone Blvd, Columbia, SC 29210
Room Block: 10 rooms reserved

Room Type:
• 1 King Bed – 1 Bedroom Suite (Non-Smoking)

Nightly Rates (Pre-Tax):
• Thursday, Nov 5 – $159
• Friday, Nov 6 – $239
• Saturday, Nov 7 – $239

Reserve Your Room:
https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=CAEHWHW&groupCode=CHWZEC&arrivaldate=2026-11-05&departuredate=2026-11-08&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT

Tru by Hilton Columbia Greystone

📍 185 Stoneridge Dr, Columbia, SC 29210

Room Type:
• 1 King Bed

Nightly Rate (Pre-Tax):
• $219 per night

Reserve Your Room:
https://group.trubyhilton.com/nhgayw

CONTACT

Plush & Britton — Tailgate Leads
Malik — Activities
Herman & Niko — Brotherhood & Bond
David Jackson — Finance, Sponsorship & General Wristbands

Brothers,
THE ZE FRAT HOUSE is the living expression of our Brotherhood, our Bond, our standard of achievement, and our legacy as the Men of Zeta Epsilon.

When we each contribute — in presence, spirit, finances, and energy — we create an unforgettable Homecoming experience.

Let us lock in early. Rally our lines. Sponsor what we love.
And make Saturday, November 7th, 2026 a day that echoes for decades.

See you at THE ZE FRAT HOUSE.

Disclaimer: The ZE Homecoming Tailgate Committee may adjust tailgate components based upon actual funding. Any changes will be communicated to Brothers in advance of the change.