BLOOMINGTON -- Fans of the country/Caribbean style of Kenny Chesney descended on downtown Bloomington hours before the show began Thursday, and they were in the mood for a party.

A parking lot bash at the corner of Madison and Front streets, which was sponsored by U.S. Cellular Coliseum, drew crowds well before the scheduled 7:30 p.m. start for the sold-out concert.

The country star's stadium shows are known for huge pre-show tailgate parties. This was a smaller version, but it featured beer sales, live bands, Hooter Girls and deejays from a Chesney radio Web site.

Kim and Tony Croke of Bloomington visited with friend Mollie Dye at the parking lot. The trio had never seen Chesney live, but they were thrilled to get tickets from a friend after failed attempts at multiple pre-sale Web sites.

"We tried the State Farm pre-sale, the ISU student one, a Kenny Chesney Fan Club one," but no luck, said Kim Croke.

They stood among a crowd in which fans lined up for free giveaways, sipped beer from plastic cups and sat under beach-style umbrellas.

The scaled-down tailgate event slightly disappointed Mandi Haynes of Streator and her friends.

Thursday marked Haynes' eighth time attending a Chesney concert, and she said she'd come expecting a true, relaxed tailgate party - like one she'd attended in June at Soldier Field in Chicago. There, ticket-holders could park their vehicles, bring their own beverages, and cook on grills. That's what she's seen at many Chesney concerts.

"Sometimes he's (Kenny Chesney) even come out and served margaritas or grilled with people," she said.

The Bloomington version was on a fenced-off lot with no vehicles. And the only way to have a beer was to pay $5 a cup, she said.

Still, the fan was in good spirits and looking forward to the show. She'd come with friends, sister Renee Stimac of Bloomington and their mother, Suzanne Ishee of Streator.

But the mini-tailgate was a hit. It was filled by 4:30 p.m. - three hours before the show's scheduled start.

Erika Kubsch, Downtown Bloomington Association director, said many downtown business owners were excited about the traffic the concert brought.

Many venues stayed open late to accommodate the crowds, she said.