For almost six years, the Bomobile has been a game-day fixture in the downtown parking lot south of the Gold's building.

Saturday, the Bomobile - capacity 11 - rolled into the lot promptly at 7:30 a.m., 11 1/2 hours before Memorial Stadium started rocking.

On the agenda: pancake and sausage sandwiches, hamburgers and hot dogs and fun with family and friends in weather that called for coats to be left inside the Husker-themed camper.

(And later, of course, the 10-3 Husker win.)

"It's an all-day event," said Bomobile captain Steve Skala, 36, a season ticket holder who works at Continental Fire Sprinkler Co. in Omaha.

The same goes for hundreds of other fans who gather at the lot - a block-long chunk of real estate bordered by M, N, 10th and 11th streets -to eat, drink and be merry for seven or so Saturdays each fall.

So you can imagine their reaction to the news the lot's owner wants to turn their tailgating space into a hotel, parking garage and apartments.

What?!

"We don't want to lose this," said Skala, surrounded by red-clad fans grilling meat, watching TV and tossing footballs.

"We'd have to find a new spot. But who knows where we'd end up?"

John Munoz, a 37-year-old claims adjuster from Kansas City, Kan., was blunt.

"I can tell you if there's no tailgate, I'm not coming back as often," the Lexington native said.

Tailgating, fans insist, is a key part of the gameday experience - so much so that some who don't have tickets come to Lincoln anyway to join the fun.

"If they take this away, we're screwed," Munoz said.

The lot's tailgaters should rally around a theme next game day, he joked: "Hell no, we won't go."

The City Council has approved a site plan for the $45 million project, and supporters hope it will help revitalize downtown.

Tailgaters pled otherwise.

"This is a great way to relax, to get away," said Troy Deats, 39, a construction manager at Commonwealth Electric Co. in Omaha.

"Here, you don't have to face reality."

Now they may have to.

Reach Melissa Lee at 473-2682 or mlee@journalstar.com.