Every major civilization constructs some kind of monolithic structure to satisfy the needs of its people. The Egyptians had the Pyramids, the Romans had their Coliseum, and the Americans have their football stadiums. American football is a relatively new sport on the timeline of civilization but it has already become a major contributing factor to American culture. Traditions, idioms, and lifestyles have been forged by the game of football and the largest football stadium is a cathedral where we go to worship these things.
One outstanding tradition that has sprung up from the popularity of American football in the Southern United States is that of tailgating. We’re social animals at heart and will find any excuse to gather around a fire pit, eat charred meat, and drink copious amounts of alcohol. A game of professional football just happened to be the perfect opportunity for all three of these things. The practice of tailgating has spread out from football and can now be seen before every single sporting event there is. People will stand out in the freezing cold cooking hot dogs and drinking beer in the parking lot before a hockey game just as they would in the blazing sun before Sunday Night Football.
If you’re new to the tailgating experience or want to give it a try the next time you go to watch a game at your college football stadium, here is all you need to know:
When You Should Get There:
Any good tailgater will tell you that the party doesn’t start when the game clock does; it starts way before then. To properly tailgate a football game you need to show up and get your spot at least four to five hours before kick off. This kind of time frame will insure that you are properly lubricated, dolled up, and ready to cheer when the game finally begins and it also gives you ample opportunity to hang out with friends and play some games of your own.
Where You Should Set Up:
Now, because you’ve come to the football stadium so early you will hopefully have wide open parking space to choose where you want to set up your tailgate. The general rule of thumb is that you want to set up as close to the action as possible. When we say action we’re not talking about the professional football players either, we’re talking about the pre-game festivities. Depending on the type of league you’re watching there’s going to be a different pre-game atmosphere.
At college football games the pre-game stuff tends to happen around the entrance to the stadium. Colleges want to inspire all of their students to get involved and the boosters play a major role in setting up fun activities for everyone to take part in. You want to set up your tailgate as close to all this cool stuff so that you can access it if you’re interested. You might just meet some hot sports fans that way.
If you’re going to an NFL game though the atmosphere is a little bit different. Even the best football stadium will have corporate sponsors that make all of the pre-game stuff at the entrance really sleazy and expensive. You will have a lot more fun if you just stay away from those booming loudspeakers spewing advertisements and keep close to your car or truck and all of the people and stuff you brought with it.
What You Should Bring:
Think of a tailgate as a picnic in a parking lot. You want all of your friends to be there, you want food, you want drinks, and you want something fun to do. The best tailgaters will bring, aside from their tickets to the event, a truck or van filled to the brim with coolers, kegs, and camping equipment.
Here’s a short laundry list of essentials every tailgate needs:
1. A large enough vehicle to fit everyone and everything.
2. BBQ equipment: We’re talking charcoal grills, assorted meats, condiments, plastic silverware, paper plates, and maybe a napkin or two. It’s a good idea to cook some food (like potato salads) at home before you head out to the stadium but you can do most of the grilling in the parking lot.
3. Booze: No tailgate can survive without some form of alcohol. The true tailgater will bring a keg or two with them but you can get away with a cooler filled with bottles of your favorite beer or hard liquors too.
4. Entertainment: Yeah it’s fun to hang out with all of your buddies but it’s even better when you have games to play and music to listen to. Make sure you bring a boom box or use your car stereo to blast your favorite tunes. If you have enough beer to go around you might consider bringing a beer pong table or if you’re not into drinking games you could set up horseshoes or hacky sack.
Tailgating isn’t really about the sport you’re about to watch. It’s more about the camaraderie and good times everyone is sharing outside with the people they love. To host a successful tailgate you need to treat it like an outdoor party and make it your own. Don’t forget to wear your team’s colors though!
