Tell me about tailgating (1 Viewer)

[zoobird]

I've never done tailgating at a sports (or any other) event. Never even really been tempted enough to consider it...until now. Not sure what changed, but suddenly it sounds appealing.

What do I need to know? What is good about it? What isn't?

For context, I'm in Central NJ. Have less interest in going to football games, more interest in other sports - soccer, baseball, basketball, etc.

 

[Osaurus]

Don't forget the snacklebox

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

I’ve only ever tailgated at football games and didn’t know people tailgated for others. Usually, we just go to a bar nearby, especially baseball.

I imagine the experience is the same at the other sports, but essentially you need a truck, a grill, a fold up table, a couple of chairs, and depending on the weather, you might want some sort of pop-up tent.

Arrive several hours early, break out all your crap and start cooking and having fun. There really isn’t much else to it.

We usually get a Brazilian cut of meat called picanha. All you do is throw some coarse salt on that puppy, slice it up and serve it hot. Obviously we get a few hotdogs and hamburgers going as well sometimes wings. Colder games we might bring a pot of Maryland crab soup.

Tailgating is often more fun than the actual event. Some of my best experiences have been in the parking lots of games, both before, and after no sense in sitting in awful traffic, after the game is over, fire the grill back up and open up another beer.

 

[Fat Nick]

IMO, it's overrated unless you have a bigger group. Like 10+ people. If it's just your family or a few folks, it's basically a cook-out in the driveway. With a large group, you can bring games (cornhole, washers, ladder ball, giant jenga, etc.) and make a full day of it.

College football tailgating is the peak experience in my opinion. Maybe I'm biased from my Penn State grad school days where we mobilized RV's and full grill and buffet set-ups and made a full day of it. I've never tailgated at "indoor" sports like basketball or hockey. Baseball and/or soccer just don't feel as rowdy as Football to me. I'm sure many will disagree.

Also - @zoobird - where in Central NJ?

 

[MTskibum]

Those jerks on i45 who only are half a car length behind at 90mph in 8 lanes of traffic between Waco and Dallas are the worst in the country.

 

[Hastur]

IMO, it's overrated unless you have a bigger group. Like 10+ people. If it's just your family or a few folks, it's basically a cook-out in the driveway. With a large group, you can bring games (cornhole, washers, ladder ball, giant jenga, etc.) and make a full day of it.

College football tailgating is the peak experience in my opinion. Maybe I'm biased from my Penn State grad school days where we mobilized RV's and full grill and buffet set-ups and made a full day of it. I've never tailgated at "indoor" sports like basketball or hockey. Baseball and/or soccer just don't feel as rowdy as Football to me. I'm sure many will disagree.

Also - @zoobird - where in Central NJ?

Grew up in Vineland. Have great memories being in Jackson(IYKYK).

 

[NutterButter]

I've never done tailgating at a sports (or any other) event. Never even really been tempted enough to consider it...until now. Not sure what changed, but suddenly it sounds appealing.

What do I need to know? What is good about it? What isn't?

For context, I'm in Central NJ. Have less interest in going to football games, more interest in other sports - soccer, baseball, basketball, etc.

What event you got lined up? Dave Matthews Band at PNC obviously, but what else?

 

[zoobird]

IMO, it's overrated unless you have a bigger group. Like 10+ people. If it's just your family or a few folks, it's basically a cook-out in the driveway. With a large group, you can bring games (cornhole, washers, ladder ball, giant jenga, etc.) and make a full day of it.

College football tailgating is the peak experience in my opinion. Maybe I'm biased from my Penn State grad school days where we mobilized RV's and full grill and buffet set-ups and made a full day of it. I've never tailgated at "indoor" sports like basketball or hockey. Baseball and/or soccer just don't feel as rowdy as Football to me. I'm sure many will disagree.

Also - @zoobird - where in Central NJ?

Grew up in Vineland. Have great memories being in Jackson(IYKYK).

I'm in Monroe Township

 

[zoobird]

I've never done tailgating at a sports (or any other) event. Never even really been tempted enough to consider it...until now. Not sure what changed, but suddenly it sounds appealing.

What do I need to know? What is good about it? What isn't?

For context, I'm in Central NJ. Have less interest in going to football games, more interest in other sports - soccer, baseball, basketball, etc.

What event you got lined up? Dave Matthews Band at PNC obviously, but what else?

No specific event...the thought process here was simply "I like food and sports...why have I never considered tailgating?"

 

[Fat Nick]

IMO, it's overrated unless you have a bigger group. Like 10+ people. If it's just your family or a few folks, it's basically a cook-out in the driveway. With a large group, you can bring games (cornhole, washers, ladder ball, giant jenga, etc.) and make a full day of it.

College football tailgating is the peak experience in my opinion. Maybe I'm biased from my Penn State grad school days where we mobilized RV's and full grill and buffet set-ups and made a full day of it. I've never tailgated at "indoor" sports like basketball or hockey. Baseball and/or soccer just don't feel as rowdy as Football to me. I'm sure many will disagree.

Also - @zoobird - where in Central NJ?

Grew up in Vineland. Have great memories being in Jackson(IYKYK).

I'm in Monroe Township

Flemington here.

 

[NutterButter]

I've never done tailgating at a sports (or any other) event. Never even really been tempted enough to consider it...until now. Not sure what changed, but suddenly it sounds appealing.

What do I need to know? What is good about it? What isn't?

For context, I'm in Central NJ. Have less interest in going to football games, more interest in other sports - soccer, baseball, basketball, etc.

What event you got lined up? Dave Matthews Band at PNC obviously, but what else?

No specific event...the thought process here was simply "I like food and sports...why have I never considered tailgating?"

Do you go to live sporting events? Even with a few folks its a good time. Having nice weather certainly helps. I go to a few rutgers games each year and its really just a couple of guys just lounging out drinking some beers, eating some brats and bsing while we people watch. I mean if you're going to the game anyways, its a really nice way to spend a couple of hours. And that's really just the basics.

 

[zoobird]

Do you go to live sporting events? Even with a few folks its a good time. Having nice weather certainly helps. I go to a few rutgers games each year and its really just a couple of guys just lounging out drinking some beers, eating some brats and bsing while we people watch. I mean if you're going to the game anyways, its a really nice way to spend a couple of hours. And that's really just the basics.

Yes, although I'd like to go to more. In the past year, we've been to a few Sixers games, a Mets-Phillies game, a Philly Union game (debut game for both Cavan Sulivan and Peyton Miller), and the Argentina-Canada Copa America semi-final. Also went to the US Open (tennis) a couple of years ago.

 

[SWC]

tailgating at brewers badgers and packers games is mandatory and amazing it is better with a big group but fine with your family as well the key is to have something solid to cook on i prefer gas because it cools off and you can put it away charcoal you have to leave under your bumper and load it up after the game and that stinks so sweet lady propane it is and then you need to have your drinks and on a summer day you want sun shade cornhole is a must if you have kids who want to play catch with a football or baseball they need to go way out in the parking lot where no one else is because they all stink at catching just how it is then you need everyones specialtys like suacues and dips and all of that mother jazz and of course good music but not too loud and if you do that right then you might just be allowed at miller park take that to the bank brochachos

 

[Ron Swanson]

You don't even really need a game to tailgate. Just squat and fire it up in an empty parking lot. See if you can spark a huge party.

 

[urbanhack]

You don't even really need a game to tailgate. Just squat and fire it up in an empty parking lot. See if you can spark a huge party.

and a huge fatty

 

[nirad3]

I really only have a few examples of my past tailgate experiences:

1) Drinking a few beers with a couple of buddies outside of the old ARCO Arena in Sacramento before a Lakers/Kings game. Coulda just gone to a bar, but ARCO (at the time) was out in the middle of nowhere and we wanted to avoid the $10 beers (we were much younger and cheaper).

2) In a parking lot adjacent to the baseball stadium at U. of Texas prior to a Longhorn baseball game. It was put on by the UT alumni association and although I'm not a UT alum I had friends there who were. I think they had a crawfish boil? And BYOB. This was normal to me because of #3....

3) I've been to a handful of tailgates at UT preceding Longhorn football games. Nothing like it in the world, except for maybe a few other colleges in the South. People for days, in parking or empty lots near campus/the stadium. I was fortunate enough to be buddies with some alumni who were in a service organization while at UT, so they had a ton of alumni that would show up every Saturday. The group had a great spot in one of the bigger lots that housed tailgates, and someone would pull up with a trailer, set up a giant pop-up tent and would have a ton of beers (usually kegs) and would have food delivered (chicken wings, etc.). We'd each toss in $20 for the food/beer/ambiance. The organizer had a portable DirecTV dish and would set up a pair of HDTVs to watch the morning games. Heck, even if you weren't actually going to the Longhorn game, you could sit there and watch the game on TV. I actually met a few of the castmembers of Friday Night Lights (TV version) at that tailgate since they filmed in Austin. Some of my best memories of living in Austin are of that tailgate.

 

[arrow1]

If it weren't for trucks we wouldn't have tailgates

 

[belljr]

IMO, it's overrated unless you have a bigger group. Like 10+ people. If it's just your family or a few folks, it's basically a cook-out in the driveway. With a large group, you can bring games (cornhole, washers, ladder ball, giant jenga, etc.) and make a full day of it.

College football tailgating is the peak experience in my opinion. Maybe I'm biased from my Penn State grad school days where we mobilized RV's and full grill and buffet set-ups and made a full day of it. I've never tailgated at "indoor" sports like basketball or hockey. Baseball and/or soccer just don't feel as rowdy as Football to me. I'm sure many will disagree.

Also - @zoobird - where in Central NJ?

Grew up in Vineland. Have great memories being in Jackson(IYKYK).

 

[the moops]

I've never done tailgating at a sports (or any other) event.

This feels unpossible

 

[eighsse2]

You just get as close as possible to the car in front of you and stay there. It's a friendly gesture.

 

[General Malaise]

I've never done tailgating at a sports (or any other) event. Never even really been tempted enough to consider it...until now. Not sure what changed, but suddenly it sounds appealing.

What do I need to know? What is good about it? What isn't?

For context, I'm in Central NJ. Have less interest in going to football games, more interest in other sports - soccer, baseball, basketball, etc.

You need to ping the master of tailgates - @SFBayDuck

He has been gracious enough to include me at a few of his tailgates and man, he's got it going on before Oregon Ducks' football games. Full bar, craft brews, great food spread like build your own carnitas burritos or a breakfast bar with meats and eggs, TVs playing other games oh - and this is a HUGE hit with my twin boys - a candy bar!

I usually flip him a $20 for all the candy my boys consume. Well, and the craft brews I suck down.

 

[the moops]

I usually flip him a $20 for all the candy my boys consume. Well, and the craft brews I suck down.

You cheap *******. Add a 1 before that number

 

[General Malaise]

I usually flip him a $20 for all the candy my boys consume. Well, and the craft brews I suck down.

You cheap *******. Add a 1 before that number

I gave his friends a joint once before the waitress came outside and yelled at us for smoking it.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

In the right setting it’s awesome. The Oakland parking lot was amazing. We used to say come for the tailgate, stay for the game. KC and GB were awesome also. AZ, NO, SD, not so much.

 

[SWC]

You don't even really need a game to tailgate. Just squat and fire it up in an empty parking lot. See if you can spark a huge party.

thats godamned right where ever the swc is is where the party is and you can bet brandy by looking glass is playing that to the bank bromigos

 

[Eephus]

How long before game time do you start breaking stuff down?

 

[shuke]

I've never done tailgating at a sports (or any other) event.

This feels unpossible

Pretty sure this is a fishing attempt. The "What is good about it?" part is just next level shtick, it's beautiful.

 

[ChiefD]

How long before game time do you start breaking stuff down?

For me I break it down as its going on. When people are done eating I’ll start putting food away. Clean up as we go. Pack up things people aren’t using.

I like to be in my seat for first pitch, kickoff, whatever. So I’ll start walking with thirty minutes or so left to go.

 

[Zow]

Did some tailgating before I had kids and a demanding job.* It was fine to fun with the right crowd, but it did make for a long day (especially if you're drunk by the time the game starts and it's a Sunday and you have to slow down during the game leading to just being tired) and I really don't miss it. I honestly just prefer to watch the game and don't really need to party or hang out beforehand. With NFL, I didn't like missing the early slate of games for fantasy football purposes as well. Similarly, I stopped going to the Waste Management Open because I'd prefer to just watch the golf rather than party.

Call me bougie, but I'd much rather eat at a nice restaurant before the game and pay somebody to cook for me and clean up after me instead if I am planning on eat/drinking before a game. Standing around in a parking lot eating off a small propane grill doesn't really do it for me.

 

[General Malaise]

I do think tailgating for college football is perfect for the sole fact that it's on a Saturday and not a Sunday. You got a full day to chill and recover on Sunday before the grind of the work week. And the environment is better too, IMO. Many of the tailgates I've seen on college campuses are in nice spots, trees, grass maybe a river or a creek - least that's the scene in Oregon and when I went to visit UW and Cal, felt the same way. Bucolic might be the right word.

Tailgating in an asphalt parking lot in Arlington or Houston? No thanks.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

YMMV, but winter tailgating beats hot sunny days. Couple of layers with a hoodie and my Charles Haley jersey catching a few parking lot posts will warm you up.

 

[General Malaise]

YMMV, but winter tailgating beats hot sunny days. Couple of layers with a hoodie and my Charles Haley jersey catching a few parking lot posts will warm you up.

One day I'll find it as I know it's somewhere in my garage, but my mom taught Charles Haley's daughter when she was in 3rd or 4th grade and Charles gave her an autographed picture that she gave to me. If I ever find it - and I will - I'll send it to you. Promise.

 

[3C's]

I usually flip him a $20 for all the candy my boys consume. Well, and the craft brews I suck down.

You cheap *******. Add a 1 before that number

I gave his friends a joint once before the waitress came outside and yelled at us for smoking it.

Waitress? Must be quite the tailgate if he has a waitress on staff.

 

[General Malaise]

I usually flip him a $20 for all the candy my boys consume. Well, and the craft brews I suck down.

You cheap *******. Add a 1 before that number

I gave his friends a joint once before the waitress came outside and yelled at us for smoking it.

Waitress? Must be quite the tailgate if he has a waitress on staff.

Was a different spot.....I was walking by a restaurant with my son and SFBay was outside at a table with his buddies. The waitress that smelled the devil's lettuce was none too happy with that.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

Now that the Raiders and A's are gone my only real tailgating happens during the NASCAR race out at Sonoma Raceway, usually get there 2 hours before and slurp down copious amounts of booze and eat sandwiches.

 

[Pigskin Fanatic]

Best thing about tailgating is the food and the social interaction. The worst thing about tailgating is prepping + cleanup and the social interaction.

Tailgating in an asphalt parking lot in Arlington or Houston? No thanks.

At the Rose Bowl you get to tailgate on the fairway of a nice public golf course. it's great, but not if you're a fan of the golf course, it's barely playable during football season. we tailgate a lot there (bruin alums). Throw football around, chip a few shots (this last part is not technically allowed since you can really hurt somebody and you can't park on the greens). There are people who go tailgate and never go into the game. They just gotta pay for the parking space and have TV's in the back of their trucks. Some of these setup are crazy nice.

last time I tailgated was at Sofi last year, I don't remember who the Rams played, it was the game where Puka got hurt. a bacon wrapped hotdog vendor (a downtown LA staple, SoFi is nowhere near downtown LA) was somehow allowed to get into the lot so paid I think $12 for a hotdog. Inflation, amiright.

 

[MAC_32]

I do think tailgating for college football is perfect for the sole fact that it's on a Saturday and not a Sunday. You got a full day to chill and recover on Sunday before the grind of the work week. And the environment is better too, IMO. Many of the tailgates I've seen on college campuses are in nice spots, trees, grass maybe a river or a creek - least that's the scene in Oregon and when I went to visit UW and Cal, felt the same way. Bucolic might be the right word.

Tailgating in an asphalt parking lot in Arlington or Houston? No thanks.

I'll also add (some) summer concerts - all depends on the location of the show. While it's a pain in the *** to get out of, we have a music amphitheater in the woods of a national park in between Cleveland and Akron. The best tailgates are either at events like this or on a college campus on a fall Saturday - I don't know what's 3rd, but it's distant.

 

[shuke]

I do think tailgating for college football is perfect for the sole fact that it's on a Saturday and not a Sunday. You got a full day to chill and recover on Sunday before the grind of the work week. And the environment is better too, IMO. Many of the tailgates I've seen on college campuses are in nice spots, trees, grass maybe a river or a creek - least that's the scene in Oregon and when I went to visit UW and Cal, felt the same way. Bucolic might be the right word.

Tailgating in an asphalt parking lot in Arlington or Houston? No thanks.

I'll also add (some) summer concerts - all depends on the location of the show. While it's a pain in the *** to get out of, we have a music amphitheater in the woods of a national park in between Cleveland and Akron. The best tailgates are either at events like this or on a college campus on a fall Saturday - I don't know what's 3rd, but it's distant.

Dead and Co. at Blossom was one of the best lot scenes I'd ever seen.

 

[Desert_Power]

Tailgating in an asphalt parking lot in Arlington or Houston? No thanks.

I thought the tailgating for the Cowboys was pretty good for NFL standards. YMMV.

 

[belljr]

You should keep 1 car length per 10 mph between you and the car in front of you

 

[General Malaise]

Tailgating in an asphalt parking lot in Arlington or Houston? No thanks.

I thought the tailgating for the Cowboys was pretty good for NFL standards. YMMV.

I've never done it so I shouldn't throw shade but that's where I grew up and Texas Stadium was not a very inviting locale. Just bland.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Fall tailgates in Ann Arbor on the golf course were a blast
One time we had a large group (no tents or food or anything just drinking). Anyway someone was supposed to bring a table for beer pong but forgot. Couple guys decided to walk to the local Salvation Army (goodwill) to look for a folding table end up coming back with a full dining room table (we ended up leaving it there). Im not even sure we all went to the game. Also found a full keg when I went to go take a leak by someone’s car. In hindsight it was a **** move but yes we took it

Another time we were tailgating right next to some big notre dame alumni group (like rented cocktail tables and stuff). After everyone went to the game I decided to try and run across the tables of course like the 3rd one tipped and I went down hard

Tigers opening day tailgates are great too. Haven’t done that in awhile (or Ann Arbor)

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Concert tailgating can be fun too, especially county and metal concerts. I’m sure jam band ones good too just haven’t had the chance

 

[CGRdrJoe]

Concert tailgating can be fun too, especially county and metal concerts. I’m sure jam band ones good too just haven’t had the chance

the grateful dead set the standard for tailgating over the nfl, college and nascar

 

[shuke]

I’m sure jam band ones good too just haven’t had the chance

It's a scene

 

[Zow]

I do think tailgating for college football is perfect for the sole fact that it's on a Saturday and not a Sunday. You got a full day to chill and recover on Sunday before the grind of the work week. And the environment is better too, IMO. Many of the tailgates I've seen on college campuses are in nice spots, trees, grass maybe a river or a creek - least that's the scene in Oregon and when I went to visit UW and Cal, felt the same way. Bucolic might be the right word.

Tailgating in an asphalt parking lot in Arlington or Houston? No thanks.

The older I get, the bold is so key. Need that buffer/recovery day.

 

[The Z Machine]

I think it's pretty awesome that @zoobird just discovered beer. Beer is truly the hidden gem of world gastronomy. I hope you enjoy a nice pour at your upcoming tailgate party.

 

[MAC_32]

Tailgating in an asphalt parking lot in Arlington or Houston? No thanks.

I thought the tailgating for the Cowboys was pretty good for NFL standards. YMMV.

I assume the Browns experience is still great, if you're into that level of mayhem anyway, but wonder if the product on the field (and off) the last 3 years has impacted tailgating in the Muni Lot. I haven't been since Baker's last season, but it was always much more lively than any other NFL game (Buffalo withstanding) I've been to, regardless of weather.

 

[Kiddnets]

Love to tailgate - grill, drinks, friends, fam - have met all kinds of cool people in the lot and it makes the game that much more fun. However you do get a lot of drunks and idiots throwing 50 yard bombs with a hard football that always lands into your spot and even hits people. Ive tried talking nicely and asking them to move away and it never works., biggest downside for me.