How to Go Tailgating

Last Updated: May 6, 2021

Have you gone to football, basketball, hockey, or other sport games with absolute nothing to do before the game? Tailgating is a pre-event tradition for both professional and college sporting events and even concerts. The tailgate is the party before the event. Keep reading for tips to coordinating a great tailgate.

Steps

1
Try to coordinate the location with friends and family attending and park as close to each other as possible.
- If someone has a designated space that's easy to find you can drop off your food and then park or park and haul your food. Many people bring luggage carts or wagons for ease of transport.
2
Consider going in and buying a reserved parking pass at a convenient location with access to clean restrooms, electric access, and closeness to the venue.
- These may be highly sought after spaces.
- You may need to build seniority, be affiliated with a company or buy from an established parker to get a really good one.
- People often sell their parking privileges and passes when moving. Check the school paper, craigslist, alumni organization, etc.
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3
Plan a menu based on the time of day you will be tailgating and the weather. Certain foods and beverages may be tradition in certain areas. Some foods can be prepared on site and others prepared in advance and brought in on platters.
4
Drive over to the stadium where the event will be several hours before the start. You'll need time to set up, prepare foods, enjoy your time together, pack up, clean up and get inside.
5
Decorate your space by putting up balloons, hanging a flag or using a particularly decorative tent. With others tailgating it may be hard for your friends to find you in a sea of people.
6
Know the party restrictions where you tailgate. In most US stadium parking lots people can bring coolers with alcoholic beverages, gas or charcoal grills, catering tables, and everything from beer cans to fine china.
- If you have doubts you can ask other tailgaters. Since there isn't a fee to enter the parking area on foot you can do a walk through and talk to other tailgaters about the dos and don't s as well as helpful tips. Most are very friendly and will gladly offer advice.
- So long as you stay in the parking area you are pretty much free to party as you please so long as you aren't a troublemaker.
7
Park and get set up. Set your grill up behind the SUV or truck, put your canopy up next to your grill and the T.V. under the canopy on a table or in the back of your SUV or truck.
- Set up plenty of chairs for your group or extras if you're expecting friends. Have friends bring their own. Keep a few chairs around for those guest that may stop in for a while to socialize.
- If you get bored of watching the other sports games on TV then you can pull out a football, baseball, or other ball that you might have brought along with you to pass around with some one.
- Consider bringing a TV and attaching a game system with sports games or other fun games for the group attending.
- Many tailgaters listen to pre-game shows on the radio. Make sure you have the battery strength or pack a separate radio. You don't want to kill your vehicle battery.
- If your car isn't equipped you can have an A/C plug kit and inverter installed to operate electric equipment.
8
Listen for your phone. Your arriving friends may need direction if they can't find you.
9
Consider adding a grill platform to the back of your SUV for transporting your grill and gas tank with ease.
10
Pack perishable goods in coolers with adequate ice. Warm foods can be packed with hot packs in coolers to stay warm but avoid foods that haven't been packed safely.
11
Don't forget to have some food or munchies available after the event. People will be hungry and the post game tailgate is a great way to relax and discuss the game while traffic clears out.
12
Find out if fire barrels, fire pits, or propane heaters are acceptable for cold weather use in your area. The use of these may also depend on local drought conditions.
13
Keep cold and hydrating beverages in good supply year round but especially during warm weather.
14
Consider some common tailgate menu items. Add your own special touches. Modify it to offer more cool treats on warm days and bring plenty of hot comfort foods for cold days.

Community Q&A

Question

Do I have to pay for the food for the different tailgaters or is it free?

Community Answer

You'll have to bring food if you want to share.
Question

What device do I need in order to watch the game on my TV?

Community Answer

A TV and some way to receive the signal (satellite, cable, antenna).
Question

How can I work out a food budget?

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Community Answer

Write down a list of all the food you need and put the prices beside them. Then you'll know how much cash you need and if you can afford it.

Warnings

Use caution when packing and serving perishable goods.

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Don't serve alcohol to those under age or over serve people of any age.

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There will always be a few barbarous fans at a game, whether they be drunk fans or fans of the opposing team. Try not to agitate them.

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Lock up your valuables before going into the game. Coolers left out when you go into the event are often taken or emptied by underage tailgaters.

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Confirm alcohol consumption and open containers are allowed in your tailgate area.

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Beware of traffic and distracted drivers.

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Have a plan for extinguishing charcoal fires and hot coals. You don't want someone stepping into a pile of inconspicuous smoldering coals and sustain serious burns. Consider reusing a few 2 liter (0.5 US gal) soda bottles for non-potable water to pour on fires.

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Have a plan for controlling grill fires.

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Drinking alcohol may cause dehydration and may make some sick when done in high temperatures.

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