How To Score A Touchdown With Your Tailgate Party

Guide Note: If you're a serious fan and want to throw a serious tailgate party, how to score a touchdown with your tailgate party will show you the right direction. Everyone's tailgate party is different, so make it your own and enjoy the game!

Table of Contents:



Introduction

Tailgaters (Creative Commons Photo by Rob Lee)
Tailgaters (Creative Commons Photo by Rob Lee)
  • There are several different ways to tailgate, but there are a few universal truths: beer and meat. Sure, you can drink wine and eat tofu dogs, but that probably means that you're French.
  • Tailgate parties can be as elaborate as you want them to be. However, your first tailgate party should be smaller than normal so that you're not overwhelmed. Also note that it is of the utmost importance that you display as much team pride as possible during your tailgate. Average fans might own a shirt or hat with the team logo on it. They're not tailgating — they don't get it.

Step 1: Planning and logistics

  • Preparing a successful tailgate party is similar to going to the beach; the more you plan beforehand, the more fun you can have in the water. Before you plan a menu, there are several aspects of a tailgate party you must consider.
  1. Choose a game to attend. Chances are that if you're interested in tailgating, you've already picked a game to go to. Each stadium in every sport has different rules and regulations for tailgaters.
    1. There are websites specifically designed for tailgaters of certain teams. That is a great source of information regarding your party and it also gives you a chance to see the die-hard tailgaters of your team.
    2. Not every sports team allows tailgating. If you are a Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Mets fan, planning a tailgate party is useless because tailgating is prohibited.
  2. The tailgate itself. Not everyone owns a truck, RV or SUV. The actual tailgate isn't as important as a vehicle that can transport all of your supplies. If you don't have a large vehicle, try to use a friend's (hopefully one who is going to the game).
  3. Find out what time the parking lot opens and whether or not you can park your RV there the night before. Try to get there 4-5 hours before the start of the game. It is important to allow yourself enough time, especially if you've never coordinated a tailgate party before.
  4. Pick the right spot. Try to find a spot next to some grass so that you can play around and sit down on a blanket. Avoid spots next to the drunken hooligans. They might be exuding team spirit, but they also might start exuding violence.
  5. Delegate responsibility. You are the producer of your tailgate party. Doing everything yourself takes too much time and costs too much money. Ask everyone you're going with if they have any of the equipment you don't. This saves you from buying everything. Put someone in charge of the entertainment, someone in charge of making the cold dishes and someone in charge of coordinating the alcohol.

Taming fire

  • If there's one constant at a tailgate party, it's the barbecue. You can show up at an event and drink, but that's under the category of pre-partying. In order to make it an official tailgate party, you must bring a barbecue. There are several different barbeque's out there. Do you bring the same BBQ that you use at home? Do you buy a specific BBQ that is only used for your tailgate party? The answer is all of the above.
Grill to go (CC photo by Stef Yau)
Grill to go (CC photo by Stef Yau)
  1. Most people use the same grill from home when they tailgate. Most serious grillers swear by charcoal barbecues. However, gas barbecues are much more convenient and get the job done. Weber grills are very popular and are available in either gas or charcoal.
  2. There are several different shapes, sizes and makes of grills. Some even come with attachments that fasten to your trailer hitch, which makes transporting and cooking much easier.
  3. Know how many people you will be cooking for. If you are buying a grill specifically for tailgating and you plan on using it more than once, it is important to know approximately how many people you will be feeding. If you're feeding only a few people and the food you like is relatively small, there's no need to buy an industrial size smoker.

Step 2: The mother of all tailgate checklists

  • From napkins, to batteries, to magnetic beer coozies with your team's insignia on them, there are countless items you will need to bring to make your tailgate party a smashing success. There are several different categories of tailgate items such as food, drinks, tableware, grill, entertainment and miscellaneous. We'll leave food and drinks for their own section seeing that those categories are the most important and variable.
  • Here is a printable checklist to help make planning for your first tailgate party run a bit smoother.
Tailgaters (CC photo by Bean)
Tailgaters (CC photo by Bean)

Tableware

  1. Plastic is best. Avoid using ceramic bowls and glass cups and plates. Disposable plates, cups, forks, knives and spoons eliminate a messy clean-up. However, serrated metal knives are necessary if you are serving steak, chicken and anything else that will be too tough for plastic.
  2. Big utensils. You will need serving spoons, tongs and a cutting knife for all the heavy duty dishes.
  3. What would tableware be without a tablecloth? Paper towels, napkins, sanitary wipes and plastic trash bags are essential.
  4. Don't forget a corkscrew and can/bottle opener.
  5. Make sure to set aside a separate trash bag for recycling. Dump the excess food off of your plastic plates into the trash bag and place the plates into the recycle bag. You can also place your plastic-ware, cans and bottles in the recycling bag. You're not only clearing your table, but your conscience as well.

Grill

  1. If you are using a gas grill, make sure your propane tank is full. If it is a smaller grill, bring an extra canister.
  2. If you are using a charcoal grill, bring an extra bag of charcoal just in case everyone wants seconds and thirds.
  3. Now that you have selected your grill, don't forget your grill peripherals. Your grill kit should include a spatula, tongs, grill brush and oven mitts. If you're using a charcoal grill you will need matches and lighter fluid (although, for better taste and less smoke, use Weber's Firestarter Lighter Cubes).
  4. If you consider yourself the #1 fan of your team, then you should look into using a Keg-A-Que with your team's logo.

Entertainment

  • Cooking is just one piece of the successful tailgate puzzle. While you're busy flipping burgers and setting up the sides, your friends will need something to do. This is where footballs, radios and televisions come into the picture.
A satellite dish can bring other games to your party (CC Photo by Alan Levine)
A satellite dish can bring other games to your party (CC Photo by Alan Levine)
  1. Take your living room on the road. This applies to those that have a portable sized TV and already have Direct TV or Dish Network. If you already have a satellite dish at home you can pack it up and bring it with you, or you can get a portable dish with accessories specifically designed for tailgating purposes. Don't forget the receiver, coaxial cables and audio/video cables (the red, white and yellow cables). Instead of inviting thousands of people over to your place for the game, simply join the people who are already there.
  2. If you don't have satellite capabilities, you can use a good ol' fashioned antenna.
    • It is very important to bring an AC adapter, batteries and a few extension cords to ensure that you retain power for the duration of your party.
    • Make sure you have jumper cables in case your car battery dies.
  3. If bringing a television is out of the question, a radio or CD player with iPod capabilities will do the job just fine. A radio gives you the option of listening to pre-game chatter or rocking out to your favorite tunes.
  4. Bring a football or frisbee. Sports fans like to throw things — especially footballs and frisbees. Some fans also like to throw horseshoes. If you're at a baseball game, bring your glove and a baseball. If you're at a soccer game, bring a soccer ball. Footballs, soccer balls, baseballs, frisbees and horseshoes are a great way of getting to know your tailgating neighbors.
  5. Not everyone will be spry and ready to throw things. Bring a deck of cards and a newspaper so the non-active people can enjoy themselves.

Miscellaneous

  1. To maximize comfort, make sure you bring enough chairs. If you don't have that many, ask your friends to bring theirs.
    • The name of the game in tailgating is showing your team pride — if you don't own any folding chairs it is an absolute must that you get one that represents your team.
    • You can invest in an insta-bench, which is compact and seats up to six people.
  2. Long folding tables or an Allsport table will be necessary to create as much surface space as possible so you can cook more efficiently. You can even get team customized tailgate tables that can support your barbecue and food as you prepare it. Plan on having a table to serve food on and a table to eat at.
    • Keeping your food and drinks cold, and having plenty of ice is key (CC photo by Clayton Parker)
      Keeping your food and drinks cold, and having plenty of ice is key (CC photo by Clayton Parker)
  3. Keep it cool. Keeping your food cool and fresh, while having enough ice for drinks, is paramount. How many times have you been to a party that ran out of ice? Pack as much ice as you can.
    • Using ice packs for your food helps keep water and moisture out and allows you to fill another ice chest up with ice for drinks.
    • There are different sized coolers out there, so buy according to how much food you plan on bringing. Usually, there's no such thing as an ice chest being too small.
    • If you store your food in your refrigerator or freezer prior to packing it into your cooler, it will stay colder longer and keep the ice from melting as fast.
  4. Beat the sun and rain. Tailgate tents/canopies will shield you from the sun and protect you from the rain. Plus, you can never have too many items at your tailgate with your team's logo on them. Sunscreen and rain gear take up very little space and can be your best friends as the day progresses.
  5. When nature calls be prepared to answer — bring your own toilet paper. The odds are that you and your friends will drink a fair share of alcohol before you even get inside the stadium. The odds also indicate that you will have to use one of the dreaded port-o-potties stationed in the parking lot. Based on those odds, bringing toilet paper for you and your mates to use could be the play of the day on and off the field.
  6. Flags of our teams. Having a flag flying above your vehicle not only lets everyone know where your allegiance stands, but where your tailgate party stands.
  7. Knick-knacks. Whether it is a magnetic beer coozy, or a motorized cooler scooter, there are hundreds of eclectic tailgate party accessories that can make your party stand out from the rest.

Step 3: Eat

  • Now that you have all of your gear and you've ironed out the logistics, it's time to cook. Legends are made and stars are born at the barbecue. Barbecuing at a tailgate party is similar to an unofficial cook-off. There aren't any awards at stake — only pride.
  • How you are able to prepare your food on the days preceding the game is crucial to the success of your tailgate party. Ideally, all you want to do when you set up your equipment is grill. This part is totally subjective. You know what you like and the odds are, you know how to cook it.
Be creative when barbecuing (CC photo by Mathias Degen)
Be creative when barbecuing (CC photo by Mathias Degen)
  1. Get an idea of how many people you will be feeding. Plan a few more plates for your neighbors and other people you will meet.
  2. Try to stick to no more than two different foods for the grill. Hot dogs/sausages,hamburgers and chicken are the basic tailgate foods. While hot dogs and hamburgers may be basic, there are thousands of ways to spice them up.
  3. If you're going for the baby back ribs, brisket, or a juicy steak, it is best to do as much preparation as possible before you get to the parking lot. Allow your meat enough time to soak in the marinade and transport what you can in plastic zip-lock bags. It's okay to apply your dry-rub/seasoning once you're there.
  4. When it comes to chili and jumbalaya, you can prepare them in the parking lot. Remember to allow yourself plenty of time.
  5. If you're having burgers, slice the tomato, onion, lettuce and cheese and place them in zip-lock baggies along with any other condiment that might be in a glass jar (pickles).
  6. You can prepare your cold dishes up to a week in advance to save time. Any salads (pasta, potato, cole slaw, etc) can be pre-made and placed in plastic containers.
  7. If you're looking to try something new there are several cookbooks geared toward tailgating. Bob Sloan's The Tailgating Cookbook: Recipes for the Big Game and The Tailgater's Cookbook by David Joachim will expand your grilling horizons for years to come.
  8. Be pro antacid. Chili, bratwurst, roasted pig, baked beans and alcohol will try their best to upset your stomach. Having Tums, Pepcid or Rolaids on hand is like having a 'get out of bathroom free' card in your pocket.

Step 4: Drink

Beer is the lifeblood of all tailgate parties (CC photo by Rick Audet)
Beer is the lifeblood of all tailgate parties (CC photo by Rick Audet)
  • At every stadium across the country, tailgate restrictions are growing tighter each year. College sports are the hardest hit due to the number of underage drinkers. In some cases, stadiums are opening the parking lots later to allow less time to tailgate. In other cases, stadiums are prohibiting kegs, loud music and other liberties tailgaters have taken for granted.
  • You know your limits. People are going to get drunk and some will make fools of themselves and/or get into altercations. Don't be that person. Drink responsibly.
  1. Try to use two coolers for drinks, one to keep your drinks cold and another strictly for ice.
  2. Not everything will be alcoholic. You will need water to drink and to clean with. Either buy a 2.5 gallon jug of water with a spout at a grocery store, or get a jug that can dispense water. Soda and juice are great mixers, plus they keep the kids and designated drivers happy.
  3. Take note of how many people will be drinking and what they would like.
    • Beer not your thing? Whip up a daiquiri and brace yourself for 'brain-freeze' (CC photo by Sam Lindsey)
      Beer not your thing? Whip up a daiquiri and brace yourself for 'brain-freeze' (CC photo by Sam Lindsey)
  4. Beer should be a staple — enough said. When buying beer, try to stick to aluminum can over glass bottles to avoid breakage and injury.
  5. Depending on how many people will be drinking beer, the economical and sensible thing to do may be to buy a keg. If you have more beer than you can drink, offer some to your neighbors and become their best friend. A typical keg holds 15.5 gallons, which equates to 165 12 oz. drinks. If you have 20 people, that's more than eight beers per person.
  6. If you're going to arrive early in the morning, making Bloody Mary mix a few days before will help you ease into the day. For those who don't like Bloody Marys, you can make mimosas.
  7. If you want to make a statement with your drink or if you're feeling a bit tropical you can bring a blender and make a variety of frozen drinks. Making a drink that matches your teams colors is a great way to get everyone involved.
  8. The most important thing you will need to do is to make sure that everyone driving home is sober enough to do so.

Step 5: Be merry

  • Now that you have successfully coordinated your tailgate party, cooked, cleaned and tossed the pigskin, it's time to relax. The concept of tailgating is to build camaraderie among fans. Almost everyone there is rooting for the same team, so don't hesitate to make friends with the people around you. Offer them food and drink and have them join in any games you are playing.
  • Enjoy the day and know that the perfect tailgate party is constantly evolving. You'll find out whether or not your grill is big enough, and if you did adequate preparation — and if you didn't, you'll just have to tailgate again to get it right!

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