NFL Tailgating Tips
Tips for How to Party Before a Football Game
If this is your first time tailgating at a football game, be prepared for a long morning outside. But as long as you’ve got your car, your grill, a case of beer and a handful of buddies, even the coldest winter morning can be easily whiled away. Some hardcore tailgaters will pull into the stadium parking lot at five in the morning despite a 1 p.m. kickoff. Here’s that they do to fill those hours in between.
Food for Tailgate Parties
Tailgating isn’t tailgating without food and drink, but one really needs to be specific. Rules are for other parties, with the exception that the food shouldn’t be anything fancy. Beer (or hard liquor if that is preferred) and meat-and-potatoes food is the best bet for the tailgating crowd. More often than not, a tailgater will use his or her own grill, and other times one might even cook over a small, well-supervised fire.
Common food for tailgate parties includes standards like hot dogs and burgers, but also includes beans, watermelon and homemade chicken wings etc. However, many tailgaters are creative and have their own recipes. If your team’s website has a message board, you might check it out to find out of other tailgaters in your area have recipes to share.
Traditions at NFL Games
Tailgate parties are built on tradition. For example, at Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Stadium, certain tailgaters are a fixture in the very same lot year after year. While some activities involve games, or even a simple game of catch, others involve ceremonies. Dousing one of your tailgating buddies in ketchup and mustard before the stadium opens is a custom among some tailgaters.
It goes without saying that fans wear their team’s jersey to tailgate parties. But attire isn’t limited to jerseys and some fans are creative and like to wear costumes. Some might dress like the team’s mascot and others might show up in an Elvis suit. The more flamboyant someone is, the more likely they are to stand out.
Designated Drivers for NFL Games
Because tailgating almost inevitable involves hours upon hours of drinking, it’s always important to have a designated driver. Tailgaters who have too much pre-game fun might not be admitted into the stadium if they appear to be too intoxicated. This will depend on rules and policies for your stadium.
Anywhere in the NFL, police will almost certainly be situated outside of the stadium and directing traffic on the roads that lead into the stadium. Again, it is a good reason to have a designated driver in case an officer pulls you over (particularly since many people tailgate even more after the game is over). Canadian fans should also be aware of sobriety checks when they cross back into Canada.
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