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Read MoreTailgating is more than just a Cookout before the Game begins.
Today, tailgating is practically its own sport. NFL stadiums and college campuses have elaborate setups with grills, smokers, tents, coolers, and even full kitchens on wheels.
For many fans, the tailgate is as important as the game itself—sometimes even more so! Friends, Fans and even the opponents enjoy the socializing before that Big Game.
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The word “tailgating” really took off in the early 20th century, once cars became more common. People would drive to games, park near the stadium, drop the tailgate of their trucks or wagons, and set up food spreads right there. The tailgate itself literally became a makeshift picnic table.
By the 1950s and 1960s, with football’s booming popularity, this pre-game ritual became a tradition—especially at college campuses where alumni and students gathered for food, drinks, and camaraderie before kick-off.
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Read MoreTailgate Cooking Ideas
Big Picture
If you add it all up across professional football, college football, baseball, NASCAR, and more, tens of millions of people in the U.S. tailgate every year. It’s not just a pregame snack—it’s practically a national pastime of its own.
On a given game day, tens of thousands of fans may be in stadium parking lots before kickoff. For example, at AT&T Stadium (Dallas Cowboys), which holds ~80,000 fans, it’s not unusual for 20,000+ fans to be tailgating outside.
On a given game day, tens of thousands of fans may be in stadium parking lots before kickoff. For example, at AT&T Stadium (Dallas Cowboys), which holds ~80,000 fans, it’s not unusual for 20,000+ fans to be tailgating outside
The Real Stars at the Party.
Oh, now we’re talking about the real stars of the tailgate—the food! Tailgate menus are all about portability, easy prep (or grilling in a parking lot), and crowd-pleasing comfort eats. While it can vary by region and personal tradition, here are the most popular foods you’ll almost always find at a tailgate party:
Game Day Activities
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Tailgate parties aren’t just about the food and drinks—
they’re also about fun and competition before the big competition. Games keep the energy up, help strangers mingle, and sometimes get just as intense as what’s happening on the field. Here are the most popular types of games you’ll see at tailgates:
So, the most common tailgate games are cornhole, beer pong, flip cup, ladder toss, and football toss, but the beauty of tailgating is that people get creative—it’s part carnival, part cookout, part pregame rally.
Simplicity is the Secret
Most tailgate staples—burgers, hot dogs, brats, wings, chili—are easy to cook on a grill or in a slow cooker. They don’t require fancy techniques or restaurant-level skills. If you can flip a burger, stir a pot, or follow a recipe, you’re already good to go.
Tailgating is more about the atmosphere than gourmet presentation. People aren’t expecting Michelin-star plates—they want hearty, tasty food they can eat with one hand while holding a drink in the other.