Tailgating Tips

By Geno Lukowski

Fall 2022

Tailgating is a beautiful tradition that fans of sporting events started, where they sit outside of the stadiums in the parking lot to eat, drink, play games, and do whatever they want to do as long as they abide by the school rules. The food is a big part of this event, it is what brings people together. Not only does the game bring them together but the tailgating experience can bring people closer together with friends and family, or even just random strangers from different backgrounds where the only thing in common with one another is rooting for the same team.

Gear Essentials To Bring to Every Tailgate

  • Lawn chair –This is important for any great tailgate because nobody wants to stand around the whole time. Any type of lawn chair will do and make a great addition to your tailgate.

  • Tickets –This is the most important item to not forget, without it, you may be stuck watching the game from the parking lot.

  • •A Plastic Clear Bin –This is to put all of the items you’re bringing inside and as you are packing you can see what you have already put in it.

  • Equipment for the weather –This can vary from waterproof plastic ponchos to layering up for the winter, or just an umbrella. Whatever it may be always plan for the weather sometime prior to the event you are going to.

  • Grill or smoker –This is important in case you plan on making food at the game and not paying for food at the stadium with their insane prices.

  • Jumper cables –This is important in the event that you or a neighbor tailgater’s car battery dies.

  • Hand washing station –At a tailgate, you will be far from a restroom unless they provide port-o-John’s, but you will need a place where you can wash your hands. Even if it’s a hand sanitizer area clean your hands before you eat the food. This can be useful for messy kids who love playing in the mud or just love getting dirty.

Preparing for the Weather when Tailgating

This is important to know about these games because you always need to check the weather beforehand. This can give you a better understanding of what to bring. Like if it is going to rain you should bring a poncho, and a canopy tent to sit under. This can also mean don’t bring any open fire grills because you can’t cook with them under the tent or in the rain. A good substitute would be a closed smoker or even making your food beforehand. This could be maybe sub sandwiches, getting a food party platter, as well as desserts, and beverages. The heat is also what you need to prepare for because if it is really hot you need to wear fewer clothes and make sure to bring sunscreen. During the game, you will be out in the sun for a very long time and if you tailgate you will be out there for even longer, so sunscreen is a necessity. One of the hardest weathers to tailgate for is snow and cold. In this type of weather, it is very important to wrap up in a lot of layers from head to toe. Tailgating in the snow is for the truest and most dedicated fans and is not for the weak. Not only are layers important but it is also important to bring things that will give off heat like heaters, grills, smokers, the inside of your car and its exhaust (just don’t breathe it in).

Seasonal Food During the Football Season

Game day food has always been the center of every great tailgating experience. Every good tailgate requires the right type of food, whether it be cold or warm. Like in the summertime you could have a barbecue and cold subs. In a cold sub, you can make them beforehand and save money by buying them from the store. This would be much cheaper than the substitute of buying a sandwich party platter, which would be much more expensive than making these sandwiches before. In this way, you can make them however you would like. You will also have a lot of cold drinks in the cooler to help cool you off from the warm weather ranging from cold water, soda, or even beer. Whereas later in the fall you have your warmer drinks like hot chocolate or something you can make fast outside like burgers or hotdogs this can be simple and easy. A lot of people use smokers to keep their food warm for a long period of time. In doing so you can keep warm by the smoker’s heat in the cold.

Chris King Signature Tailgating Recipe

Chris King is a retired chef who worked for various restaurants and is a huge bears fan. He is a frequent Chicago Bears tailgater going for many years and always preparing the food for many of his family and friends at different events. He has been tailgating for 24 years and has had parties of as many as 150 people and has been on TV many times too. In my interview, he said, “Tailgating really enhances the whole experience having good food brings people together.” The food in a tailgate can act as the most important food because prices inside stadiums are insane and it’s a great experience to tailgate. Below is an easy recipe for beginner tailgaters from Chris King of pork sliders, for those who want a good dish to feed a lot of people. This is a very tasteful recipe and an easy one because it doesn’t take much, making it cost-efficient. The recipe below is Chris King’s very own slider recipe:

Pork Sliders Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons onion powder

  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder

  • 2 teaspoons dried mustard

  • 2 teaspoons chili powder

  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

  • 1 teaspoon paprika

  • 3 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

  • 6–7-pound raw boneless pork shoulder or Boston button

  • Medium to large size bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s or your favorite BBQ sauce

  • 1 large package of Hawaiian Buns

  • 1 lb. of favorite Cole Slawo1 1/4 cup chicken broth

Directions

Set up the crock pot, turn it on high, and add chicken stock to the crock pot. Mix dry spice ingredients in a bowl then rub spices over raw pork shoulder. Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to a cast iron skillet or frying pan bring to a hot temp and sear the pork shoulder on all sides until brown.

After searing put the pork shoulder out into a crock pot, cover, and cook on high for 4-6 hours or on low for 8-10 hours. Test doneness by sticking it with a fork and see if it can shred at the four-hour mark if on high cook setting.

After the meat is done, drain juices from the crockpot. Shred pork in the crockpot, and add your favorite BBQ sauce.

Cut Hawaiian buns, make sandwiches, personal choice on how much meat you like on each sandwich. I usually have coke slaw, hot peppers, or pickle chips on the side for people to add to their sandwich, some people cannot or won’t eat some things so anything condiment wise I will put on the side, even BBQ sauce but not for this recipe obviously.

This can be cooked the night before and warmed prior to the game the next day.

Tailgating Rules and Restrictions

A lot of schools have their own rules for their fans about how they tailgate and where. They decide where you can tailgate and what you are allowed to bring. Some colleges allow alcohol, and some don’t, some let you bring gas grills, and some don’t. Tyler Gee is a student at the University of Wisconsin and a dedicated tailgater at every home game. At his school, it is essential to bring your own gear and not steal from others. With the basic universal rules of no fighting and the need to be wearing badger gear. Another major rule is that you cannot have a gas grill, but electricity is allowed. The most important rule is just to be kind a courteous to others in your surroundings but people at the tailgate are often very nice and friendly, especially to fellow badger fans. You also have to wear the appropriate gear for your seating section because one section may be red, and another may be white. So proper gear attire is important to know beforehand.

Another rule is no smoking and tobacco products on stadium grounds. In finding out the rules you can find each universities website because each universities tailgating rules are different. If you don’t follow these rules then they have good reasoning to kick you off school grounds, not allow you into the game, or even fine you. In tailgating you will not be alone in the event, it is proper tailgating etiquette to introduce yourself to your neighbors. Tailgating is a community event even if you guys aren’t rooting for the same team it is still good mannerism to introduce yourself. By doing so can be a very beneficial approach because say you forget something, your neighboring tailgater may have it, and vice versa. Plus, you never know they could be frequent tailgaters and be able to offer you tips the next time you tailgate. Tyler also said that they have certain events going on at campus and it is important to look into these events beforehand, for example, alumni can attend a band event before the game as well as a lunch beforehand.

The Final Word on Tailgating

In conclusion, tailgating is a great American tradition that brings people from all different backgrounds together. It's great for supporting your team or going against the opposing team and tailgating is a great part of this experience. When done correctly tailgating is sometimes better that watching the game, especially if you are a bear fan like me and the bears let you down again.

Geno Lukowski is a student at North Central College majoring in marketing. He is a big sports fan, and loves the experience of going to a game, the energy of the crowd, and the feeling of supporting his team. As an ex-football player and an attendee of many tailgates, he hopes this article helps inform people in knowing how to prepare and properly tailgate in a good manner. This information is for people who need proper tips on attending or hosting a tailgate and hopefully, this information helped you learn the steps to prepare you to have a fun tailgate.