Did you know that nearly 46 percent of tailgaters across 25 states in America join 6 to 10 tailgating parties during the course of a NFL season. For NFL fans this year, tailgating is not only about football, alcohol, food and friends it’s a lifestyle enjoyed by many avid sports fans. Tailgating is the ultimate testament to what it’s really like to party, hang out with friends, and meet cool folks at the same time. Before you hit the road to show your favorite sports team some love read the information below. It's a quick guide on how to tailgate like a pro this 2016 NFL season!
- Check out the weather forecast. Check things like the temperature, rain, snow etc for the entire day. You never know what the weather gods will throw your way so a tent or a tarp for shelter or shade may come in handy. Leave the lightweight napkins at home if it’s going to be a windy tailgating day.
- Do your homework about the tailgating site. Find out about the site’s facilities and rules. Do you have to take your garbage home with you? If that’s the case, taking separate trash bags for biodegradable and recyclable stuff with you may be a good idea. This will save you the hassle of sorting out trash once you’re home spent and tired from all the tailgating action. How long do you have to travel to reach the site? And how long can you stay? Are pets allowed? Asking yourself these questions ahead of time will make your tailgating experience more comfortable and fun.
- Customize the backdrop with your team colors. Do it like a pro and pimp out your tailgate area with custom tablecloths, flags and tents. My friends mvpvisuals.com are offering $25 off table covers, $25 off flags and $50 off tents. Use promo code FKHFLAGS25, FKHTABLECOVERS25 and FKHTENT50 to receive your discount.
- Create a checklist. A checklist of things to do, prepare, and bring before (and even after!) the tailgating trip is a MUST! We wrote that down in all caps to emphasize that a thorough checklist will be your saving grace this tailgating season. We’ve seen tailgaters lament over things that they forgot to bring with them - from cutting boards to salt (bland-tasting barbecues eh?) to beer bottle openers. My Uncle has one in his man cave that we custom made and is very similar to the ones found at Capcatchers. We also bring it to our tailgates and it's a good conversation piece.
- Dress to impress. You’re not officially tailgating if you’re not appropriately dressed in your team’s colors. Bonus points if your table follows the same color scheme (see mvpvisuals.com).
- Bring plenty of food and drink! BBQ and drinks are the corner stone for many once the football season begins. With these two staples that make up a true blue tailgating experience, plan ahead to ensure that you and the rest of the gang will be happily fed.
Whether you’re serving BBQ ribs and hot wings with boat loads of potato salad or tacos, ensure that your grill is clean and you have enough fuel to last the entire day. As for the beer, I prefer light beers that don't fill me up and are refreshing.
Have a great tailgating season!
