Tailgating isn't just a warm-up for the big game— it's a time-honored tradition where football fans gather to celebrate their favorite teams, enjoy good food, and create lasting memories with family and friends. Whether you’re a veteran tailgater or new to the fun, the following tips and tricks will up your game before the game.
General Planning and Preparation
If you’ll be tailgating at the stadium, pre-purchase a parking pass if possible, and arrive early to get the best spot. Most stadiums open their lots hours before kickoff, giving you plenty of time to set up and enjoy the pre-game festivities.
Most, if not all, NFL teams have tailgating rules and guidelines posted on their websites. Familiarize yourself with them so you know what to expect when you arrive at the stadium.
If you plan on tailgating at an off-site location, call well in advance to make a reservation and check on any rules and regulations.
Know where the nearest restrooms or portable toilets are located. You'll be glad you did the recon!
Be a Supply Specialist
If you’ll be grilling in the lot at the stadium, you’ll need to bring your own portable grill. You’ll need to bring your own supplies like utensils, aluminum foil, and fuel. Don't forget to have a fire extinguisher on hand and make sure your grill is placed on a flat surface away from anything flammable.
A cooler filled with ice to keep your drinks chilled and your perishable food at a safe temperature is also a tailgating necessity.
A canopy or pop-up tent will provide much-needed shade for you and your fellow tailgaters in the warmer months, while sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat will keep you from turning as red as a Cardinals jersey. In the colder months, a coat, scarf, and gloves will keep you warm in the lot and stadiums without domes like Chicago's Soldier Field.
You'll need a place to sit between rounds of cornhole, so consider bringing camping chairs with drink holders or even a folding table and chairs unless you'll be tailgating at an off-site location with picnic tables that can be reserved for your use.
Bring portable chargers or a small generator to keep everything powered up during the party.
Yes, Grill Sergeant!
Here are some simple suggestions for making your menu the MVP of your tailgating party:
Prior Preparation: Marinate meats, chop vegetables, and prepare sides at home to minimize prep work at the tailgate. This will give you more time to enjoy the experience.
Focus on the Flame: The grill is the main attraction of any tailgating meal. Burgers, brats, and wings are always crowd-pleasers and can be cooked to taste with a variety of sauces and spices.
Simple Sides: Chips and dips, coleslaw, and pasta salad are easy side dishes to serve on game day.
Sweet Treats: Have treats like cookies and brownies on hand that people can grab if they want something sweet.
Drinks: While beer is a tailgating staple, having a variety of drink options will keep your crew hydrated and happy especially during early-season games when temps are high. Keep it simple with water, soda, sport drinks, or bring along the ingredients for a signature cocktail. Use the drink recipes from VinePair’s “32 Teams, 32 Drinks” cocktail guide as inspiration. Those drinks are of course for fans 21 and older. For fun football-inspired mocktail options, try this list from Mingle Mocktails, which includes the aptly-named Tailgate Tornado.
Show Your Spirit
Show your team pride with decorations, apparel, and themed dishes. Hoist a flag, hang a banner, and learn the touchdown dance. Wear your favorite player’s jersey. Serve local favorites on paper plates in your team’s colors.
———————-
If you’re looking for a place to stay the night before the big game, IHG® Army Hotels are just the ticket. Our collection of well-known hotel brands offers accommodations for active-duty service members, veterans, Department of Defense employees, military contractors, and their families. Several of our properties are located less than an hour away from NFL stadiums.
The Staybridge Suites on Fort Belvoir and the Candlewood Suites on Fort Meade are both within a 30-minute drive to Commanders Field, home of the Washington Commanders. Suites have kitchens with cooktops and full-sized refrigerators so you can prep and store the food for your tailgate party. Appliances like blenders and slow cookers are available through Lending Lockers. Tailgating is encouraged in designated lots at Commanders Field, which open 4-5 hours before kickoff.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord has a Candlewood Suites less than an hour away from Lumen Field, so you can cheer on the Seattle Seahawks after enjoying a tailgating menu prepared in your room’s fully-equipped kitchen. You can also stay on site and have your own private tailgating party at the hotel’s recreation area where picnic tables and barbecue grills are available for guest use. Tailgating isn’t allowed at Lumen Field, but there are nearby lots where it is encouraged.
MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and the New York Jets, is just across the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and up the New Jersey Turnpike from the Holiday Inn Express on Fort Hamilton. Rooms feature kitchenettes with tailgating prep and storage space. Kitchenettes are also available at the two IHG Army Hotels locations on West Point. Fans of the Giants and the Jets can tailgate in all MetLife Sports Complex parking lots, but grills are not allowed in the parking decks.
If you’re willing to drive a little farther to cheer on your favorite NFL team, you’ll find additional IHG Army Hotels with amenities that support a great tailgating experience. Check out their locations across the country to find one that works for you.
Rest Easy is the owner, design-builder, asset manager, and the exclusive developer for the Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) portfolio, the Department of Defense’s only lodging privatization program. IHG Hotel & Resorts is the hotel operator and manager of IHG Army Hotels.