The Best Tailgating Experiences sent to us by Tailgaters across America:

I have been part of many Cincinnati Bengal tailgate parties, but one will stand out in particular. In Cincinnati we may have the worst record in the 90's, but we sure don't have the worst tailgaters. It was December 17, 2000 and we arrived at 6:00a.m. with three inches of snow already fallen the temperature was around 2 degrees with a wind chill of -30. That did not stop the tailgaters from partying around huge bon fires with crab legs and Cincinnati style Chili cooking and Beer flowing. At kickoff the temperature reached a blistery 9 degrees with a -20 wind chill. There were four guys that even took off their shirts to celebrate the day. However, after Neil Rackers kicked a game winning field goal to eliminate the Jaguars from the playoffs nobody could feel the cold temperatures. The tailgate party continued after the game until the parking lot attendants threatened to lock us in...from Jason(Tailgate Pro) from Cincinnati,OH
A picture is worth a thousand words...Pictures from October 7th Minnesota vs. Penn State game in Minneapolis, outside of the Metrodome...from the Einan Home Team
When visiting Buffalo, be sure to check out HELMET GUY. His shtick started when he wore a replica helmet to the 1994 AFC Championship Game at Rich Stadium. Throughout the 1st quarter, everyone was slapping the helmet every time something good happened. Suffice it to say, he got his concussion before Joe Montana. After that, he took it off and had everyone "touch the helmet for luck"  With his season tickets in hand, he's been performing this act ever since. Then, in 1996, a little boy gave him a Christmas card. Not knowing his name, he addressed it to "The Helmet Guy," and the name stuck. Before the first game of the 1997 season, we unveiled his new jersey.  Presenting.. #7 1/8, The Helmet Guy....  Ever since, the jersey has gotten recognition from Ralph Wilson and fans across the region and noticed at Canton when we were there for the Hall Of Fame induction of Billy Shaw which happened to include the charter members of the Visa Hall Of Fans (Big Dawg Thompson, Barrel Man, and the rest). Ron Jaworski always touches the Helmet for luck anytime we see him in Buffalo and Marty Schottenheimer even loved the act. We didn't let him in on the fact that we beat his Chiefs with it...The Philster in Buffalo
Southern Methodist University has just opened a new state of the art Stadium on campus. For years and years SMU has played off campus and with the new stadium they are back on campus and have a great tailgating area called "the boulevard". We invite you come out and see a great tailgating party...Reid from Dallas, TX 
Being 17 I haven't had much time to get years of tailgating under my belt. But at my high school my friends and I are known for throwing quite the parties. Though the current status with a big gas grill, hamburgers, and lots of lemonade is great. It is hard to get any better than that first time. Hot dogs cooked on a hibachi just cannot be beat...Kyle from Akron, IN
The Saguaro Aerostat Association's flying season is during the cooler months of the year out here...September through May mainly. A few times each month, up to 20-30 balloonists and their crews gather in Avra Valley (about 15 miles north of Tucson) and launch their balloons at daybreak (yes, it's often cold at the crack of dawn, let me tell you, even in the desert). After an hour or so of flying, the balloons are packed up and all head back to the launch site for TAILGATE extraordinaire!

Our monthly rallies are the best...we usually have special food themes to work from...many are holiday and sports-event related (SuperBowl, World Series, etc.), but some of our favorites include "Roadkill Rally" (you can't begin to imagine), "Jimmy Buffett" (Cheeseburgers in Paradise and Margaritaville), "Pirate's Rally" (Ho Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum), "Chocolate Lovers (Valentines Day rally)", etc. Balloonists are a rare breed by nature, but these little competitive food fests bring out the best (and sometimes the bizarre) in all of us. We have published one cook book featuring with some of our special treats, but each week brings on new levels of taste-tempting and tantalizing treats! And I almost forgot to mention the free-flowing champagne to celebrate the day's successful flights...from Bonnie a Tailgating Balloonist in Avra Valley, AZ
One of the best examples of tailgating is before the annual Iron Bowl game between Alabama and Auburn. Fans start showing up as early as Tuesday the week of the game (they would show up earlier if the universities allow). As far as the atmosphere goes, I don't think it could get any better than over 1000 RV's and motorhomes and the greatest rivalry in all of football. If you can get a ticket to this one don't pass it up. And next year, for the first time ever, the two teams will meet in Tuscaloosa, and I guarantee this will be one of the rowdiest games in history...from Michael at Mississippi State
My tailgating memories are too numerous...The next one is always my favorite!  But one that particularly stands out in my mind was, while waiting out on the street, in our rv, for the gates to open to Lambeau Field, we met a couple of Packer fans from Germany, Gustav and Guner. They had flown into Pennsylvania, then rented a car and drove to Green Bay. They spent the day tailgating with us, and other Packer fans, and had the time of their lives. They later called us, from Germany, to let us know they arrived home safely and to thank us for the wonderful time. I expect we'll be seeing them again some day at Lambeau Field.  Just recently, too, we got to meet the Commissioner, himself, at Lambeau. Nice meeting you, Joe, and looking forward to seeing you again too...Judy a Packer fanatic (originally from New England)
I am proud to be a Bills fan! Many a season I travel to Orchard Park, NY to have what I consider the most fun tailgate possible. Like most, early arrival to the stadium is a must! Start the grill at 10am, have a beer. Finish lunch, beer. Dress for game, have a beer. Great time. My most memorable recent game was this preseason NY Jets vs. Bills at home in Rich Stadium (or whatever they call it this year). It was a Sunday evening game and oh, what fun it was!  Managed to get into the parking area early and fit in a few drinks with a great bunch of people from Ontario, Canada.   I love tailgating, especially with Bills fans...Andy in Buffalo
I haven’t been to any tailgates that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy. One of my most anticipated was preparing for a Vanderbilt/Notre Dame game in 1996. My brother in-law and our family were Vandy season ticket holders and lifelong Irish fans. We always had some wonderful experiences prior to Vandy games.  Needless to say we were anxiously awaiting this game. What made it odd was that it was on a Thursday night. I don’t know how I made it in to work the next morning. The Titans are in town and I'm ready too add to memories...Harold in Nashville
Saturdays in the fall in Baton Rouge, the fans are cooking all those Cajun favorites. Nothing can top a Saturday and Saturday Night in Tiger Stadium. Best Tailgating fans in the country and that goes for the visitors too. They really get into the spirit!...Randy from Louisiana.
The King of all Tailgates has a name: THE WORLD'S LARGEST OUTDOOR COCKTAIL PARTY. The Georgia-Florida game is not just tailgating on Saturday, it's all weekend long with some arriving in Jacksonville as early as that Wednesday. Parties range from dancing to live music every year from the Swingin' Medallions to rooting on your team at the Downunder restaurant in Fernindina Beach. After the game, fans make it to the Jacksonville Landing which is largely dominated by the winning team's fans. Luckily the Dawgs have done the most partying because we still lead the series 45-29. A game like no other! Go Dawgs!!!...Jason from Hinesville, GA
We were poor college students at Rutgers University in NJ (The Birthplace of College Football!) but never missed a home game (and made most away games too)!  For starters, we'd get to the fields before there were people checking for parking passes, to avoid the $$$ charge. Since we didn't have a grill, we used a metal shelf from the refrigerator, balanced over a few cinder blocks. The looks we'd get!!  We started off with omelets at 8am (kickoff was usually 1pm) and the 'grill' stayed burning well past the game. It seemed like we always got stuck with rain, or sloppy conditions from a previous night's rain, but that just gave us reason to do 'mud slides' through the sludge in the fields!  Anyone with decent cars made the 'mud sliders' walk back to campus!...Mike from Mechanicsburg, PA
I am known as the Queen of Tailgating. It all started when my son was at West Point for four years. I organized tailgates for both Football and Baseball games. My son was an Army pitcher. I was known at the local supermarket as the lady who feeds the Army. When my son was a Junior, he brought his company to a tailgate, approximately 100 cadets. We took two cars of food. The tailgate theme was "When the cows come home". The Juniors are known at West Point as Cows. My husband and I were dressed in Farm overalls. We brought a life-size wooden cow, a bale of hay and pitch fork and a tape of Mooing cows. The menu consisted of cow patties, chili, cow cookies, etc. We had cow napkins and plates. It was great! This four year experience of feeding the Army was only a warm up for my next tailgating assignment. My youngest daughter just finished four years of playing Field Hockey for Princeton University. They went to the Final Four the last three years and to the National Championship two of those three years. Please take time to attend a Princeton Field Hockey Tailgate. Twice a week, the parents feed between 60-150 people. One of our best tailgates this year was at Yale, filet with horseradish sauce, shrimp Ceasar salad, grilled sausages and veggie burgers, pasta salad, bruschetta, fresh strawberries, always rice krispie bars - a team favorite and more. We repeated this tailgate two more times. The generosity of the parents is overwhelming. We tailgate after the game so that the team can also really appreciate it. A better culinary experience will be hard to find. Go Tigers! …Sue from Washington Depot, CT
I sold programs my senior year at Penn State, so I could see the games (didn't have enough credits remaining to allow me to purchase a season ticket). The Miami-Penn State game in 1992 was one of the best tailgating experiences I have ever witnessed. My programs were sold at least an hour before kickoff (usually I was returning a few). I must have spoken with over 200 people that day, saw some great tailgate spreads, and was starving by kickoff (all that great food). I'll never forget my college experience at Penn State, least of all those fine football Saturdays...Ken in Reading, PA
Come to Columbia, MO sometime and check out those Tiger Tailgaters. As a season ticket holder I love getting to the game early and enjoying the atmosphere. If you want to get a good spot you have to get there early! The main parking lot is kind of small. But, the good news is parking is free. My friends and I have a good time at the games and after the games everyone must go to Harpo's and The Field House in downtown Columbia. Win or lose it's a fun time. Speaking of tails. When you go to a Mizzou football game you will notice everyone has those darn tiger tails sticking out of their trunks. It's kind of a tradition I guess. Maybe it is in other "Tiger Towns" too…Aaron in Marceline, MO
I have been part of a NAVY-ARMY Tailgate for 34 of the 47 years I have been on earth. The NAVY-ARMY game in the past few years has been at 12 noon EST. The caravan leaves a hotel by Philly airport at 6:30am. We have two buses that seat over 40 tailgaters apiece; a small percentage of the 250 people we expect to cook for. The chow and equipment truck sets up before 7:00am with tents, helium for the BEAT ARMY blimp we fly over the stadium, grills (both charcoal & propane gridlle ; for the bacon & eggs) and the bar. True story; three years ago the stadium concession complained to the local police we were selling food. Win or lose, after the game, Irish coffee & champagne are served. Our menu is nothing special, burgers, dogs, NY sausage and chili, but cooking and pouring for over 250 invitees is fun and overwhelming. I encourage all tailgate and football fans to attend the ARMY - NAVY game for a true AMERICAN experience...TERRY in LOT8B @ GIANTS STADIUM
Gator Bowl 1999. Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech. Arrived at 7:30 am for a 12:30 game. Grilled out London Broil and baked potatoes. Played football with the kids, family and friends. Bar, snacks and had the Scottish bag pipe player play the Notre Dame fight song for my mom (a die hard ND fan)...D in Jacksonville, FL
Our 1st annual "Pig and a Keg" tailgate party at the Dec. 28th Monday Night Football game Jags vs Steelers. We roasted "Jerome the Pittsburgh Squealer".  We had many of the city's news media drop by not to mention Commissioner Joe.  The pig was great.   The game was great.  We tailgated with friends and family for a total of 30 hours for this game.......Wow what an experience!!!... Alan, Andreas, Steven and Mark from Jacksonville, FL
Penn State tailgating has it all...the RV's, the Blue Band, the Cheerleaders, the Creamery, great fans, and oh yea, a pretty darn good football team and coach. Penn State deserves to repeat as the the College Tailgating Champion...Chris from Lancaster, PA