Went to a Jets game this week because I had free tickets (still no reason to go but...). I think someone could do a gr8 social documentary on people who tailgate every home game for their football team. Getting up at 7AM and driving to a game, spending huge amounts of money on food/booze/flags/football paraphernalia. You go to the same spot every week, hanging out with the same crew who you have become friends with only from parking next to them every week for x number of years. Probably invite these people to their weddings, etc.
Football Tailgating
- Thread starter nardibynature123
- Start date
Besides the fact that few, if any people recognize the absurdity of standing around a parking lot and eating, I actually enjoy tailgating. I wouldn't do it 8 times a year for an NFL game but I do enjoy hanging out. I could never host my own tailgate though; the cost has to be astronomical. The cost really has to skyrocket once you get in to college tailgates, especially with the RVs. Can you imagine the cost to drive an RV back and forth from the CoP to State College, PA seven or eight times a year? Ugh.
I'd also be curious to hear what the benchwarmers think of the death of tailgating. In Pittsburgh, the lots shrink every year due to development around the stadium. You can't tailgate in garages, and spaces are running out. Is this a good or bad trend?
edit: TJC
I'd also be curious to hear what the benchwarmers think of the death of tailgating. In Pittsburgh, the lots shrink every year due to development around the stadium. You can't tailgate in garages, and spaces are running out. Is this a good or bad trend?
edit: TJC
Not trying to attack a single franchise. I just think it could be a very interesting social experiment.
I agree with you - but who are you to be judging people for what they do in their free time? All I am saying is
And nothing against you personally - just in general. It's lazy to look down on people because they enjoy tailgating.
I was actually at a charity event a few years ago for a friend of a friend of an acquaintance who had real cancer. I got sat at the loser table because I wasn't close with the guy. I started asking everyone at the table how they knew the guy with cancer and they all said "we watched him grow up because we tailgated with his parents at Giants games for 20 years." I was floored. These people were literally like family to one another because they had parking spots next to each other in a parking lot where they ate food and drank beer. Say what you want about football, but that's pretty cool.
I just think it would be an interesting documentary, no different than Dark Days about the tunnel people who live under NYC.I agree with you - but who are you to be judging people for what they do in their free time? All I am saying is
And nothing against you personally - just in general. It's lazy to look down on people because they enjoy tailgating.
Nno different than the cosplay dorks who spend thousands of dollars on costumes to hang out with their "friends" at comic conventions.
NickleDimer
Post 'Til Your Fingers Bleed
Don't you just hate it when people with common interests get together and enjoy themselves?
They should be a fan of sports that aren't played competitively in America like soccer or rugby. Then their only watching experience is waking up at 4am to watch it alone in your basement.
They should be a fan of sports that aren't played competitively in America like soccer or rugby. Then their only watching experience is waking up at 4am to watch it alone in your basement.
"Look at those weirdos dressing up like Darth Vader to go watch the new Star Wars movie" - guy who wears a team jersey to watch a football game
I am not saying doing it once in a while is terrible. I am talking about the guys that will miss weddings/baptisms/birthday parties because they have a football game, or guys that haven't missed a game in 25 years.
so i think we have established that knocking tailgating and the over-index of the low-brow element within is a very touchy point for novahoops2002
tailgating is a lot of fun, in the right environment/dosage
tailgating is a lot of fun, in the right environment/dosage
I agree with you - but who are you to be judging people for what they do in their free time? All I am saying is
And nothing against you personally - just in general. It's lazy to look down on people because they enjoy tailgating.
You've clearly struck a nerve for arak's way of life
Dynamite drop in Monty. You can literally say this about anything.
I don't mind others looking down on it, I enjoy myself and always have a good time. I just think it's phony to knock it like it's something only poor, trashy fans do.
Actually quite the contrary. I've seen some pretty elaborate tailgates with people setting up 60 inch TVs and and eating lobster. So older rich douches like to partake just as much as the meth addict Miller Lite drinking Joe Vance types.
Personally I think people watching TV in a parking lot when you can just stay home and do that and be warm are but that's just my opinion.
Personally I think people watching TV in a parking lot when you can just stay home and do that and be warm are but that's just my opinion.
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I know many rich Giants fans that do it. Has nothing to do with being poor or trashy.
To be honest - over the past 2 years I have begun to change my mind about going to football games live. It's 1000% better to watch at home. I still enjoy going to the games though, so it's a bit of an internal conflict. Do I go to the game and make a whole day out of it or do I stay home and watch the Eagles/Red Zone all day. I am thinking about skipping the game this week but I'll probably still end up going.
Eating ribs, too. I think it's not so much the act of tailgating, but the emphasis on tailgating in one's life, that is the problem. I also know people who put football sundays above all else, including religious/family obligations, and it's weird as hell. I don't care that you like to go have fun on a crisp sunday morning in a parking lot with your buddies, but don't tell me you're going to skip a christening because you "have" to go tailgate. That's when it steps into loser territory, no matter how good the ribs are.
Another subset of this is the people that tailgate, but don't actually go to the game. I think the Giants or the Jets tried to crack down on this at some point a few years ago but there was a backlash because so many people can't afford to go to the games and tailgating was their only connection to the team, so they let them keep doing it.
Solid post and I agree with you. No reason to miss out on something because of a football game, that is when it gets silly. I also never understood the people who tailgate but don't go to the game. A lot of people seem to do that.
Another solid point. There is no flow to these games anymore. It's a series then commercial break. Touchdown then a commercial break followed by the kickoff for a touchback and then commercial break. SNF games are the worst, they get to be annoying to watch on TV even.
My buddies and I are toying with an SEC road trip next year. We're thinking about picking a big game, renting an RV, road tripping down to the game. We're considering not getting tickets and going to a bar after tailgating. Pretty stupid, but that's what we're thinking.
I'm not a big football fan, but I'd rather go to a tailgate than a christening.
Liz, terrible idea. Part of the college in game experience is the traditions of each school. It's a much better environment than a pro game. You're missing half the fun by skipping the game. Also why I enjoy the NCAA hoops tourney. Always cool to see the other schools/fanbases etc....
i've routinely tailgated and not attended the game. party with friends at the tailgate from 8 or 9 until everyone going to the game heads to the stadium. go up to the bar near stadium and watch the first half and get some food. head home at half time and watch the second half.
i'm a huge Browns fan, but i'm not going to waste my money on that joke of a franchise by buying tickets and paying out my ass for beer and food inside the stadium. tailgating is the only redeeming quality of being a Browns fan.
i'm a huge Browns fan, but i'm not going to waste my money on that joke of a franchise by buying tickets and paying out my ass for beer and food inside the stadium. tailgating is the only redeeming quality of being a Browns fan.
I get that. We're going back and forth about it. We're thinking Alabama at Tennessee in mid-October. I'm not a huge college football fan so the game itself doesn't appeal that much to me. It's about warm weather, buddies, alcohol and surrounding ourselves with big-time southern college football entertainment. I suppose we can bring flasks in so we don't have to sober up for three hours.
NickleDimer
Post 'Til Your Fingers Bleed
Do yourself a favor and go to a non-televised football or basketball game one of these days. Or even watch an uninterrupted half of soccer, if you can stomach it. you'll remember how mesmerizing the flow of the game is without fan duel and Doritos ads and Joe Buck yelling at you.
