So, I get the whole idea and spirit of pre-game revelry, gorging and possible over-imbibing. I’m wondering who is paying for all of this? I’ve seen a few corporate sponsored RVs with a righteous spread, but I’ve seen many more that seem to be your average Joe just cooking. Dogs and burgers… ok, one guy buys 'em and just cooks for friends. Ribs, prime rib, seafood, and various other extravagances can’t just be a donation to everyone just because a guy’s cool can they? Do people chip in, buy some of it, trade off who buys?
My favorite subject…
We have had the same arrangement for years. I am the tailgate chef so I supply the eats and my friend brings the cooler with beers. If its a late game, I usually do two meals.
There are couple of guys who have been tailgating next to us for several years and sometimes we do a cooperative tailgate. I will bring appetizers and sides and they will do the main course and vice versa.
I knew one guy at my old office that did an enormous spread. He didn’t even have tickets to the game. He just liked hanging out with the guys. He limited it to the first 20 guys to chip in 10 bucks by Friday. Then he went nuts, ribs, burgers, kebabs. Quite an affair. You had to supply your own beer though.
One friend of mine is part of a bus crew. The tailgate cost is $25 which includes pickup and drop off in a green Eagles bus, food and beer. The guy who owns the bus has a satellite dish so they guys can watch the early games before heading in.
Lots of different ways to tailgate out there. The hardest part is getting your butt out of bed at 6:00 AM so that you can secure your spot and save spots for some of the other guys.
Whenever we tailgate, we just bring whatever we need for however many people we’ve invited to eat with us. I’ve never crashed someone else’s dinner and I would not be pleased for a complete stranger to try to crash mine. Of course if someone who I actually know walks by, I’ll invite them to join us. A lot of time if it’s more than 5 or so people, we will collect some money from each person to buy the food and everyone BYOB. Tailgating can be as simple as grabbing a bucket of chicken on the way to the game, to very elaborate spreads.
6AM?!? You have it easy. We’re up at 4:30 just so we can get there by 9am.
Our organizer just loves tailgating (actually, we ALL do…), and since he’s grilling, he get’s the meat ready the night before. Burgers, brats, hot dogs, maybe some chicken. He’ll usually grab things like cookies and chips at the store, if people haven’t volunteered to get that stuff ahead of time. Everyone on the short bus is required to bring a case of beer (no bottles!). Halfway there we stop for gas and ice up the coolers. We tend to be a central meeting hub for people (hard to miss a painted up short bus in the parking lot), so people will tend to bring stuff as well.
Well then, at 7:15 when I am cracking my first beer, I’ll drink to you guys still sitting on the bus.
And I thought this would be all about speed, braking distances, and road rage.
Next thread: Logistics of starting to drink at 7:15am…
I believe you are one of the Indy Dopers. I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess you are NOT a Colts fan.
I’m from Green Bay, and we love to tailgate here! As far as paying for it, I’ve been to parties of all sorts. If it’s a bunch of friends, we’ll all pitch in (or all bring something to pass). I’ve also been to parties where an uncle or parent has thrown them, and we’re invited for free. Some of the tailgate parties I’ve been to were corporate type parties, and those were all catered, and, of course, I didn’t pay.
I am a Colts fan (though my main allegiance is to the KC Chefs) - but South Bend is a 3 hour drive to the north. Go Irish!
That explains it… I’m an IU grad from the mid 80’s. We never learned the concept of college football.
You aren’t kidding. You guys may be the only Big Ten team that can’t beat Michigan!
Do we even still have a team? I wasn’t quite clear on that.
I shouldn’t be so harsh… of course I’m just kidding. I’m sure Coach Corso has plans for the team.
What… he’s not… when? Really… that long?
Ok, maybe it has been awhile.