AARP Smart Guide to Tailgating

WHAT GEAR SHOULD YOU BRING?

9. Start with the essentials

A few fundamental pieces of equipment are at the heart of every tailgate. “Think of your tailgate setup like building a cozy living room, just outdoors,” Benedict says. “You’ll want shelter, seating and surfaces. ... The goal is comfort and convenience so you can focus on the fun.”

For shade and weather protection, Benedict recommends a pop-up canopy or an RV awning. For seating, she says folding chairs with cupholders are the MVPs. And for surfaces, she suggests a sturdy folding table or portable picnic bench for food, games and gear. You can spend as much or as little as you want, adds Lorick, and there’s solid gear available for every budget. If you want to splurge, a high-end chair is worth a few extra pennies. 

“There’s a new chair I’m testing now that’s actually a cooling chair,” Lorick says. “You stick a nozzle into your cooler and it pulls the cool air from there, cycling it through the chair so you’re sitting in a cooled seat while you’re tailgating.”

10. Dress the part

When it comes to your tailgating wardrobe, keep in mind who you’re rooting for and what the weather will be. “Layer up and lean into the team spirit,” Benedict says. “Early mornings can be chilly and afternoons toasty, so layers are your best friend. Think a hoodie or light jacket you can peel off as the day goes on. Comfortable shoes are a must — you’ll be on your feet grilling, mingling and celebrating — and don’t forget weather-specific gear like a rain poncho, hat or sunscreen. Then, of course, top it all off with your team colors or logo gear.” You could be at the tailgate party for a long time, so wear comfortable, practical footwear, too. High heels might be stylish, but they can be unsafe, especially on uneven grass.

11. Prepare for emergencies

Health and safety are important considerations for older adults wherever they go. Tailgates are no exception. Along with any essential medications you might need, pack basic emergency items like bandages, cleansing wipes, antibiotic ointment, tweezers and pain relievers. (You’ll also want to include nonemergency items like bug spray and sunscreen.) “A first aid kit is a must,” insists Donnelly. “For guests with mobility challenges, avoid uneven ground when possible. Tailgates set up on grass can make navigation tricky for wheelchairs or walkers. Parking lots are ideal in these situations.” While you’re at it, make sure you’re as prepared for vehicle emergencies as you are for medical emergencies. “Never leave home without jumper cables, a tire inflator and basic tools,” Donnelly continues. “Dead batteries from running music systems and flat tires from unseen debris are surprisingly common in tailgate lots.”

12. Power up

Tailgating is like camping: You can rough it “off the grid,” or pull out all the stops for a five-star “glamping” experience. For the latter, you’ll need electricity. To get it, bring either a generator or a portable power station. “I’m not a generator fan. I don’t like the noise and the gas,” Lorick says. “Instead, I’m team portable power station. And with some of the power stations they have now, you can power just about anything off them. They’re quiet, they’re clean and they’re easy to use.” 

While there are high-output models available, power stations, which run on rechargeable batteries, are typically best for running mobile devices and small electronics. To power larger pieces of equipment such as fans, TVs and slow cookers, a generator that runs on fuel is usually more reliable. “We actually bought ours specifically for tailgating,” Benedict says. “Bottom line: If your tailgate looks more like a living room party than a picnic, the generator is 100 percent worth bringing.”

13. Keep your cool (and bring the heat)

Food and drinks are the lifeblood of every tailgate. To ensure everything you serve is both tasty and safe, make sure you have the right equipment to keep it at the right temperature, starting with a cooler for cold beverages and refrigerated items like eggs, meat and dairy. “There are a ton of coolers out there now, and you really can’t make a wrong decision. It just depends on what your budget is and what features you want,” says Lorick. “I recently tested a cooler that had a telescopic handle and all-terrain wheels so you could roll it over any type of surface. It kept stuff super cold and had a pocket inside the cooler for sandwiches and things that you don’t want to get crushed under the ice. You can even get really crazy and buy a motorized cooler that you can ride around the parking lot.” 

It’s just as important to keep hot things hot as it is to keep cold things cold. An insulated hot beverage dispenser, for example, is great for coffee, hot chocolate or even soup or chili, and insulated casserole carriers are ideal for transporting hot dishes from home. Sterno cans under aluminum serving trays also work for hot foods, Donnelly says.

14. Fire up the grill

Whether you fancy burgers, brats, hot dogs or ribs, grilling is the quintessential tailgating activity. But what’s the best grill for the job? “There’s no one right answer — use what fits your style and transport needs,” Donnelly says. Manning agrees. “There are no rules,” he says. “At the Red Pinto Tailgate [in Buffalo], you’ll see everything: propane stoves, charcoal kettles, griddles, pizza ovens and, in [Red Pinto Tailgate cofounder] Pinto Ron’s case, the hood of his car. One guy cooks Swedish meatballs in a bedpan over charcoals. No joke. The best grill is the one you’re excited to cook on.” Whatever grill you prefer, just make sure you check the venue’s rules before you lug it to the stadium. “Some places will not let you bring a charcoal grill … because they consider it a fire hazard,” Renfro notes. “Anything propane, you’re generally going to be safe to bring.”

15. Remember the forgettable

There are two things that tailgaters forget more than anything else, according to Renfro. “The first is ice,” he says. “I don’t care how much ice you have, it’s never going to be enough. Bring more ice. … The second thing that people somehow amazingly forget to bring are trash bags.” Along with trash bags, consider bringing a trash can. “I like pop-up bins that fold flat but stand tall when in use,” says Donnelly, who also stresses the importance of dishware, including sturdy paper or Styrofoam plates, plastic cups, small bowls, heavy-duty plastic utensils, paper towels and napkins.

FOOD AND DRINK

16. Plan your menu

Food is the foundation of every tailgate. “Think grazing, not courses,” Benedict says. “We like to set out a spread of snacks and finger foods that can be refreshed throughout the day — chips, dips, fruit and charcuterie always win. For heartier bites, brats and chili in a Crock-Pot keep people full without being fussy. The key is foods that travel well, don’t require constant babysitting and taste just as good a few hours later.”

Adds Donnelly, “If you’re tailgating all day, start with a hearty breakfast … and serve your main meal later. Always plan for at least 1.5 times the food you’d make at home — running out is the ultimate tailgate sin.” Be mindful of dietary restrictions, too. “If somebody has some type of food allergy or they’re vegan or they’re gluten-free, find that out in advance and plan for it,” Lorick says. “A lot of times, those people don’t have anything to eat. So if you have food for them, they’ll never forget that.”

17. Prep food in advance

Do as much ahead of time as you can, Renfro advises. “If you’re going to make hamburgers, don’t wait until you get to the parking lot to make the patties, chop the lettuce and slice the tomatoes,” he says. “Do all that the night before, and then put it in cold-storage containers so that when you get to the parking lot, all you have to do is throw the meat on the grill.”

18. Save time with store-bought foods

You don’t have to be a chef to be a tailgater. Store-bought food is perfectly fine if you don’t cook or if you need to save time. “For most people, all that matters is that you have food,” says Lorick. “If everybody’s hungry and all you brought was a case of beer, you might have a problem. But as long as you have something — grab-and-go deli sandwiches, some of the premade fried chicken, whatever the case may be — you’ll be good.” In lieu of store-bought foods, you could also lighten your cooking load with a potluck, Lorick notes. “I’m a big believer in saying, ‘Hey, can you bring this? And how about you bring that?’ … That way, you check a lot of different boxes without putting it all on one person.”

19. Lighten things up

There’s one thing you’ll never see on Donnelly’s tailgating menus: salads. “Salads tend to flop, so I rarely include them,” he says. But that doesn’t mean your cooler and grill must be packed with calories, sugar and saturated fats. With a little forethought, healthy tailgating fare is possible. “Tailgates aren’t health-food havens, but fruit platters can add a fresh, lighter touch,” continues Donnelly, who says “low-carb, high-protein dishes work well.” When he wants to skew healthier, Manning mixes in Middle Eastern or Greek options like tabbouleh, pita and grilled chicken skewers. “A friend even swaps the hot dog bun for a tortilla to cut carbs,” he says.

20. Drink up

Alcohol is a big part of sports culture, but sober tailgates can be just as fun. To make sure drinkers and nondrinkers enjoy themselves, Donnelly suggests bringing separate coolers for alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks (which can include beers and cocktails with zero alcohol). “Stock more drinks than you think you’ll need, and include options for nondrinkers and kids,” he says. For alcohol, canned beer is “standard,” according to Manning. It’s easier to transport and safer than bottles. “For nonalcoholic options, it’s water and sodas in warm months, then coffee or cocoa once the cold hits,” he says. “A favorite at my tailgate is mulled wine: perfect for a little buzz while keeping you warm at the coldest games.” 

Premade canned cocktails are also great for tailgates, according to Renfro. “Whether it’s a margarita, a vodka Collins or gin and soda, you just pop the top and drink it,” he says. “For morning games, Bloody Marys are a great option, or mimosas.” If adult beverages are in the mix, drink responsibly and make sure your tailgating venue allows open containers and imbibing in public, Lorick cautions. “I’ve tailgated across the country and never encountered an issue, but please check your local laws,” he says.

BEFORE THE GAME

21. Play some games of your own

Tailgating isn’t just about watching games. Often, it’s also about playing them. “You’ve got to have games,” Renfro says. “Cornhole is my favorite, but there’s also ladder toss and ring toss, and I see people out there playing horseshoes all the time, too. All of those are great choices — especially if you have kids, because you’ve got to find something to keep them occupied.” Along with cornhole, “beer pong and flip cup are classics,” according to Donnelly, who says the most memorable tailgate activity he’s seen was an ice luge race. And of course it’s always fun to bring a football to toss around.

22. Watch other games or pregame coverage

Many elite tailgaters bring satellite dishes and big-screen TVs so they can watch pregame coverage and keep tabs in real time on other games across the country. Dish’s “Dish Tailgater” portable HD satellite antenna, for example, is designed especially for tailgating. (Similar products are made by DirecTV and Winegard.) It sits on the ground or mounts to the roof of your RV and can be used with a Dish mobile receiver to broadcast your favorite channels anytime, anywhere. “But as long as the games are on over-the-air networks and you’re close enough to TV towers, you don’t need a satellite dish,” Renfro says. “You can just get an over-the-air antenna for $30 or $40 and hook it up to the back of your TV.” With or without a satellite dish, you’ll need a generator and a long power cord for your TV, Donnelly says.

23. Listen to music or sports talk radio

Music is a beloved part of many tailgates — if you don’t play it too loudly. “Don’t blast your neighbor out, because everybody doesn’t always want to hear what you’re playing,” Lorick says. “Be respectful. Loud music is an easy way to ruin somebody else’s tailgate.” Genre matters as much as volume does. “I like anything, as long as it’s upbeat and positive music. That’s my vibe,” Lorick continues. “I don’t want any sad, slow music. That’s not what a tailgate is to me.” When you’re playing DJ, think about who your guests will be, Donnelly advises. “I curate playlists that match the age range of my guests — once I covered six decades of music in a single tailgate,” he says. Local sports talk radio or your favorite team’s pregame broadcast are also options.

DURING THE GAME

24. Head in early — or don’t go in at all

If you’ve got a cheap ticket — or no ticket at all — there’s no shame in deciding to stay outside if you’re having fun and the party’s still raging. After all, you’ve probably got everything you need, including beer, food and maybe even a TV with the game on live. Otherwise, set an alarm so you know when to head inside. “Tickets are pricey, so if you have one, you usually go in,” Manning says, adding that he tries to head into the stadium between 45 minutes to a half hour before kickoff.  

25. Stay connected to all the action

Once inside the stadium, Renfro shuns screens — including the scoreboard. “I like watching the game on the field. I don’t want to look at that 60-yard scoreboard because it’s basically a giant television. And if I’m going to watch television, I might as well have not even gone to the game,” he says. “But I’ll listen to the game on the radio and try to follow it on the field. What I like about that is you can tell when the TV commercials are coming up. And when that’s about to happen, I make a quick trip to the restroom and grab something to drink or eat if I’m hungry — which usually I’m not, because I ate so much in the parking lot.” 

If you want to listen to the game while you watch it, “AirPods are a discreet way to listen without bothering your neighbors,” says Donnelly, who likes to check scores on his phone. If you’re so inclined, you can even stream the game live on your phone as you watch it in person courtesy of ESPN, Fox Sports or CBS Sports, all of which have apps with live streaming (as do several other streaming services).

AFTER THE GAME

26. Keep the party going

Just because the game is over doesn’t mean the tailgate has to be. “It’s common to keep the fun going after the game,” Benedict says. “We have drinks and desserts ready to roll. We mix in games, walk around to visit with other tailgaters and even tune into more football on our TVs. It’s less about packing up fast and more about stretching the day into a full experience.” Donnelly notes another benefit: “It’s also a great way to avoid postgame traffic jams.”

27. Clean up and tear down

When you’re ready to shut the party down, assign everyone a cleanup task to make things go faster, Donnelly suggests. “Let everyone know in advance they’ll be helping,” he says. “The worst move is someone plopping into a chair with a beer while everyone else works — I’ve called people out for that.” Probably the most important aspect of cleanup is trash removal, according to Lorick. “I’ve been to tailgates where it looks like a dumpster exploded, and that’s just not respectful,” he says. While some venues provide dumpsters for tailgating trash, they can fill up quickly. If dumpsters are full or not available, “double-bag your trash and stick it back in your car to take it with you,” Renfro says.

28. Plan your return home

You should plan your exit as thoughtfully as you planned the rest of your tailgate. “Either leave early to beat traffic or wait until it thins out,” Donnelly says. “Always have a designated driver, and be alert for impaired drivers leaving the same time you do.” Adds Manning, “You can’t avoid traffic if you stay to the end. I don’t leave early, so my solution is patience. … With 70,000 people leaving at once, frustration doesn’t help — just take your turn.”