Tailgating

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TAILGATING

The origins of tailgating in the United States appear to be centered around football. Some of the first football games (such as Rutgers vs. Princeton in 1869 or Yale vs. Harvard in 1894) included pregame activities such as traveling to the game in rented train cars filled with food and beverages for the trip. People also came to the games in horse-drawn carriages and often were allowed to bring their carriages into the spectator area, where they would bring out their baskets of goodies. Because the horses were still harnessed to the carriage, people naturally congregated near the rear of the carriage.

As football gained popularity, teams traveled greater distances in order to play competitively (for example, the University of Michigan began traveling to games in the East in 1881). However, the logistics of long-distance train or carriage travel was somewhat prohibitive to fans as well as teams, so team support remained limited.

In 1901, Ransom Eli Olds built the first mass-produced automobile. Henry Ford's subsequent innovations allowed him to produce the Ford Model-T even more efficiently, which made it affordable to average-income families. By 1927 over 15 million Model-Ts had been sold and almost everyone owned one. This meant people could get to football games more easily than in the past, and in a car that provided convenient storage space for picnic supplies and food and beverages.

Since people were now driving their own vehicles, they needed parking places, so more expansive areas were set up near football fields. In the quest to show team solidarity, football fans arrived earlier and stayed longer, decorated the areas around their vehicles, and began to engage in more intricate food preparation. Sandwiches, once the norm, gave way to hot meats on cooking spits, paving the way for the modern barbecue grill.

By the early 2000s, the results of that still-growing tradition were visible by simply visiting any college or professional football game. Fans often spent extensive time and money attending games—traveling hundreds of miles, arriving well before the game, and sometimes staying several days after the game. The most dedicated fans purchased special tailgating equipment such as telescoping flagpoles, helmet-shaped grills, and gas-powered blenders. In addition, the food ranged from the traditional hamburgers and hot dogs to spitted roasted pigs, layered dips, and specialty recipes (such as cheeseburger soup, regional breakfast burritos, deep-fried turkeys). Finally, some of the most exuberant fans could be found engaging in elaborate drinking rituals such as beer pong, ice-luge shots, and keg stands.

As the automobile has evolved, its shape and capabilities continue to influence tailgate parties. Large, open-backed pickup trucks, recreational vehicles (RVs), buses, and motor homes, sometimes custom designed for tailgating, increased the ease with which fans could bring ever more provisions to their tailgate parties. During inclement weather, they could lounge in the warmth and protection of their RVs. Increasingly elaborate tailgating behavior and equipment led some people to attend tailgate parties without actually attending the game. During game time, small groups could be seen gathered around portable televisions, which were hooked to generators or satellite connections. Some groups even listened to the game on the radio while watching the action on the stadium's scoreboard big screen, which could often be seen from the parking lot.

While the preferred tailgate vehicle changed from the original horse and carriage in the late 1800s to RVs, people still tailgated for the same reasons: to support their teams, to socialize, and to enjoy good food and drink. Tailgating occurred at a variety of sporting events, although college and professional football were still the primary venues at which to enjoy this tradition.