Gathering for a tailgate party before a football game is a tradition as old as the sport itself. Some say eating before games started with the first game in 1869. As you tailgate this fall, embrace these regional foods and traditions for an unforgettable party.
The tailgate party: A staple of American sport's history
Breaking out a grill and cooler of beer in the stadium parking lot before a football game is the perfect way to start the celebration early on game day. Tailgate parties - so named for their usual set up in the bed of a pickup truck - bring together sports fans.
Although tailgate parties happen at all sports games, they are a staple of American football games. Some historians believe the first pre-game party occurred at the Rutgers-Princeton football game in 1869 when attendees ate food in their buggies and wagons.
As football became more popular, so did tailgating. Sports historian Christopher Klein describes on History how the rise of the automobile coincided with the rise of football. More spectators began driving to games. Needing food after a long drive but finding local restaurants too busy, fans began bringing their own picnics. By the 1940s, tailgating was as much a national pastime as watching football.
Many college and professional teams have their own traditions for tailgating parties that help bring fans together. While the usual grilling fare like burgers and hotdogs are common tailgate foods around the country, local dishes are an exciting and delicious way to prepare for the big game.
Regional tailgating traditions around the US
Supporting a sports team often comes with local pride. Whether you cheer for the pro team from your hometown or your current city, or you turn out to support your college team, a sports team can take you back to your roots. As a result, tailgating often celebrates those same roots. Traditional foods and activities have become important parts of tailgating at stadiums around the country.
The local or alumni ties also make tailgating hotspots one of the ultimate places to reconnect with friends and family. In addition to a shared love of the team and the game, getting together at a home game is a chance to visit in person. The culture of shared foods and traditions strengthens those bonds.
The South
With a strong food and sports culture, the Southern U.S. comes out in force for sports games and boasts some of the most memorable tailgates. Football teams at many Southern colleges and universities have strong alumni and local support. Fans will often turn out en masse for college football games.
Before games at Ole Miss, fans gather in The Grove, a 10-acre quad on campus, where they enjoy live music and food before the team walks through on their way to the stadium. Unlike other tailgates, it is a tradition at Ole Miss to wear your best to The Grove. Men often wear a polo shirt or suit jacket and women wear a dress or skirt, keeping the party classy.
At Texas A&M University, the tailgate happens in stadium parking lots. Aggies fans may camp out for the best spots. On game day, entertainment, live music and chants build the excitement to get fans ready for kickoff.
Good food is a must at many Southern gatherings. At a tailgate, barbecue highlights local tastes. Brisket in Texas or pulled pork in North Carolina are regional favorites. Fried chicken , cornbread and other fixins complete a southern tailgate spread. Games at Louisiana schools like Louisiana State University and Tulane University might celebrate local flavors with Cajun food. Boiled peanuts are also the ultimate southern tailgate snack.
The Northeast
Professional football in New England and along the Atlantic attracts fans throughout the fall and winter and even cold weather cannot keep diehard tailgaters away. Buffalo Bills fans, referred to as the Bills Mafia, are well known for tailgating no matter the weather, even when winter temperatures dip into the negatives. To keep warm, Bills fans trade food and drink potluck style in a designated tailgate village within the stadium.
At a Baltimore Ravens game, fans clad in purple and black collect in the parking lot before the game, often joined by the team mascot Poe. Players do the Ravens Walk through the tailgaters on their way to the stadium.
Food in the Northeast is as local as the teams. Baltimore Ravens fans might bring crab cakes or prepare pit beef, a roast beef cooked on a charcoal fire and often served as a sandwich. And there are Buffalo wings for Bills fans, Philly cheesesteaks for Philadelphia Eagles fans or classic New York hot dogs for NY Giants as fans pay homage to the teams' home cities.
The Midwest
Both college and professional football games are tailgating hotspots throughout the Midwest. The Ohio State marching band is a highlight of an OSU tailgate. The band hosts a Skull Session pep rally before the game, rehearsing their pregame and halftime shows one last time. Attired in scarlet and gray, fans are joined by mascot Brutus Buckeye.
Tailgating at a Green Bay Packers game is all about community. Fans gather in Johnsonville Tailgate Village outside Lambeau Field to enjoy live music and good food. A Cheesehead, a foam hat resembling a wedge of cheese, is a must at a Green Bay tailgate, as are cheese curds for a snack.
Bratwurst, pizza, chili and corn on the cob are other Midwestern staples. You can grill them up yourself or find them at many Midwest stadiums and tailgate villages.
The West Coast
On the West Coast, University of Southern California football games attract generations of alumni. Tailgating fans get to cheer on the team during the Trojans Walk as players make their way to the field. The largest turnout is generally for the USC-UCLA game in which the hometown rivals play to win the historic Victory Bell.
In the Bay Area, San Francisco 49ers fan groups arrange tailgate parties in designated parking lots before the game, often welcoming anyone who wants to participate. With the stadium's home in Silicon Valley, the team's fans often have high-tech tailgating setups, including solar-powered amenities.
West Coast tailgating food often includes traditional burgers, tacos and pizza, but with a California influence. Gourmet burgers, artisan pizzas and fish tacos showcase local ingredients like avocado.
Plan a tailgate for sports games this fall
As football season kicks off this fall, get ready for all of your favorite tailgating traditions. Break out your regional recipes to add some new memories to your party.
Even if you are watching the game from the comfort of your home, celebrate your favorite team with local traditions and recipes. Much like the tailgate party itself, these foods and traditions can bring family and friends together around a love of football.
Anne Jolly is the creator of the food blog Upstate Ramblings . She loves tailgating and cooking with gadgets like an air fryer, sous vide or pressure cooker.
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