Weekly fall and winter tailgating typically involves grilling the popular staples of hamburgers, hot dogs and buffalo wings, but tailgaters have made room for so much more on their grill. There are now ribs, steaks, and less-known grub like cheesy monkey bread or hoisin beef kebabs, even the creatively-designed football Whoopee Pies.
While the food, extravagant or not, is essential for tailgaters, the equipment is equally crucial.
“We're very involved in the kickoff of the grilling season because it leads right into tailgating,” Dori Rice, owner of Ace Hardware & Garden Center at 20510 N Main St, Cornelius told East Lake Norman News.
The portability of a grill is vital to prevent tailgaters from lugging their larger grill from home to the stadium.
“We actually grill out on multiple grills, so you do get the Trager flavor and the Weber flavor. We usually like to call it the dueling grills. My guys are also great about changing out the spices,” Rice said.
According to RaiseRight, an estimated 50 million tailgaters collectively spend $12 billion annually on the pregame tradition — including equipment and food. This equals an average of nearly $200 per tailgater for an NFL game.
“Tailgating is a pregame experience that…lets the community, alumni, and our students come together to celebrate a new football season,” West Texas A&M University events coordinator Lisa Hoff Davis said in September, Amarillo Globe-News report. “We have yummy fall foods and fall drinks. It creates a lot of school spirit that carries over to the football game.”
Find tips online from Ace Hardware about how to have the best tailgating experience possible.
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