WELCOME TO...
 THE TAILGATER
 The Monthly Tailgating Webzine

 Visit us often for the latest and greatest tailgating info!
Volume 7, Issue 10, November 2008

Tip O Da Month -- August 2008

Tailgate Planning

We often list in this column various tools, resources and ideas to help make your tailgate better.  But if you and your tailgate team don’t put some planning into it, your tailgate might not come off so hot.  So take some time and sit down with your team and plan out the season.

Organization

It’s a good idea to get together and review what you liked and didn’t like from last season.  Did the new food idea work well last November?  Or was it already too cold and would it have worked better in September?  Get the season schedule out and make a list of themes for each game you are going to.  From there you can start putting together a menu that fits each theme.  Then assign who from your tailgate group is responsible to bring which items.  Many hands make light work!

Theme

Each game can be a different theme.  If you are playing a rival that has an animal as their mascot, then grill up that mascot!  (Mmm, tastes like chicken!)  Make sure not to forget the streamers, balloons, color-coordinated table cloths and napkins and really make it a themed tailgate.  It will only add to the festivities after the game when your team has won and you are re-lighting the grill for a post-victory celebration!

Menu

Start to think about what yummy grillables you liked last year.  During the off-season, did you have any new menu ideas?  What foods go well with which teams? And don’t forget the traditions – if your team is playing the Dolphins for example, don’t forget the Fish Fry! (With apologies to Dolphins’ fans!)

Cost

When the menu is reviewed and planned, click on the Tailgater Calculator and fill in the fields.  (You can save this Excel spreadsheet to your computer.)  Start with the number of tailgaters that are showing up to the game.  Then list the various ingredients you’ll need for each month. 

Add the number and cost for each item.  You’ll see the cost per tailgater at the bottom of the sheet.

For additional thoughts on planning for the upcoming season, check out columnist Joe Drozda’s column, Preparing for 2008.

If you have tips to share on this or any other tailgating subject, we'd love to share them with the rest of the team in the parking lot!  Send them to editor@TheTailgater.com!

"When tailgating, we're all on the same team!"

Tailgate Media, LLC, 252 Orchard Street, Westfield, NJ 07090
Comments about this site: Email our Information Center ● Privacy Statement ● Terms Of Service
© 1999-2008 Tailgate Media, LLC