Tailgating Tips to Make Your Experience More Enjoyable

Well, the football season is right around the corner, so it's time for some all-star tailgating to take place! Tailgating is quite enjoyable, but please make sure to take the time to plan it out. You only get so many chances to watch your home team play, so make the best of your tailgating opportunities! As a favor to my fellow football fans and tailgaters, I've provided some useful tips and advice.

Packing the Coolers:

Pack up two coolers. Fill one cooler with your choice of drinks. It's tempting to fill it up with only adult beverages, but make sure to throw in at least a couple bottles of water. You may need that water to keep yourself hydrated, or at the very least, you can use it to pour over your head if it's extremely hot outside. Use your other cooler for your food. I prefer to pack my cooler with 6-inch subs. Grilling before a game is a great idea and the food always smells great, but I'm just as happy bringing a bunch of subs. A sub might not have the same appeal as a grilled burger or barbecue chicken, but the maintenance for a sub is so convenient. In order to enjoy a nice tasty cold sub, you simply need to take the wrapper off the sandwich and start eating. Grilling is too much work in my opinion. First, you have to prepare the grill and the food, then you have to grill the food, then you have to gather all of the condiments and hamburger buns, and then you have to clean all of it up! If I wanted to go through all of that trouble, I would've stayed home! In addition to your two coolers, bring various snacks like potato chips, crackers and pretzels.

Parking:

The first rule of parking is arriving early! Arriving late for the game not only results in you having to park a long distance from the stadium, but it also results in you having to park a long distance from the port-o-potties. You have to arrive early . . . and you have to park near a port-o-potty! If you are at the game three hours early and are enjoying adult beverages, then there is no way your bladder is going to be your best friend. It will be nearly impossible to hold it until you walk inside the stadium . . . and it will take away from your tailgating experience if you have to walk 20 minutes for a port-o-potty. By the time you get back to your spot, you'll probably have to go right back to the bathroom again, and then wait in line for at least 10 minutes! So be smart and do your bladder a favor - park near the restroom facilities so nobody has to wear diapers!

Toys:

We don't all need toys to keep ourselves entertained, but they are good to have, anyways. One of the most popular tailgating items is the game of Corn Hole. If you don't know what it is, it is a game very similar to horseshoes. The difference is that you are throwing little sacks/bags of corn instead of those dangerous and unpredictable-bouncing horseshoes. You throw the bags toward an upward slanted platform, which has a hole in the middle. If you throw the sack through the hold, you get three points. If you miss the hole, but get the bag to at least land on the platform, you get one point. Other useful things to play with while tailgating are footballs; party games (like "Catch Phrase"); flip cup (if you have a table); and playing cards.

Mother Nature:

Prepare for mother nature. I strongly recommend bringing a canopy pop up tent - there may come a day when you really need it. If there is non-stop rain, or if it's extremely hot with no signs of shade, then you'll be thanking yourself for bringing it. Personally, I think setting those things up is a pain in the butt, but nevertheless, I always pack one up and have it sitting in the bed of my truck, ready for action if mother nature is being mean. If you prefer not to bring a canopy tent, then at the very least, you should bring some hats to shade yourself from extreme sun rays and/or pelting raindrops.

Chairs:

Bring chairs! I can't stress that enough! Bring chairs! If you get to the game three hours before kickoff, you NEED to have something to sit on. Standing for three hours is so uncomfortable, especially when you are tying to eat your food and hold your drink all at the same time. Go to your local retail store and buy some of those cheap fold-up chairs with cup holders. They are great investments and they are easy to pack and unload.

Music:

Music is always nice to have while tailgating. Music can also lead to group dancing or singing if the right songs are played. Most people will just use the stereo system from their vehicle to fulfill their music cravings; however, if your vehicle still has an AM stereo from 1981, then I suggest bringing a boom box with a new supply of batteries just to be safe.

Post Game:

One thing I never understand is why so many people choose to leave immediately after the game is over. What is the point? If you attempt to drive out of the parking lot once the game is over, you will be fighting with several thousands of other vehicles. It can literally take over an hour just to get out of a parking lot from an NFL or NCAA football game. Why sit in your vehicle in agony like that, as you frustratingly move only two inches forward per minute. Don't be like the rest of the fools. Instead, get your food and coolers back out and do some post-game tailgating! By the time you're done eating your post-game snacks and conversing about all of the bad calls made by the referees, the parking lot traffic will be much more bearable.

There you have it. You now have yourself a mandatory checklist for your next tailgating session. Here's to a great and exciting football season!