Forget everything you thought you knew about partying out of the trunk, charcoal grilling, and anything the correct and proper way to party pre-game. These wild tailgates will make you seriously question all of the mediocre game day moves you’ve ever made–and take them to a whole new level.
What brings together football fans, alligator meat and 200 pounds of diced onions? The LouisiBama Gumbo Bowl. Hosted in 2011, four Alabama fans took on four LSU diehards in an ultimate gumbo tailgate throwdown. They fed 10,000 people with a recipe that included 750 pounds of shrimp, 450 pounds of catfish, 25 pounds of crawfish, 150 pounds of crabmeat, 200 pounds of gator, 100 pounds of green peppers, 150 pounds of okra, 75 pounds of celery, 50 pounds of garlic, 20 pounds of butter and said onions–which adds up to (roughly) the weight of the entire LSU football team.
Want to tailgate in the lap of luxury–think AC, running water, a furnished living room and a sweet roof deck? After 23 years of tailgating in “cockabooses” (team mascot “Gamecocks” + “cabooses”), the South Carolina University train cars that once hosted lesser tailgates, were renovated and sold to independent buyers–at a rumored $300K for each 270-square-foot car.
Because, why buy a house when you can have your own luxury tailgate spot for the same price? Am I right?
Cleveland Browns fans make sure to roll up in style when it comes to their vehicles–from the legendary Tailgate Dawg bus, to the team colored school bus called “The Kennel.” With wheels like these, you obviously want to get a prime parking spot–good news for you, parking starts at 6 a.m.
If you’ve never drank Polish cherry liqueur out of a bowling ball, eaten grilled meat on the hood of a car, or had your chicken wings served up in an old mailbox, you haven’t experienced hardcore tailgating Ken “Pinto Ron” Johnson style. For the past 20 years, Johnson has MacGyver’d his way into feeding the masses at Bills home games, coming up with recipes that can be cooked over a garden rake, or fried up on top of an old saw. If paying Johnson a visit during a Bills game isn’t yet on your ultimate tailgate bucket list, pencil him in.
Houston Texans fans spare no expense when it comes to throwing an epic tailgate. In fact, there’s even a tailgaters club dedicated to making sure it all happens. Every season, Raging Bull Tailgaters member Glen Millers drops about $12,000-15,000, throwing a party that spreads across 36 parking spots, and he invites hundreds of VIP members to his rager. Expect to fill your plate with brisket, ribs, sausage, chicken and any other meat you could think to pour BBQ sauce on and grill.
There’s nothing quite like intimidating the opposing team’s fans with an actual version of your teams mascot, grilled over an open flame. Forget your basic football fare–Florida Gators fans serve up steaming heaps of fresh gator to ‘gaters, which, we’re told, is actually pretty delicious.
Combine one of the largest NFL stadiums (with over 26,000 parking spots) with an “open all night on game day’s eve” policy, and chaos (of the best kind) is sure to ensue. The huge crowds attract A-list tailgate chefs eager to put their best BBQ foot forward, and it’s not uncommon to see full lobsters being grilled alongside giant racks of ribs. Prepare to see fans dressed in full costumes, chili contests that’ve been known to get ugly, and even some soulful acoustic bands playing over in Lot C.
