Tailgating and Stadium Gear

Tailgate Party

The Tailgate Party previously underground subculture is now a part of the mainstream sports media. In 1993, ESPN’s pre-game college football show “College GameDay” took on a tailgate party. NASCAR on Fox and Fox NFL Sunday has also used similar setups. A Tailgate Party atmosphere is placing the hosts on a portable stage set at the campus of the school hosting the week’s marquee
The concept of “Tailgate Party” originated in 1960 in the team parking lot at Yankee Stadium (Bronx, New York), (and has since been present at college and NFL games around the country). Mrs. Pisani set up her station wagon “tailgate” with sandwiches, other lunch items and drinks for her children, friends, and sports writers. A reporter inquired about her “car picnic” and she said that it’s actually more of a “tailgate” party.
In 2007, the Tailgate Party was banned at Super Bowl XLI, this angered many football fans by in Miami. The NFL cited security risks, though many suspected it had more to do with corporate sponsored events than any real threat. In 2008, an online petition began circulating to encourage the NFL to lift the no Tailgate Party policy at the Super Bowl. Members of the sports media also questioned the validity of the NFL’s claim that security concerns were the real reason for the ban.