Living in Milwaukee for five years allowed me to experience some of the best baseball tailgating at Miller Park. Brewers fans are known for pre-game activities, so much so, I know people who showed up just to tailgate with no intention of heading into the game, even though that is not allowed. (And the Stadium Scene crew does not suggest breaking rules.)
We are here to look into how to be successful at tailgating before your next game.
First, you need to plan and prepare for tailgating. Look up how early the parking lots open and if there are any rules you need to follow when tailgating. For Miller Park, the rules are listed right on their stadium website. Check with your favorite team's website as many teams do have rules regarding tailgating and what can and cannot be brought onto the stadium property.
Key things you need to consider prior to arriving:
How many people are you meeting up with?
If you bring enough brats for 20 people and only five or six people show up, that's not good...then again tailgating always leads to making new friends. Be sure to have some spare food on hands for new friends or that existing friend of yours who fails to tell you they are coming.
Does your grill meet regulations? And is it functioning?
Some venues prohibit certain types of grills due to safety concerns. Nothing more embarrassing than having your tailgate shut down because the stadium grounds prohibit the use of charcoal. Check with your team's website for specific rules before heading out.
What food do you need?
You cannot lose with hot dogs, brats, and hamburgers. Maybe the occasional veggie burger for that vegetarian friend of yours...
What beverages do you need?
Most people need 3-4 beverages for a 2-3 hour period. Most go with beer, but packing some waters for your group will make you a hero. Also, no one likes a warm beer, so make sure you have ice in the cooler!
Do you plan on everyone standing at the tailgate or should folding chairs be included?
Worst case, that's what bumpers, hoods, and trunks are for.
What activities do you want to have?
Some common tailgating games include cornhole (bean bag toss), beer pong, and catch. Do you want music for the background?
Now it's game day...
The best tailgates start before you even leave for the game. Double check that you have everything you will need and if you don't, be sure you have a plan on how to pick the missing items up on your way to the stadium. If you have any last minute food preparations, like beer boiling your brats, do it now.
Once everything is in your car, it's time to head over to the stadium. My friends and I like to caravan to the stadium so we can all park together. This gives us more room to spread out.
Note: Many stadiums prohibit using extra parking spaces.
The first thing to do once parked is to get the grill fired up. Once that is warming up, it is time to start partaking in the festivities. The most important part of tailgating is to relax and have fun. Since you did all your important planning before the game, you should be able to coast until the game.
Once your grilling is complete, make sure to let your grill start cooling off. This will make clean up easy and you are not waiting on the grill to head into the game....otherwise you may have an experience like this commercial we all remember seeing:
Don't be stupid...avoid a visit from Mayhem...
When you head into the game, make sure to put all your stuff back into your car and all your litter into appropriate places.
We also want to make sure others have a good time so be courteous and friendly. Don't make a huge mess, play your music too loud, or get too drunk. Stay tuned to the Stadium Scene Blog as I am going to try to host my own tailgate at Miller Park. We will document how it goes and share the results!
-KT
