Where to Find the Best NFL Tailgate Parties
By
Will Brown
Contributor Updated: 22 November 2024
Will Brown Contributor
William Brown is a Content Writer with strong expertise in US and global gambling industry trends. Having covered the local sports betting market since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, William approaches his gambling guides with passion and diligence. He is a keen player of online slots, blackjack, and a regular sports bettor.
Best NFL Tailgate Parties
Tailgating is an important part of NFL culture, with different cities and stadiums offering a distinct experience that must be tried. These best NFL tailgate parties have helped to establish a community around the sport, with unique festivities, foods, and activities building excitement for the game ahead. In this guide, we’ve covered the top tailgate parties for NFL fans according to the stadiums and cities they are held in. We’ve also shared details about how the phenomenon emerged.
Intro to the Best NFL Tailgates
We understand that the concept of tailgating may be unfamiliar to some readers, so we’ve kicked off this guide with a brief history and explanation of the activity . From there, we’ve broken down the best NFL tailgating cities and their tailgating-friendly stadiums.
These include Dallas, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Cleveland, and Green Bay. We’ve endeavored to ensure that our readers have all they need to know to plan their tailgating experience for the future, providing details on the unique cultures available in each city.
- History of Tailgaiting
- Best Tailgating Experiences
- AT&T Stadium: Dallas Cowboys
- Lincoln Financial Field: Philadelphia Eagles
- Arrowhead Stadium: Kansas City Chiefs
- FirstEnergy Stadium: Cleveland Browns
- Lambeau Field: Green Bay Packers
- Caesars Superdome: New Orleans Saints
The History of Tailgaiting
Tailgating is a cherished tradition in the NFL, transforming game day into a full-fledged celebration. However, the first tailgates are said to have originated during the Civil War, when spectators would gather at battlefields to watch conflicts unfold. This then evolved into a pre-game college football ritual and expanded to NFL games as car culture grew.
Today, tailgating is a social phenomenon that extends beyond football to various sports and events. It typically involves setting up grills, coolers, and sometimes elaborate setups in car boots. They are held in stadium parking lots before games, and fans are seen sharing food, drinks, and conversation in anticipation of the upcoming event.
The Best NFL Tailfaiting Cities
Each stadium offers a unique tailgating experience that reflects the character of the team and its fans. In Dallas, tailgating is a first-class affair, with the AT&T Stadium often showcasing the best tailgate setup you can imagine. In Philadelphia, tailgating is a passionate display of city pride, with cheesesteaks being a staple at every gathering.
Tailgating provides an opportunity to mingle with other fans, and even use the opportunity to engage in NFL mobile sports betting before the game kicks off. Kansas City is a barbecue lover’s dream, while the Cleveland Browns’ tailgaters are known to throw lively parties. Green Bay, with its Polish influence, is among the best NFL tailgating cities for food, with brats, sausages, cheese curds, and beers often served.
AT&T Stadium: Dallas Cowboys
AT&T Stadium, home to the Dallas Cowboys, hosts perhaps the best NFL tailgate experience. As patrons of one of the most valuable NFL teams, Cowboys fans know how to throw a party in the huge parking lot, with over 24,000 parking spots offering ample space. The tailgating experience at AT&T Stadium is a reflection of the city’s vibrant culture and the team’s passionate fan base.
The pre-game parties at AT&T Stadium have a reputation for being busy affairs, with some arriving hours before kickoff to set up their spots. The aroma of grilled meats fills the air, with the menu highlighting the Tex-Mex culinary influences. From tacos and enchiladas to chili and nachos, the blending of cultures is a distinct feature of these tailgates.
The stadium is also relatively supportive of these parties, and is known to provide a fair and safe experience for all. Tailgating is allowed on the grass areas on the perimeter of the parking lots, and each tailgate space can occupy a maximum area of 9 feet by 12 feet. The rules also stipulate that all guests must follow the directions and instructions provided by stadium personnel, dispose of trash in the appropriate receptacles, and coals must be disposed of in the designated coal containers.
Lincoln Financial Field: Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles fans are known for throwing some of the best NFL tailgates due to their total commitment and passion for their craft. These parties are rife with tradition, and see Lincoln Financial Field become a hive of activity fitting for one of America’s sporting capitals. The stadium offers thousands of parking spaces, making it an ideal spot for tailgating.
No tailgate is complete in Philadelphia without the city’s iconic cheesesteaks. Local favorites Pat’s or Geno’s also help to keep hungry revelers satisfied. Other popular tailgate foods include hoagies from Wawa and a variety of meats from the city’s numerous Italian delis. Beer, of course, is another common staple.
Despite the Eagles’ reputation for having some of the most rowdy fans in the NFL, the tailgating experience is welcoming and inclusive. Expect to find fans in elaborate and zany costumes, and heated debates about players, teams, and how the season is unfolding. The Eagles tailgates are not to be missed.
Arrowhead Stadium: Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City, Missouri, is among the best NFL tailgating cities for barbecue, and this culinary tradition is a cornerstone of the tailgating experience at Arrowhead Stadium. Home to the Kansas City Chiefs, the stadium attracts thousands of fans to its parking lots before the game, filling the air with the aromas of smoked meats.
Brats, beer, and bacon are core tailgating staples, making the tailgate lots a food lover’s paradise. The Truman Sports Complex, where Arrowhead Stadium is located, offers an almost endless landscape of parking, making it an ideal spot for tailgating. The lack of nearby bars, restaurants, or hotels means that fans are almost compelled to tailgate.
The parking lots become a sea of red and gold on game days, with loyal Chiefs fans known for following habitual pre-game traditions. It’s common to find strong personalities and local celebrities of the tailgating scene with elaborate food spreads to decked-out vehicles earning them reputations for hosting the best NFL tailgate party.
FirstEnergy Stadium: Cleveland Browns
FirstEnergy Stadium, home to the Cleveland Browns, is known for its vibrant tailgating scene. The epicenter of the action is the Municipal Lot, or “Muni Lot,” where fans gather from as early as 7 AM at FirstEnergy Stadium to set up and start the party. This should be an indication of how elaborate these parties get.
From grilled meats to local specialties, the menu is particularly diverse due to the city’s melting pot of cultures. These include local Polish Boy sandwiches, pierogies, chillis, buffalo wings, and other standard fare. And of course, no tailgate would be complete without a cold beer, with local brews being a popular choice among fans.
The stadium’s prime location along Lake Erie means that it has one of the best NFL tailgate backdrops. The industrial charm of the city sees fans embracing their gritty, hard-working identity in preparation for the game, with devoted Browns fans
Lambeau Field: Green Bay Packers
Lambeau Field, located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is renowned for its rich football history, hosting the best NFL tailgates in the region. Tailgating at Lambeau Field is a time-honored tradition that transforms the stadium’s parking lot into a sea of grills, tents, and vibrant green and gold decorations.
Fans arrive early, donning their favorite Packers jerseys and engaging in pre-game festivities. The aroma of sizzling bratwursts, burgers, and other grilled delicacies fills the air as tailgaters gather around their vehicles, sharing food, drinks, and stories. It’s not uncommon to see generations of families gathered together, passing down their Packers traditions and memories.
Fans engage in friendly competitions and games like cornhole, football tosses, and even impromptu pickup games, adding to the festive atmosphere. Music blares from speakers and fans perform reenactments of the iconic “Lambeau Leap” touchdown celebration.
Caesars Superdome: New Orleans Saints
New Orleans, Louisiana is the last but not least of the cities in this best NFL tailgate locations guide. The city’s unique gastronomic culture is the heart of the tailgating experience at the Caesars Superdome lot, with enticing aromas of Cajun and Creole cuisine drawing crowds in. Gumbo, jambalaya, and crawfish boils are just three staples of tailgating fare.
The high-energy spirit and musical traditions of the French Quarter are transported to the lots, with street parties flowing into the central location. Black and gold jerseys and decorations color the festivities, with the Saints’ fans’ infectious “Who Dat” spirit on show. Expect to find colorful characters and jazz music legends bringing Mardis-Gras to Caesars Superdome.
