h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: How to have a successful Tailgate party - A6739824
Author: Scandrea and Tracer- renting in an Ownership Society - U186740

A quick introduction to tailgating. Let me know what you think!

I wasn't even vaguely aware of this thingy!!! So thanks for bringing it to my notice

"a phenomenon in the US"
a US phenomenon?

You need to mention that we're talking American Football here, not Football Football

Why do people going to a tailgate party not necessarily want to go to the game? Why have it at the stadium then? Can tailgate parties be post-game/pre-game?

"Tailgating is a phenomenon of the working class and college students."
Argh there's that phenomenon word again! Could there be another word to use here? Also it is probably worth moving this point to the top introductory paragraph as it tells us who will be having these things.

All this game playing...in a car park? I know there wouldn't be room in my nearest stadium car park...how come this can be done?

Can you wander up to a stranger's tailgate party or do you have to be invited?

"especially fraternitiy houses"
fraternity
Also, I thought this was being held in a stadium carpark I'm confused now!

"Occasionally, well-off tailgates may have small televisions that can receive aerial broadcasts."
What happened to our students and working-class? I wasn't under the impression of....well-off tailgaters!

Could you put the points for having your own tailgate party in tags please My browser doesn't show up the bullet points.

This was really interesting Scan, and not something I was aware of. We don't do anything like this usually in the UK, we're too uptight and private

Kat

Here, in Britain, 'tailgating' is the dangerous practice of driving one's vehicle very close to the rear of the vehicle in front, in order to intimidate the driver of the lead vehicle to move over and let you pass (usually at an illegal speed, where the vehicle ahead is already doing the legal limit). As a driver for 49 years, without an accident, and having passed the advanced driving test of the Institute of Advanced Motorists some 3 years ago (after tuition from a senior police officer for 12 months who possesses the top police driving qualification) I see this all the time in the course of my frequent distance drives on the British motorway system. They all seem to get away with this behaviour with impunity! It makes me angry (in the controlled and quiet way expected of me as an advanced driver). Tailgaters are the ones that the police should concentrate on in their observations of speeding offences; this is dangerous driving, and causes many of the more serious and fatal accidents on British roads.

I have to admit that when I saw the title of this, I was a bit but having read the entry, it's great.

Kat covered the points I would have made, so all I can say is: nice one



Although I think you might want to rethink the title given the meaning that Tailgating has for a lot of us.

Ah I knew the phrase meant something here!!!

You might want to make sure you differentiate that Scan!

Good stuff Basketball and baseball have always been my preferred sports to spectate, but this might come in handy some day! One of those lovely entries you can imagine a hitchhiker using to help with the culture shock of a football stadium parking lot

Only a couple of link ideas... they're two excellent entries-

"The standards, such as Beer Pong or Flip Cup can always be seen"
A1047881 ?

"An activity on college campuses, especially fraternitiy houses, involves a game of skill to get bean bags into a target"
Speak ye of Cornhole A5090672 Scan?

By the way, Penn State sucks.

I made some changes. Changed the title to "Tailgating in American Football." Phenomenon has been changed into tradition (though once you see it, I think you'll agree that it's a phenomenon!).

Reasons that someone wouldn't want to go to a game were added in the "The Game" section.

About room for games: yeah, there's room.

Jodan, thanks for letting me know it was called Cornhole!

About the well-off tailgating? I put that bit in about sponsorship to explain why some groups have satellite trucks at their tailgates.

Oh yes: If Penn State sucks, how come we beat Ohio State?

'cos ya cheat.

:p No we don't!

Added a section on tailgating style.

Some years ago....

I had the great pleasure of being in Seattle, and it was cold -15 or so at a said tailgate party, one of the most pleasureable times in my entire life, i had to keep out the cold and to support my team "Minnisota Vikings" we had to wear "Viking hats" (the one with horns on them) the food was in the great American tradition, fried/deep fried or nothing and loads of it too! plenty of beer too!

The game its self is around 4 hours long, so the pre match warm up outside in the car park is a very important part of the grid footy!


oooOOooooh and also watch out for the cheer leaders too


RJR

Still not sure about the title - I thought it was going to be some kind of play or maneourve in the game...

By the way - "cooking on portable stoves and grills, eating, drinking, playing games, and possibly all three at the same time" - cooking, eating, drinking and playing games adds up to four things...

Der! I can count!

That's the best I can come up with for the title. I can't change the name of tailgating. Does anyone have any suggestions?

American stadia pre-game Tailgate party???


anygood????

I like the idea of "Pre-game Tailgate Parties" - then in the entry you can explain that it has to do with American football.

From what I remember it happens at the stadia and that just ain't footy

Changed the title to EMR's suggestion

Hi Scand,

Good guide to the phenomenon . The non-spontaneity of some of the suggestions struck me - I can't imagine being invited to *any* kind of party here and being told what containers are allowed and asked to pay for the food I eat!

What kind of vehicle is an RV?

Minor wee thing, spaces after dashes, eg. "do so- the" -> "do so - the" (same with other instances).

Nice one.

Recreational vehicle- it's really a camper, but some of them are as large as busses.

Would the UK equivalent be 'caravan'?

As far as I know, a very crude definition would be:

Caravan = that thing you have to pull with an ugly old volvo
Camper(van) = a caravan that has its own motor