by Barb Hickey

Created on: February 22, 2009

Tailgating Party Tips For NFL Games

A tailgate party is major part of the NFL football experience in Pittsburgh. Steeler fans love their World Champion team and often start their tailgate party at 8:30 AM before a 1:00 PM kickoff time even when the temperature is in the single digits. The parking lots around Heinz Field begin filling up in the early morning hours before a game. Some fans come early to avoid the traffic, but most come to enjoy the tailgating experience with their friends as the excitement builds to cheer on the Black and Gold. Before planning a tailgate party, it is important to check with your local stadium parking lot authorities to find out if tailgating is allowed in the parking lot and if so, what types of cooking equipment is allowed. It is also a good idea to check the alcoholic beverage laws in your city before popping open a beer in the parking lot at 9:00 AM.

If you are planning the tailgate party, it will be much easier for you if all of your friends bring a dish to share with everyone. Breakfast casseroles work great for early morning tailgate parties. The casserole can baked in the morning before you leave home and stored in covered casserole container designed to keep the dish nice and warm. Many fans use gas grills or smaller charcoal grills to cook burgers and steaks before the game. Chicken wings are another popular tailgating food. They can be prepared the night before and cooked in the morning and wrapped in layers of foil for the game. Fried chicken is another delicious tailgate party food. The chicken can be cooked at home or purchased the night before. And, the nice thing about fried chicken is that it tastes just as good cold as it does piping hot. Side dishes like macaroni and cheese, baked beans, coleslaw and potato salad can be made ahead of time and shared before the game.

Beverages are an important staple at tailgate parties. Make sure that you have plenty of beer and sodas for everyone. Freshly brewed coffee stored in large thermos containers tastes great on a freezing cold morning. Don't forget to bring paper plates and cups, plastic utensils, napkins and serving utensils. Ask each party guest to bring a folding chair so that everyone has a place to sit and relax. The tailgate on a truck can make a great serving area, or bring a few folding tables from home. Most tailgate parties pick up where they left off after the game too. It is a great way to enjoy the leftover food and the company of friends while avoiding the traffic at the same time. Tailgating parties can be a lot of fun and a great way to enjoy the exciting experience of an NFL game.

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