Everyone has their tailgating stories - the person who got lost in the parking lot or mistakenly sat on and crushed a styrofoam cooler or the buddy who insists on throwing a football around and thinks he has the arm of Tom Brady but has all the accuracy of an election night exit poll - you know, the stuff that happens any time a bunch of people get together to have some fun.
Well, Chris Boggs' recent article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about his commitment to tailgating led to some interesting tidbits about other peoples' experiences, and one definitely caught our eye about an incident during a University of Virginia at Georgia Tech football game:
We were tailgating over near the IC when our groundskeeping buddy gets the call of a “vehicle fire” in the Van Leer parking lot. We quickly all hop into his gator and haul over, only to catch the fire fighters finishing off the last of a torched Toyota with UVA paraphernalia. The we roll past a lovely Virginia coed scolding her boyfriend…"Tell me again why you put the grill in the trunk!" Apparently, this all-star put a red hot camping grill in her trunk because he "didn’t want anyone to steal it."
Oops! See...that's why you want to go high-tech tailgating with something safe, like a Freedom Grill!
Friday, September 28, 2007
High-tech Tailgating Hits Atlanta
The High-tech Tailgating Tour continues to turn heads as it treks across the South. The TracVision A7-equipped Cadillac Escalade has been logging the miles as it hits TV stations and newspapers in Miami, Tampa, St Petersburg, Orlando and Atlanta – and reporters, producers and local residents have taken notice. In Tampa, CBS 10 traffic reporter Meredyth Censullo donned a Buccaneers shirt to christen the A7 essential for at-stadium celebrations (and decreased traffic stress). In Orlando, NBC 6 consumer reporter Michele Meredith drove all over town in the Escalade getting local residents' reactions to live TV in the car. The consensus? The A7 is a hit – not just at the stadium on Saturday or Sunday but during the weekday carpool, family roadtrip or anytime that kids are in the backseat for longer than a few minutes.
And in Atlanta, Fox 5 "Good Day Atlanta" co-host Mark Hayes opened an entire KVH-suggested tailgating segment sitting in the backseat of the Escalade before exhorting the obvious benefits of tailgating parties that feature live NFL and college game action right in the car. (Mark was less enthusiastic, however, about Atlanta's 28th-place finish in the "America's Best Football Tailgating Cities" Index.)
Mark Hayes (r) interviews a local tailgating gourmet with the High-tech Tailgating Escalade as a great backdrop
Of course, we're never too busy for a little history. Fox 5's traditional Southern Colonial-style studio on Briarcliff Road in Atlanta is located on the former route of Union General William T. Sherman's famous march toward Atlanta during the Civil War. Under Sherman’s immediate command, General O. Howard’s 4th Corps occupied an entrenched camp on the present Fox 5 studio site on July 10, 1864. Studio security guards tell us that Union and Confederate artifacts have been found over the years on this site.
The world's classiest television studio
And in Atlanta, Fox 5 "Good Day Atlanta" co-host Mark Hayes opened an entire KVH-suggested tailgating segment sitting in the backseat of the Escalade before exhorting the obvious benefits of tailgating parties that feature live NFL and college game action right in the car. (Mark was less enthusiastic, however, about Atlanta's 28th-place finish in the "America's Best Football Tailgating Cities" Index.)
Mark Hayes (r) interviews a local tailgating gourmet with the High-tech Tailgating Escalade as a great backdropOf course, we're never too busy for a little history. Fox 5's traditional Southern Colonial-style studio on Briarcliff Road in Atlanta is located on the former route of Union General William T. Sherman's famous march toward Atlanta during the Civil War. Under Sherman’s immediate command, General O. Howard’s 4th Corps occupied an entrenched camp on the present Fox 5 studio site on July 10, 1864. Studio security guards tell us that Union and Confederate artifacts have been found over the years on this site.
The world's classiest television studioWednesday, September 26, 2007
Tailgating Media Tour Hits the Road in Florida
Our coast-to-coast high-tech tailgating tour, a joint venture of KVH Industries and DIRECTV, kicked off this week to demo the wonders of the TracVision A7 and live mobile DIRECTV programming for tailgating to media across the country.
First stop is the South where the specially equipped KVH Cadillac Escalade is appearing live on TV stations in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina throughout the week. During a live segment Tuesday on FOX 13's “Good Day Tampa,” anchor Russell Rhodes sang the praises of live TV in the car – and discovered why any loyal Buccaneer fan shouldn't be caught at Raymond James Stadium without it. (Rhodes and the rest of the FOX 13 staff were quick to point out that the Bucs are 2-1 after beating the St. Louis Rams on Sunday).
Since the TracVision-equipped Escalade wouldn't fit in the FOX 13 studio...
...the studio came outside to the Escalade
Look for the KVH Escalade this week – and equally surprised news and sports anchors – in Miami, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Orlando, Atlanta and Charlotte. Reporters from the Miami Herald, St. Petersburg Times, Orlando Sentinel and other papers also are getting their own personal high-tech demos.
Keep an eye out for TracVision and high-tech tailgating in a major U.S. newspaper near you!
Not surprisingly, due to the popularity of college and NFL football throughout the Sunshine State, Florida ranked high in the “America's Best Football Cities Tailgating Index” – with Miami finishing sixth and Tampa seventh in overall “tailgating friendliness” out of 32 cities evaluated. Don't tell Texas, but those Floridians really know how to high-tech tailgate!
First stop is the South where the specially equipped KVH Cadillac Escalade is appearing live on TV stations in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina throughout the week. During a live segment Tuesday on FOX 13's “Good Day Tampa,” anchor Russell Rhodes sang the praises of live TV in the car – and discovered why any loyal Buccaneer fan shouldn't be caught at Raymond James Stadium without it. (Rhodes and the rest of the FOX 13 staff were quick to point out that the Bucs are 2-1 after beating the St. Louis Rams on Sunday).
Since the TracVision-equipped Escalade wouldn't fit in the FOX 13 studio...
...the studio came outside to the EscaladeLook for the KVH Escalade this week – and equally surprised news and sports anchors – in Miami, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Orlando, Atlanta and Charlotte. Reporters from the Miami Herald, St. Petersburg Times, Orlando Sentinel and other papers also are getting their own personal high-tech demos.
Keep an eye out for TracVision and high-tech tailgating in a major U.S. newspaper near you!Not surprisingly, due to the popularity of college and NFL football throughout the Sunshine State, Florida ranked high in the “America's Best Football Cities Tailgating Index” – with Miami finishing sixth and Tampa seventh in overall “tailgating friendliness” out of 32 cities evaluated. Don't tell Texas, but those Floridians really know how to high-tech tailgate!
Friday, September 21, 2007
What's black and silver and watched all over?
High-tech tailgating is a coast-to-coast phenomenon. Anywhere you find a team playing, you'll probably find tailgaters and among them, some high-tech aficionados. One of these is Riz Chaudhry, Raiders fan, owner of Chaudhry Custom Sounds of Tracy, CA, and one of the winners of this year's National TracVision Installation Competition. High-tech tailgating lets him multi-task on Sundays – he cheers on the Black & Silver at McAfee Coliseum (#15 on the High-tech Tailgating Index), entertains fellow tailgaters with football on the big screen, and shows off his TracVision-equipped Hummer H2 show car to other prospective tailgaters.
Big screen, big sound, and all the big games on Riz Chaudhry's Hummer H2
This year, his primo tailgating ride attracted some media attention, including the folks from Behind the Shield: Online, a Raiders online news source.
Jeanette Thompson, host of Behind the Shield: Online, interviews tailgaters camped out by the Chaudhrymobile
So just how much of a high-tech tailgating powerhouse is this Hummer H2? Tailgaters never need to miss the pre-game show or the big games thanks to this vehicle's TracVision satellite TV, DIRECTV programming with local channels and network broadcasts, plus a 42-inch LCD TV screen in the back of the vehicle with two additional 15-inch screens, four 9-inch headrest monitors, one 10.2-inch drop-down screen, two 7-inch LCD TVs in the visor, and four more 7-inch screens in the doors.
Remember kids...live satellite TV in the car is for passengers only unless you're parked. If you're driving, keep your eyes on the road!
Excuse me? Where did you say there was a TV screen?
Big screen, big sound, and all the big games on Riz Chaudhry's Hummer H2This year, his primo tailgating ride attracted some media attention, including the folks from Behind the Shield: Online, a Raiders online news source.
Jeanette Thompson, host of Behind the Shield: Online, interviews tailgaters camped out by the ChaudhrymobileSo just how much of a high-tech tailgating powerhouse is this Hummer H2? Tailgaters never need to miss the pre-game show or the big games thanks to this vehicle's TracVision satellite TV, DIRECTV programming with local channels and network broadcasts, plus a 42-inch LCD TV screen in the back of the vehicle with two additional 15-inch screens, four 9-inch headrest monitors, one 10.2-inch drop-down screen, two 7-inch LCD TVs in the visor, and four more 7-inch screens in the doors.
Remember kids...live satellite TV in the car is for passengers only unless you're parked. If you're driving, keep your eyes on the road!
Excuse me? Where did you say there was a TV screen?So not only is high-tech tailgating fun, it gives you an opportunity to show off your creativity as well as gets yourself on TV!
"Why, yes, Jeanette. That is a TracVision on the roof behind me."
Riz Chaudhry being interviewed for Behind the Shield: Online.
"Why, yes, Jeanette. That is a TracVision on the roof behind me."Riz Chaudhry being interviewed for Behind the Shield: Online.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Tailgating Fans Win when New England Fans’ Loyalty Tested with Simultaneous Pats, Sox Games
New England fans are loyal to a fault. Members of Patriots Nation and Red Sox Nation are, for the most part, one and the same; this region knows no preference between baseball and football, only a fierce camaraderie and undying belief that their teams (the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox) are the best.
On Sunday, September 16, the ubiquitous “they” in the world of professional sports made a huge oversight in the eyes of these dedicated New England fans – the Patriots/Chargers and Red Sox/Yankees games were scheduled to be played simultaneously. What was a New Englander to do? Missing out on a match-up between legendary baseball rivals, or not being present to cheer on a recently demoralized football team, were out of the question. The solution? High-tech tailgating, of course! Joe Cahn, the Commissioner of Tailgating, was in the parking lot at Gillette Stadium for the Patriots’ tailgating festivities, and reported that most of the TV screens he saw were monitoring both the football pre-game reports and the lead-in to the Red Sox vs. Yankees baseball match-up.
With headquarters at the heart of Patriots and Red Sox Nation, KVH Industries is home to many die-hard Patriots and Red Sox fans. In fact, KVH’s general counsel reported on Monday that she had to rely on a tiny, 5" portable TV for updates from the football game in Foxboro as she cheered for the Red Sox while sitting in the stands at Fenway Park in Boston. However, she was yearning for one of KVH’s TracVision mobile satellite TV systems to catch the live play-by-play in all its crystal-clear, big-screen glory.
Short of cloning and actually attending both games, high-tech tailgating fans had the absolute best seat in the house for cheering both their teams on in very important games this past Sunday. Perhaps if there were more high-tech tailgaters, enabling more fans to practice their dual cheering, there could have been two New England victories instead of just one on Sunday. Something to think about for those who told the Commish they were shopping around before purchasing this year’s tailgating accessories…
Aside from the pre-game reports for the game, what do you watch while you’re tailgating? Let us know!
On Sunday, September 16, the ubiquitous “they” in the world of professional sports made a huge oversight in the eyes of these dedicated New England fans – the Patriots/Chargers and Red Sox/Yankees games were scheduled to be played simultaneously. What was a New Englander to do? Missing out on a match-up between legendary baseball rivals, or not being present to cheer on a recently demoralized football team, were out of the question. The solution? High-tech tailgating, of course! Joe Cahn, the Commissioner of Tailgating, was in the parking lot at Gillette Stadium for the Patriots’ tailgating festivities, and reported that most of the TV screens he saw were monitoring both the football pre-game reports and the lead-in to the Red Sox vs. Yankees baseball match-up.
With headquarters at the heart of Patriots and Red Sox Nation, KVH Industries is home to many die-hard Patriots and Red Sox fans. In fact, KVH’s general counsel reported on Monday that she had to rely on a tiny, 5" portable TV for updates from the football game in Foxboro as she cheered for the Red Sox while sitting in the stands at Fenway Park in Boston. However, she was yearning for one of KVH’s TracVision mobile satellite TV systems to catch the live play-by-play in all its crystal-clear, big-screen glory.
Short of cloning and actually attending both games, high-tech tailgating fans had the absolute best seat in the house for cheering both their teams on in very important games this past Sunday. Perhaps if there were more high-tech tailgaters, enabling more fans to practice their dual cheering, there could have been two New England victories instead of just one on Sunday. Something to think about for those who told the Commish they were shopping around before purchasing this year’s tailgating accessories…
Aside from the pre-game reports for the game, what do you watch while you’re tailgating? Let us know!
State of the Parking Lot - Commissioner’s Report on Week 2
We just received our weekly report from Joe Cahn, the Commissioner of Tailgating, who attended two of the most-watched games during Week 2 of the 2007 NFL regular season schedule. Sunday evening, Joe was at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA, to see the New England Patriots take on the San Diego Chargers following a week of turmoil in New England. He then started the work week with Philadelphia Eagles fans at Lincoln Financial Field, observing some very unique approaches to tailgating.
High tech tailgaters held center stage in the parking lot at Gillette Stadium (tied for 18th place on the National Tailgating Index) on Sunday, as loyal fans closely monitored pre-game reports on ESPN’s SportsCenter and scoffed at the idea that their team would ever need to cheat. The Pats didn’t disappoint in their first 2007 home game, winning the contest 38-14.
Mobile TV systems also afforded those in the parking lot a chance to keep up with other NFL games in progress and, most importantly for those who reside in Patriots Nation and Red Sox Nation simultaneously, the Boston Red Sox as they took on their legendary rivals, the New York Yankees. Joe Cahn, apparently channeling Bill Belichick ("the greatest coach in NFL history" - Tom Brady), reports that he caught himself filming other tailgaters’ recipes, and that as the Commish, he will assign appropriate caloric penalties to himself. The lobster, clam chowder, and steak served up by his new friends in MA were worth it, he says.
On to Monday Night Football! Joe reports that in the parking lot at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia (tied for 10th place on the National Tailgating Index), Eagles fans were getting creative.
With the smell of roast pork wafting through the party (whole hogs are a PA specialty, and Joe reports that the sandwiches were “wonderful”), fans could see a portable party making its way around the parking lot. Golf Cart World, LLC, in Linwood, PA, designed a custom tailgating vehicle for the folks at www.onecrazyfan.com. These Eagles fans tailgated in style in their “E.M.T.: Emergency Mini Tailgater,” complete with its very own grill and cooler. Take a look at onecrazyfan.com’s gallery of Eagles tailgating vehicles, including the E.M.T.
Generally, Joe reports that most tailgaters are still checking out high-tech accessories on other vehicles, deciding on just the right purchase to take them through the season in style. Mobile satellite TV systems, along with several kinds of cooking accessories, appear to be the most popular so far. The Commish is currently on his way to Tampa, FL, to join the party in the parking lot as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, September 23.
High tech tailgaters held center stage in the parking lot at Gillette Stadium (tied for 18th place on the National Tailgating Index) on Sunday, as loyal fans closely monitored pre-game reports on ESPN’s SportsCenter and scoffed at the idea that their team would ever need to cheat. The Pats didn’t disappoint in their first 2007 home game, winning the contest 38-14.
Mobile TV systems also afforded those in the parking lot a chance to keep up with other NFL games in progress and, most importantly for those who reside in Patriots Nation and Red Sox Nation simultaneously, the Boston Red Sox as they took on their legendary rivals, the New York Yankees. Joe Cahn, apparently channeling Bill Belichick ("the greatest coach in NFL history" - Tom Brady), reports that he caught himself filming other tailgaters’ recipes, and that as the Commish, he will assign appropriate caloric penalties to himself. The lobster, clam chowder, and steak served up by his new friends in MA were worth it, he says.
On to Monday Night Football! Joe reports that in the parking lot at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia (tied for 10th place on the National Tailgating Index), Eagles fans were getting creative.
With the smell of roast pork wafting through the party (whole hogs are a PA specialty, and Joe reports that the sandwiches were “wonderful”), fans could see a portable party making its way around the parking lot. Golf Cart World, LLC, in Linwood, PA, designed a custom tailgating vehicle for the folks at www.onecrazyfan.com. These Eagles fans tailgated in style in their “E.M.T.: Emergency Mini Tailgater,” complete with its very own grill and cooler. Take a look at onecrazyfan.com’s gallery of Eagles tailgating vehicles, including the E.M.T.
Generally, Joe reports that most tailgaters are still checking out high-tech accessories on other vehicles, deciding on just the right purchase to take them through the season in style. Mobile satellite TV systems, along with several kinds of cooking accessories, appear to be the most popular so far. The Commish is currently on his way to Tampa, FL, to join the party in the parking lot as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, September 23.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Tailgating in luxury
OK, here’s one company that’s bringing an element you might not expect to the tailgating scene – limousines! Sure, you see them at concerts, Broadway productions, fancy restaurants and anyplace a wedding party might end up, but tailgating? You bet.
Spurred on by the launch of www.hightechtailgating.com, O’Dell Lewis of Maryland-based Magnum Limo sent us some photos of an ultimate vehicle that his customers have used for tailgating in high style everywhere on the eastern seaboard – New York City, Atlantic City, Baltimore, Washington D.C., and even Florida.
This 2006 Dodge Magnum Limo looks amazing, and is equipped with a TracVision A7 mobile satellite TV system from KVH along with 4 flat-screen TVs, a TV in the trunk, and much more.
Hey, ref, that was a horrible call!
If that’s not an illustration of high-class, high-tech pre-game partying, we don’t know what is.
Got to keep warm when tailgating at night!
Have a story or a vehicle to top this one? Contact us to let us know about it. You might just find your story right here!
Spurred on by the launch of www.hightechtailgating.com, O’Dell Lewis of Maryland-based Magnum Limo sent us some photos of an ultimate vehicle that his customers have used for tailgating in high style everywhere on the eastern seaboard – New York City, Atlantic City, Baltimore, Washington D.C., and even Florida.
This 2006 Dodge Magnum Limo looks amazing, and is equipped with a TracVision A7 mobile satellite TV system from KVH along with 4 flat-screen TVs, a TV in the trunk, and much more.
Hey, ref, that was a horrible call!If that’s not an illustration of high-class, high-tech pre-game partying, we don’t know what is.
Got to keep warm when tailgating at night!Have a story or a vehicle to top this one? Contact us to let us know about it. You might just find your story right here!
We're #28! Atlanta fans chime in
Tailgating is a passionate activity. You root for your team, you cheer on the other folks in the parking lot, and everyone has an opinion. That passion is definitely extending to the High-tech Tailgating Index.
It's great to see fans who desperately want an opportunity for some serious high-tech tailgating chime in with their own observations. Take a look at today's post in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. These are passionate fans!
Other folks, of course, are taking it personally or seeing the various rankings as commentary on say, just the quality of BBQ at Kansas City games (excellent, even though KC was #8 in the Index) or the history and dedication of Packers tailgating (#13 in the Index). The High-tech Tailgating Index takes into account all of those things as well as weighs the high-tech aspects (vehicles equipped with mobile satellite TV and NFL Sunday Ticket subscriptions, for example) that are increasingly a part of the tailgating lifestyle.
Don't agree with the High-tech Tailgating Index? We want to hear from you! Tell us why you think your favorite venue takes high-tech tailgating to a whole new level. Send us photos of the outstanding vehicles, great grills, and the other high-tech gadgets and gizmos that add to the tailgating experience.
It's great to see fans who desperately want an opportunity for some serious high-tech tailgating chime in with their own observations. Take a look at today's post in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. These are passionate fans!
Other folks, of course, are taking it personally or seeing the various rankings as commentary on say, just the quality of BBQ at Kansas City games (excellent, even though KC was #8 in the Index) or the history and dedication of Packers tailgating (#13 in the Index). The High-tech Tailgating Index takes into account all of those things as well as weighs the high-tech aspects (vehicles equipped with mobile satellite TV and NFL Sunday Ticket subscriptions, for example) that are increasingly a part of the tailgating lifestyle.
Don't agree with the High-tech Tailgating Index? We want to hear from you! Tell us why you think your favorite venue takes high-tech tailgating to a whole new level. Send us photos of the outstanding vehicles, great grills, and the other high-tech gadgets and gizmos that add to the tailgating experience.
So what do you think?
The news of the tailgating index has definitely started to generate some discussions among tailgaters. While some publications and tailgaters are taking pride in their cities' results, others are clearly aware of the issues in those cities that... well... didn't do so well.
Take Seattle, for example. Great city, great stadium, excellent football team, but tailgating? Not so much. What's surprising is that there isn't that the folks we've heard from in Seattle don't really disagree. We spoke with Mike Brown, host of the evening sports talk show on Seattle's KIRO-AM (the flagship station for the Seahawks) last night prior to a live interview on the show. He didn't find the results surprising at all. "I would have expected the Seahawks to be in the bottom third when it comes to tailgating-friendliness so being last? Not a real shock. UW Husky fans though are great tailgaters." (The Tailgating Index, just to be clear, was only looking at NFL stadiums. For details on how the Index was scored, take a look here.)
Yesterday's immediate response on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's blogs definitely generated some interesting observations from the fans. Today's follow-up in the Seattle P-I blog looks a bit more closely at some the reasons Seattle scored so low.
And based on some of the e-mails that have come in, not everyone agrees with the rankings. But remember, we're talking "high-tech tailgating" and that means the Index takes into account not only the great food and parking lots but also the mobile satellite TV use and subscriptions to DIRECTV's NFL Sunday Ticket.
So what do you think? We want to know. Do you think your NFL venue should have scored higher from a high-tech perspective?
Are you a high-tech tailgater who heads out to NFL or college games but finds only frustration? Or do you have the opportunity to really let loose and enjoy a truly exciting tailgating experience? Let us know here on the blog or by contacting us! Send us your high-tech tailgating pictures. What's the wildest tailgating set-up you've seen?
Take Seattle, for example. Great city, great stadium, excellent football team, but tailgating? Not so much. What's surprising is that there isn't that the folks we've heard from in Seattle don't really disagree. We spoke with Mike Brown, host of the evening sports talk show on Seattle's KIRO-AM (the flagship station for the Seahawks) last night prior to a live interview on the show. He didn't find the results surprising at all. "I would have expected the Seahawks to be in the bottom third when it comes to tailgating-friendliness so being last? Not a real shock. UW Husky fans though are great tailgaters." (The Tailgating Index, just to be clear, was only looking at NFL stadiums. For details on how the Index was scored, take a look here.)
Yesterday's immediate response on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's blogs definitely generated some interesting observations from the fans. Today's follow-up in the Seattle P-I blog looks a bit more closely at some the reasons Seattle scored so low.
And based on some of the e-mails that have come in, not everyone agrees with the rankings. But remember, we're talking "high-tech tailgating" and that means the Index takes into account not only the great food and parking lots but also the mobile satellite TV use and subscriptions to DIRECTV's NFL Sunday Ticket.
So what do you think? We want to know. Do you think your NFL venue should have scored higher from a high-tech perspective?
Are you a high-tech tailgater who heads out to NFL or college games but finds only frustration? Or do you have the opportunity to really let loose and enjoy a truly exciting tailgating experience? Let us know here on the blog or by contacting us! Send us your high-tech tailgating pictures. What's the wildest tailgating set-up you've seen?
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Let the pre-game festivities begin!
Welcome to the high-tech tailgating blog, or as those of us who enjoy the fun in the parking lot like to think of it, “brats, beer, and satellite TV”! Throughout the season, we’ll be covering the fun of tailgating nationwide because even while we each may have our own favorite teams, tailgating is for everyone and going high-tech while tailgating just makes the experience that much more fun.
To kick things off, we’ve got some early week 1 reports from the road as we spoke with Joe Cahn, the commissioner of tailgating and an avowed high-tech tailgater himself, the day after the NFL got things kicked off with the New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis. Joe attended the pre-game festivities before heading out for a marathon opening weekend, including visits to Purdue, St. Louis (#30 on the national tailgating index), and then on to Cincinnati (#5 on the national tailgating index).
High-tech Tailgating: So how was the tailgating in Indy?
Joe Cahn: Incredible! Indianapolis has probably the best single tailgating group – The Blue Crew. What they did was great under conditions that are very difficult. The new stadium is being built on the old parking lots so there’s no place to tailgate. The Blue Crew found out this was going to happen two years ago and are now renting two parking lots specifically for tailgating! Now most places you go, some people are tailgating, some are just parking and heading in to the stadium but in the Blue Crew parking lots, 100% of the people are tailgating. Plus, the start of the new season was very exciting as they were going to unveil the Super Bowl banner. Just an amazing time!
HTT: So this was the first regular season game. Is there a difference between pre-season tailgating and regular season?
JC: Yes, there’s some difference, with fewer tailgaters or more families in pre-season. Except in Green Bay where tailgating is treated exactly the same way year-round.
HTT: You’re on your way to Purdue. Will you see a difference in tailgating at college games vs. pro football games?
JC: Absolutely. At the college games, you have a community – the campus, students, faculty, alumni, friends of the university, all of them are gathering to root on their specific team. There’s more pageantry and tradition at the college games. At the pro games you have fans representing a broader cross-section of the community.
Number-wise though, you’ll see the same number of people tailgating at pro and college games, especially at the start of the season when hope springs eternal for every team or late October when it cools off but before the winter weather sets in.
HTT: While your tailgating experience with The Blue Crew is a limited sampling, have you noticed anything unusual yet this year? What’s new on the high-tech tailgating front?
JC: I’m seeing more people using small generators so tailgating is definitely getting more “electrical” when it comes to appliances that are being used, such as the sangria fountain that someone set up. Of course, at Indy, winning the championship was a huge deal. Lots of people who couldn’t get tickets still wanted to be part of the event so they were there with big screen TVs and their satellite TV dishes on the vehicles or set up on tripods so they could watch and celebrate with all of the other Colts fans. An absolutely fantastic start to the season.
To kick things off, we’ve got some early week 1 reports from the road as we spoke with Joe Cahn, the commissioner of tailgating and an avowed high-tech tailgater himself, the day after the NFL got things kicked off with the New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis. Joe attended the pre-game festivities before heading out for a marathon opening weekend, including visits to Purdue, St. Louis (#30 on the national tailgating index), and then on to Cincinnati (#5 on the national tailgating index).
High-tech Tailgating: So how was the tailgating in Indy?
Joe Cahn: Incredible! Indianapolis has probably the best single tailgating group – The Blue Crew. What they did was great under conditions that are very difficult. The new stadium is being built on the old parking lots so there’s no place to tailgate. The Blue Crew found out this was going to happen two years ago and are now renting two parking lots specifically for tailgating! Now most places you go, some people are tailgating, some are just parking and heading in to the stadium but in the Blue Crew parking lots, 100% of the people are tailgating. Plus, the start of the new season was very exciting as they were going to unveil the Super Bowl banner. Just an amazing time!
HTT: So this was the first regular season game. Is there a difference between pre-season tailgating and regular season?
JC: Yes, there’s some difference, with fewer tailgaters or more families in pre-season. Except in Green Bay where tailgating is treated exactly the same way year-round.
HTT: You’re on your way to Purdue. Will you see a difference in tailgating at college games vs. pro football games?
JC: Absolutely. At the college games, you have a community – the campus, students, faculty, alumni, friends of the university, all of them are gathering to root on their specific team. There’s more pageantry and tradition at the college games. At the pro games you have fans representing a broader cross-section of the community.
Number-wise though, you’ll see the same number of people tailgating at pro and college games, especially at the start of the season when hope springs eternal for every team or late October when it cools off but before the winter weather sets in.
HTT: While your tailgating experience with The Blue Crew is a limited sampling, have you noticed anything unusual yet this year? What’s new on the high-tech tailgating front?
JC: I’m seeing more people using small generators so tailgating is definitely getting more “electrical” when it comes to appliances that are being used, such as the sangria fountain that someone set up. Of course, at Indy, winning the championship was a huge deal. Lots of people who couldn’t get tickets still wanted to be part of the event so they were there with big screen TVs and their satellite TV dishes on the vehicles or set up on tripods so they could watch and celebrate with all of the other Colts fans. An absolutely fantastic start to the season.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
So what's "high-tech tailgating"?
The tailgate party is now increasingly high-tech to accommodate the demands of sports fans who don't want to miss any action on game day. Taking advantage of technology like the TracVision family of mobile satellite TV systems from KVH Industries and DIRECTV's satellite TV programming allows sports fans to catch televised NFL and college football games along with other sporting events LIVE on the video screens installed in their cars and RVs.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Welcome!
Tailgating - it's the new American pastime. The pre- and post-game tailgate party continues to grow in popularity with American sports fans. Experts expect a 12% increase in tailgating fans this football season and as many as 50 million Americans participating in tailgating in 2007!
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