State of the Parking Lot: Week 6

Our revered Commissioner of Tailgating, Joe Cahn, attended his final New York tailgate for the 2007 season this Sunday, sandwiched between visits to Monmouth College in NJ and the Georgia Dome. Here’s what he saw:

Small Schools, Big Tailgating:
As Monmouth College prepared to kick off their 2007 Homecoming football game against Warner College, their fans prepared to fill the stadium. While a modest number in comparison to larger schools, the crowd at Monmouth on Saturday was large enough to fill the 4,500 or so seats at Kessler Field. The Monmouth Homecoming parade “went around three times,” Joe says. “It was great for keeping your attention, and allowed everyone to enjoy it a little more.” The Commissioner also reports that there were “a smattering” of satellite dishes present in the parking lot, as there typically are on Saturdays with so many college football games being broadcast nationally. “I did the same when the game was over,” he says. “Went back to my RV and switched on my TracVision to catch the rest of the games.”

Atlanta Fans Belly Up to a High-Tech Bar:
This week’s Monday Night Football contest pitted the NY Giants against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome (#28 on the National Tailgating Index). While the Falcons didn’t perform as well as they could have in their 31-10 loss to the Giants (see quarterback Joey Harrington’s comments), their fans put together an outstanding party. Joe reports that there are typically less TV screens and satellite TV antennas at Monday Night Football games than at Saturday or Sunday games, mainly because there are no other games happening on Monday night.

That doesn’t stop hardcore high-tech tailgaters, however; these folks will find a way to raise the bar no matter what. A few groups seemed to have forgotten their numbers when buying tickets – half went inside to watch the game, and others would remain outside and tailgate the whole way through, eliminating the need to pack anything up until it was time to go home. One gentleman in particular, however, took things to a whole other level. A Georgia Dome regular who always parks in the same spot, he came prepared in a high-tech tailgating trailer tricked out with flat screen TVs, a bar complete with beer tap, a refrigerator, a bathroom, and a crank-up satellite dish!

When Joe suggested an automatic satellite TV system to this tailgating aficionado, he explained that since he’s been parking in the same spot for so long, it only takes him ten minutes to get his dish set up and pointed in the direction of the satellite! Our hats off to you, sir, but just in case you ever lose your spot – TracVision can help.

Tailgating New York Style, One Last Time:
After seeing several games at the Meadowlands (tied for #18 on the National Tailgating Index) over the past few weeks, the Commish is moving on. His last 2007 New York game saw the Jets take on the Philadelphia Eagles, and he reports that the fans here, in addition to being very tech-savvy, were exceedingly hospitable. “There was a lot of ‘doin’’,” says Joe. “You know, ‘How you doin’?’ ‘I’m doin’!’” (It makes more sense if you imagine these uttered in a thick NY accent.) Jets fans cooked up some spectacular Philly cheesesteaks to make the opposing fans feel welcome, in addition to the normal global approach to tailgating cuisine that the Commish has reported seeing at the Meadowlands.

When asked if the cooling temperatures in New England had forced Jets fans to bring out the heaters, Joe replied that there were a few propane heaters, but “the weather was beautiful! Perfect football weather!” Apparently, it was perfect high-tech tailgating weather, as the Commish saw something new this Sunday – a proliferation of small generators being used to power auxiliary electronics! These were found among the many brightly painted and team-adorned buses in the parking lot.

“There were a lot of flat-screen TVs,” says the Commish. “Technology makes it much easier to watch the pre-game and, at early games like this one, the other NFL games that are on later.” In fact, several Jets fans stayed in the parking lot and tailgated long after the final score was in the books, watching the other NFL broadcasts. Not surprising, since Joe also reports that the Meadowlands typically seems to hosts more high-tech tailgaters than lots of other stadiums. “New Yorkers like to be connected,” he says.

Coming Up for Week 7:
This week, Joe is headed to warmer climes as he watches the New England Patriots defend their undefeated record against the Miami Dolphins at Dolphin Stadium, and then visits Jacksonville Municipal Stadium for another possible upset as the Jacksonville Jaguars take on the 5-0 Indianapolis Colts. Stay tuned, because these games are sure to produce some exciting tailgating!