The kids are back in school, summer is coming to an end, and that means it’s football season once again. While fans across the country love to get together and enjoy pregame festivities, a new survey reveals which states feel they’re the best tailgaters and what the perfect tailgate includes.
According to a poll of 5-thousand tailgaters divided evenly by state, the average person attends two tailgates in a typical year. But that jumps to more than three for folks in Pennsylvania (3.4), Virginia (3.1) and Washington (also 3.1).
- Fans in Louisiana (78%) and Alabama (76%) feel they’ve earned bragging rights as tailgating champs. Texas comes in third (74%), followed by Wisconsin (73%) and Georgia (71%).
- But those in Alabama (76%), Texas (76%) and Wisconsin (74%) believe they’re the nation’s top “homegaters” - hosting pregame parties at their home or someone else’s.
- It turns out, homegates are becoming pretty popular, as 39% of respondents prefer them, compared to 24% who still prefer a good, old-fashioned tailgate.
- Comfort is the biggest reason some like homegating better (62%), along with the flexibility of coming and going as they please (42%).
- Whether it’s in a parking lot or someone’s living room, fans believe a pre-game event should have an average of 11 people attending, with six foods and six different drink options.
- For 61%, the tailgate or homegate party is better than the actual game.
- According to football fans, the ideal tailgate starts two and a half hours before kickoff (2.4 hours), but those in Arkansas, Ohio and South Carolina like to start sooner, about 2.8 hours before the game. Homegaters prefer to start around 2.6 hours before kickoff, but those in Ohio like to start the earliest, an average of 3.5 hours before game time.
- Once the game starts, fans expect to spend another 2.9 hours watching it, making the tailgate or homegate event about six hours from start to finish.⠀
- To get through all that, respondents need a pick-me-up an average of 2.4 times and need to refuel another 2.5 times during the game.
- The most popular tailgate foods are the classics, including burgers (66%), hot dogs (63%), chips (59%), dips (49%), pulled pork BBQ (48%), pizza (46%) and trays with crackers, meat and cheese (39%).
Source: Talker