The best way to serve drinks to a tailgate crowd is cans on ice in a party cooler you can set out like a bar: it's legal at almost every stadium, it keeps the line moving, and nothing has to be poured. Kegs are banned in the lots at stadiums including Gillette, Empower Field, Hard Rock, Raymond James, U.S. Bank Stadium, Penn State and Notre Dame, and most stadiums won't let a cooler past the gate, so it stays at the car.
The short answer
| Pick | Best for | Holds | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVO Party Barge | The drinks for the whole group, or a Bloody Mary bar | Up to 39 cans or bottles, in 3 separate ice compartments | 44 x 11 x 7.5 in, 15 lbs | $194.89 |
| REVO Dubler Party Cooler | Drinks and food on one table | Up to 24 cans or bottles on one side, a half-size food pan on the other | 24.5 x 14 x 7.5 in, 13 lbs | $169.89 |
| REVO Dubler HEAT | Cold-weather games: hot food without a flame | Two half-size pans kept warm, or up to 24 cans cold | Dubler size | $198.89 |
| Cordova 50 qt Outpost Wheeled | The far lot: ice for the whole day, on wheels | 63 cans | 19.5 x 18 x 20.9 in, 35.5 lbs | $379.49 |
| Taiga 55 qt | A made-in-USA hard cooler that stays at the truck | About 60 cans with ice | 55 qt | $299 |
First: what your stadium allows
Drink rules are set stadium by stadium. These come from each stadium's own pages, checked for each guide.
No kegs in the lots
- Gillette Stadium, Empower Field at Mile High, Hard Rock Stadium and U.S. Bank Stadium ban kegs. Minneapolis also bans "common-source containers."
- Raymond James Stadium bans kegs, large vessels and large amounts of alcohol in the lots.
- College: Penn State, Notre Dame, Iowa State and Georgia's North Campus ban kegs. Oregon State allows them only with approval.
No glass
Many lots ban glass outright, including Highmark Stadium (cans and plastic cups only) and Arrowhead. Pack cans. They chill faster too.
The cooler stays at the car
Under the clear-bag rules, most stadiums won't let a cooler through the gates: Lambeau, the Linc, Soldier Field and the Superdome (Champions Square included) among them. In Seattle, coolers aren't allowed at the team-run pregame either (see the Lumen Field guide). A party cooler is for the lot, so size it for the lot.
Our picks
REVO Party Barge: the drinks for the whole group
See the REVO Party Barge ($194.89)
- Who it's for: whoever runs the drinks for a crew of 10 or more.
- The numbers: a 44-inch insulated tub with three compartments, each its own ice bucket. Up to 39 cans or bottles, according to REVO. 44 x 11 x 7.5 inches, 15 lbs.
- Why it made our list: three separate compartments mean beer, seltzer and water each get their own ice, so nobody digs. It comes with two divided condiment trays and an ice scoop, so it doubles as a Bloody Mary bar for an early kickoff. REVO says the insulation stops condensation, so the table stays dry.
- Made in: the USA. REVO backs it with a 5-year warranty.
- Ships from: REVO, free, at the same price as buying direct.
REVO Dubler Party Cooler: drinks and food on one table
See the REVO Dubler Party Cooler ($169.89)
- Who it's for: a smaller crew, or anyone short on table space.
- The numbers: two compartments: up to 24 cans or bottles on ice on one side, a half-size food pan on the other. 24.5 x 14 x 7.5 inches, 13 lbs.
- Why it made our list: it puts the drinks and the dip in one footprint, which matters when your whole setup has to fit in 9 x 6 feet, like it does at Lambeau. Three divided condiment trays, two clear dome lids and an ice scoop are in the box. Add REVO's heat packs to keep food warm, or chill boards to keep a spread cold.
- Made in: the USA, with a 5-year warranty.
- Ships from: REVO, free.
REVO Dubler HEAT: for November and December
See the REVO Dubler HEAT ($198.89)
- Who it's for: anyone cooking at home and serving at a cold-weather game, or tailgating where grills are limited.
- The numbers: a Dubler that comes with two microwave heat packs. REVO says covered food stays servable warm for up to 5 hours, with no flame, hot water or fuel. Two half-size pans up to 4 inches deep, or four quarter-size pans.
- Why it made our list: no flame and no fuel: cook at home, and the food arrives hot without a grill to set up. When you want it cold instead, it's a regular Dubler.
- Made in: the USA.
- Ships from: REVO, free.
Cordova 50 qt Outpost Wheeled: ice all day, from the far lot
See the Cordova 50 qt Outpost ($379.49)
- Who it's for: anyone parking far from the gate, or keeping drinks and raw meat cold from a morning setup through the fourth quarter.
- The numbers: a rotomolded hard cooler that holds 63 cans, with wheels and a telescoping handle. 19.5 x 18 x 20.9 inches outside, 35.5 lbs empty.
- Why it made our list: it's the backup that keeps the party cooler full. Ice for the whole day rides to the lot in one trip, and you pull it instead of carrying it.
- Warranty: 5 years, according to Cordova, if you register it within 30 days.
- Ships from: Cordova.
Taiga 55 qt: made in the USA, built to stay at the truck
- Who it's for: a crew that wants one big cooler for the whole season, parked behind the tailgate.
- The numbers: about 60 cans with ice, 2 inches of foam insulation, a one-piece lid gasket, three divider slots and dual drain plugs. Side handles plus a rope handle, and it takes Taiga's wheel kit.
- Why it made our list: injection-molded in the USA with a lifetime warranty, according to Taiga. It's the cooler you buy once.
- Made in: the USA.
- Ships from: Taiga.
How we chose
We started with the rules. We read the drink and cooler rules for every stadium in our guides, then looked for setups that serve a crowd legally, fit a tailgate footprint and stay at the car. Specs come from each maker's own pages. We haven't run these coolers through a season yet, and we'll say so here when we have.
Questions
Can you bring a keg to a tailgate?
Not at many stadiums. Gillette, Empower Field, Hard Rock, Raymond James, U.S. Bank Stadium, Penn State, Notre Dame and Iowa State all ban kegs in the lots, and Oregon State requires approval. Check your stadium's guide before you buy one.
Can you bring a cooler into the stadium?
Usually not. Most stadiums follow a clear-bag policy that keeps coolers out, including Lambeau, Lincoln Financial Field, Soldier Field and the Superdome. The cooler stays at your car.
How many drinks do you need for a tailgate?
Plan on at least two or three drinks per person for a typical 4-hour tailgate, plus water. Lots open about 4 hours before kickoff at many NFL stadiums, including Lambeau, Highmark and Nissan.
Is glass allowed at tailgates?
Often not. Highmark Stadium allows only cans and plastic cups, and Arrowhead bans glass in every lot. Cans are the safe bet everywhere.
How do you keep food warm at a tailgate without a grill?
Use an insulated food carrier with heat packs. The REVO Dubler HEAT keeps covered food warm for up to 5 hours, according to REVO, with no flame or fuel.
Find your stadium's rules
Every rule above comes from a stadium guide, checked against each stadium's own pages and dated. Find your stadium, then plan the menu with what to cook at a tailgate.