The Lot
Stories, recipes, gear and how-tos from the parking lot.
Tips & GearBloody Mary Bar Shopping List: 12, 24 or 48 Guests (printable)Bloody Mary bar shopping list by store aisle for 12, 24 or 48 guests, with the vodka math, the ice math, a packing list and a printable s...
Tips & GearNFL playoff tailgating: what's allowed at cold-weather stadiumsNFL playoff tailgating in January: the fire you want is the one most lots ban. How to stay warm without it, and lot hours, end times, ten...
Tips & GearTailgating at bowl games 2026–27: dates, venues and lot rulesEvery 2026–27 CFP game and bowl at a stadium we cover, with dates, venues and each host stadium's lot rules: tickets, grills, tents and w...
Tips & GearHow to tailgate in the rainGet cover up first, keep gear off the wet ground, cook smart and leave the umbrella at the car. Plus which lots close and which stadiums ...
Tips & GearHow to tailgate without a grillNo grill, no problem: cook at home, keep hot food hot without a flame, and set up a serving station. Plus which stadiums ban grills.
Tips & GearCan you put up a tent at a tailgate? Canopy rules by stadiumMost stadiums allow a 10 x 10 pop-up, weighted, inside your space. Here's which cap it at 8 x 8, which allow bigger, and which ban tents,...
Tips & GearHow much food do you need for a tailgate? Per-person amountsPer-person amounts for a tailgate: burgers, brats, wings, chili, dips, chips, drinks and ice, with a buffer rule so you don't run out.
Tips & GearHow to pack a cooler for a tailgate (and make the ice last)Chill the cooler the night before, block ice on the bottom, everything packed cold, and separate coolers for drinks and food. How to make...
Tips & GearWhen does tailgating season start? The 2026–27 tailgating calendarTailgating season runs from Week 0 in late August to the Super Bowl on Feb. 14, 2027. Every big date left this season, with lot hours, an...
Tips & GearCan you tailgate without a ticket? Stadium by stadiumIt depends on the stadium. Where you need a game ticket to tailgate, where a parking pass is enough, and the free fan zones open to anyone.
Tips & GearHow to tailgate in cold weatherLayers, hot food at 140°F, wind blocks and the heater and generator rules at Northern stadiums.
Tips & GearHow to keep food hot at a tailgateSix ways to keep tailgate food hot without an outlet, and the 140°F rule that keeps it safe.