Safe tailgating comes down to five things: put the grill where your stadium says, away from cars and crowds; keep cold food cold and cook meat to a safe temperature; drink water between beers; dress for the weather; and get home with a sober driver. Here's each one in a minute or less.
Grill where the rules say
Every stadium writes its own grill rules, and they're specific. In Landover, a hot grill never goes in or under a vehicle, and it has to be out before you go in. At Arrowhead, hot coals go in the coal bins and an adult runs the grill. Florida wants grills 25 feet from any building or vehicle; LSU wants 10 feet and an extinguisher nearby. Find yours in our stadium guides, and never leave a lit grill alone.
Keep cold food cold, cook meat all the way
The USDA's rule: don't leave food out of the cooler more than 2 hours, or 1 hour when it's above 90°F (USDA Danger Zone). Keep raw meat in its own cooler, use separate tongs for raw and cooked, and use a thermometer: 160°F for burgers and brats, 165°F for chicken (USDA safe temperature chart). Need food that holds up? Here's what to cook at a tailgate. Serving it hot? Keep it at 140°F or above; here's how to keep food hot at a tailgate.
Water between beers
A tailgate can run 5 hours before kickoff, and some stadiums stop selling alcohol inside after the third quarter anyway. Bring more water than you think. Cans or plastic, never glass: it's banned in plenty of lots, Arrowhead included.
Dress for the lot, not the forecast
September asphalt runs hot: shade, sunscreen, water. December wants a base layer, hand warmers and a shell that cuts the wind. The lots have no shelter except what you bring.
Watch the kids, the dog and the drive lanes
Lots are full of moving cars until kickoff. Keep kids and pets inside your space, keep gear out of the drive lanes, and pack a small first-aid kit.
Get home
Pick the sober driver before the first beer, or plan the rideshare. Most stadiums have a rideshare zone, and our guides list it wherever the stadium posts one. Nobody's impressed by a DUI.
More: the 12 dos and don'ts of tailgating.
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