Perhaps one of America’s favorite pastimes is tailgating – the art of cooking food, drinking beer, and listening to music while tossing around a pigskin outside a college or pro football stadium with anywhere from 40-100,000 of your closest friends all in the name of a good time.
A recent trend that is popping up at some of college football’s most storied universities is selling tailgating experiences to the rich. That’s right, people are paying other people to set up, cook, clean, and take down tailgate “experiences”, and we’re not just talking about hot dogs and hamburgers here. These all-inclusive tailgating packages include such amenities as satellite TV with flatscreens for a little pre-game ESPN, iPod docking stations to listen to your favorite tunes, a bar with blender and booze, lighting for night games, portable tents, chairs emblazoned with your school’s logo and colors, and tables (with table cloths, of course). The food is usually catered by a separate outside vendor – the menu might include appetizers like sea scallops wrapped in bacon and filet minion grilled to perfection for the main dish.
This new trend in the affluent world is one that surprises some because of the somewhat “pedestrian” nature of tailgating. But the wealthy are people, too. Like their less fortunate brethren, what draws so many in this demographic towards such an age-old tradition is the feeling of being connected, part of something bigger. And it’s just as big of a thing to brag about to friends as having tickets to the game inside. Oh yeah, and it’s fun.
You may think it’s lazy or even obnoxious. But I see it as the rich having a good time in their own special way. Perhaps if you’re nice, they might invite you by for some Oysters Rockefeller.
Here are just a few of the companies offering these luxury tailgating packages and/or facilities that you can rent (or even own):
Southern Tradition Tailgating (MS)
Tailgate Station (GA)
Gamecock Pavilion (SC)