Tail of the Tailgate

Getting ready for tailgate season means more than just picking out your favorite chips and getting your spot early. Maybe you are a “stay-at-home” tailgater or pay for your spot ahead of time. But you also need to choose who to hang with and what to bring. Do you need to upgrade your cooler or BBQ? What about tunes or TV? And will you be ready for whatever weather the season dishes out? In this article, we’ll focus on portable BBQ options and the features that might fit your tailgate scene, because whether you actually head to the stadium parking lot or prefer to “home gate”, the right grill is essential.

Results from the Tailgaiting Institute research study finds that average tailgater is:

• 60% are between the ages of 25-44 • 79% are men • 59% have a college degree • 46% Tailgate 6-10 times a season • 44% of Tailgate food is bought by both the husband and wife • 42% of our Tailgaters spend over $500 a season on food and supplies • 49% travel less than one hour to the stadium • 51% set-up 3-4 hours before the game • 95% of our Tailgaters prepare their food at the stadium • 59% Use a combination of grills, stoves, and smokers to cook • 63% of grill owners who listed burgers as their favorite food for tailgating • 82% of people who have two or more drinks while tailgating, according to 2011 research by the University of Minnesota. • 40% of grill owners who told Weber that they prefer to bring a full-size grill to their tailgate party, as opposed to 55 percent who use a portable one.

"One survey found 30 percent of tailgaters never set foot in the stadium.”

In the 2015 survey commissioned by Weber, the world’s leading manufacturer of gas, charcoal, and electric grills reveals the grill owners’ list of top 10 must-have items for a successful tailgate party:

• Food (79%) • Grill (76%) • Cooler (68%) • Chairs (65%) • Alcoholic beverages (60%) • Table (55%) • Tickets to the Game (44%) • Non-alcoholic beverages (38%) • Radio (37%) • Tent/Canopy (34%)

Here are a few picks for your first round this year. Remember it’s food, fun, football… in that order.

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Weber Q1200 Portable Gas Grill: $209.00

Weber q1200 black gas grill. Features 2 large size fold-out tables, 8500 BTU, split porcelain enameled cast iron grates, 189 square inches. cooking space. Improved rigidity, built-in thermometer, large grip handle and control knob, ergonomic side handle, front and rear cradles, Electronic ignition, runs on 14.1 or 16.4 oz. disposable LP tanks not included, dimensions 28.22″ x 16.16″ x 17.44″.

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Traeger Ranger Portable Grill: $399.99

Perfect for picnics, tailgating and camping, this compact, portable grill lets you enjoy wood-fired flavor on the go. It uses a combination of natural hardwood pellets and the precision of digital technology, allowing you to set a precise temperature in five-degree increments. A Keep Warm mode maintains ready-to-eat temperatures, and a meat probe offers even more temperature control.

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Weber Original Premium Kettle Charcoal Grill: $165.00

Weber’s Original Premium Kettle Grill features a plated steel cooking grate with 363 inches of cooking space, hinges on the grate and a porcelain-enameled bowl and lid. 22.50 × 25.00 × 39.50 in

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Weber Smokey Joe Portable 14” Charcoal Grill: $34.99

Smokey Joe Portable BBQ Grill with Heat Resistant Nylon Handles and Durable and Rust Resistant, Removable Legs, Bowl and Lid. 14″ diameter cooking surface for 147 sq. in. total cooking area. Porcelain on steel finish inside and out with Weber’s 10-Year Limited Warranty.

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Weber Go-Anywhere LP Gas BBQ Grill: $69.99

Weber, gas and go anywhere grill, portable tabletop grill has 160 sq. in. of cooking space, porcelain-enameled cooking grate, reduce flare-ups while providing more evenly distributed heat, inside and outside of lid and bowl are made of premium steel coated in porcelain enamel, lights easily with the push-button igniter, heavy-duty steel legs pivot to lock in place when carrying, uses LP cylinder (not included).

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