I have to admit I didn't grow up ensconced in football culture, other than the annual Super Bowl party or the random invite to a game I never really experienced diehard football fans. Even when I went off to college the Great Midwestern Athletic Conference isn't really made up of schools known for their football programs, have you ever been on the edge of your seat for an Ursuline vs. Findlay football game? I didn't think so. But my understanding of football culture substantially changed when I moved to Texas, and not just any part of Texas, but Aggieland. Suddenly the culture and community, while still foreign to me, made a lot more sense and while the game was important, tailgating was what it is really all about.
From locals setting up a grill and a portable TV to professionally hosted tailgates completely with bartenders, professional chefs, and big screens, Covid-19 wreaked havoc on one of the largest economic drivers and social outlets for college towns, and now as the restrictions are loosing for many states, football fans are wondering if it is safe to tailgate again? For many, it simply means tailgating a home, or attending private tailgates held off-campus.
If you are planning to host or take part in tailgating or "homegating" as some are calling it, here are some tips for staying safe while tailgating in 2020.
Limit the number of guests:
Ideally, keeping your guest list to a limited circle of friends and family is ideal, but if there is someone you know that has been taking unnecessary risks, travels a lot, or maybe high-risk don't worry about being rude, have an honest conversation on why they aren't on the guest list.
Encourage masks
If you are hosting you should also be ready to not only encourage masks for your guests but remind them to please keep them on when not eating and drinking. Basically, run your tailgate like a restaurant. You can also encourage mask usage by offering guests team logo masks.
Have hand sanitizer stations:
Make sure to have plenty of hand sanitizer at your tailgate. Also, make sure your bathrooms are stocked well with soap and disposable paper towels.
Host your tailgate outdoors:
Most tailgates involve BBQ so being outside isn't generally a problem. Make sure to set up seating areas in different parts of the yard so groups who came together can sit together but still socially distance from other groups.
Individually wrapped:
Communal bowls of chips, canned or bottled drinks, veggie platters, and stacked food are not ok. Individual bags of chips, small single-serve containers for food, and individually wrapped utensils are a must. Since everyone is at different levels of comfort try to give your guests less to worry about. This may mean manning the food station yourself and handing out individual servings or hiring catering staff to make sure that all proper food handling standards are met.
Mix up your menu:
While burgers and hot dogs are a staple of tailgates, you might consider offering foods that require less assembly, like meat skewers, taquitos, or pre-assembled gourmet sliders. If you do offer burgers and dogs pick up single-serve condiments.
In the end, you and your guests will have to decide on what and when tailgating is right for you, and be sure to check local laws and requirements as they vary by state, county, and city. For example in California, at the time of this writing in California, Los Angeles County has recently eased restrictions allowing up to three households to gather for private events. While in El Paso, Texas the mayor banned spectators from most outdoor sports.
Photos via: johannes_s_fotografie
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