Tailgating Essentials

Create Game Day Gear

With Walker's group, the preferred game day gear is their Jets jerseys.

However, he has met other traveling tailgate groups who create annual shirts to wear to the game.

The beauty of making your own shirts is in creating a design that honors both your home team as well as your yearly tradition.

If you decide to make your own shirts, feature:

• The name of your tailgate group
• What year you are in (I.e. Third Annual Tailgate Trip)
• A schedule of the games youll attend
• Personalize the shirts by putting each guys nickname on the back
• Don't forget to create the shirts in your home teams colors so you can show your spirit at the same time

Make Friends with the Locals

Instead of researching restaurants and bars online, make friends with the locals for great recommendations. Ask them about good places to go before and after the game, where to get food and drinks, etc. You can end up at a really great hole in the wall you'd never have found. Plus, half the fun of traveling is experiencing the local flavor.

Don't Forget Your Camera

After all your hard work organizing, planning and tailgating, document your achievement. Make sure to get one really great group shot that includes everyone in the tailgate with the stadium in the background.

When you get home, blow up the best shot of the crew and get one framed for each guy. This makes a great keepsake and will remind you of all the fun times youve had together. Hopefully one day you will have 32 of them hanging on the wall!