Tailgate Supplies Checklist: Stay Ready for Football Season
October 8, 2024 | Lifestyle
Everyone tailgates differently. For some families, it’s all about grilling top-tier steaks, burgers, and brats outside the stadium before the game. For others, it’s a fierce cornhole competition with rivalries that go back decades. And sometimes, it’s for a relaxing time to enjoy some of your favorite music and drinks before the game.
However you tailgate, here are a few tips from Metro Self Storage to keep in mind as you prepare.
1. Water Is Your Friend
Tailgating typically takes place on the hot, black asphalt of stadium parking lots, which can significantly raise the air temperature. Dehydration becomes a real concern here, especially with bathrooms and water fountains typically far away or behind the stadium gates. The solution is simple: stay hydrated.
Drink plenty of water before heading in, and as an added incentive, you can save yourself from costly bottled water purchases inside the stadium.
2. Balance Your Drinks
On a similar note to our first point, we know it is tempting to throw back some brews in the parking lot before the game, especially given the price of beer inside. We’re not saying you shouldn’t, though we encourage moderation. What’s important is to make sure you have as much water as needed to balance your alcohol intake. Alcohol can dehydrate you quickly and make it harder to recognize the signs of dehydration.
So when you’re packing, if you have more beer than water, you may want to balance out your cooler with some Gatorade or water bottles.
3. Football Game-Day Snacks for the Win
What’s a tailgate without food? One of the best parts of tailgating is the freedom to enjoy your favorite snacks without breaking the bank inside the stadium. Grilling hot dogs, burgers, and brats on your tailgate barbecue grill is a classic choice, but don’t forget to pack some ready-made snacks or dry goods.
Traffic delays or limited time can cut into your tailgate plans, so having quick, ready-to-eat snacks can keep everyone satisfied, even if you can’t fire up the grill before kickoff.
4. Don’t Forget the Games
Tailgates can last as long as you’d like. If you’re looking to get a parking spot close to the gate, you’ll likely find yourself arriving hours before game time. Keep everyone happy and occupied with some classic tailgate games and friendly competition. Cornhole is a go-to for many tailgaters, and while its rules are easy, mastering it can take years of dedicated practice. Bring games like this and others that are fun for the whole family. Even if you are just tossing around a football or baseball, everyone can get stretched and their blood pumping before sitting down for the game.
How To Store Your Barbecue Grill and Tailgate Party Cooler
Two things that are likely to take up a lot of room in the back of your vehicle are your cooler and barbecue grill. During essential parts of the tailgating experience, you want to have enough room for all your friends and family to fit in, and crucially, you want to make sure that neither tip over and spill ashes or ice all over your car or truck.
The simplest and most reliable tool to keep them secured is ratchet straps. A good tool to keep in your car at any time, these adjustable nylon straps are perfect for keeping all sorts of large and unwieldy items in their place. If you drive a truck, use these straps to fasten your cooler and grill to the bed so neither will tip over in the wind or on sharp turns. If you drive a car, minivan, or SUV, use ratchet straps by looping them through your interior handlebars to keep them from jostling around and potentially bumping into anyone sitting in the back.
Of course, this only solves your storage issues while you are at the game. When it comes time to pack up your tailgating gear, keep everything together in an accessible place where it will be ready for the next game.
Tips for Storing and Organizing Tailgating Supplies in a Self Storage Unit
- To keep your tailgating supplies organized and ready for football season, use clear, labeled, large storage tubs for easy access and stack them efficiently to maximize space in your self storage unit.
- Make sure to clean and properly store items like your barbecue grill and cooler to prevent damage.
- Opt for a climate-controlled unit to protect electronics and other delicate equipment.
- Keep frequently used items near the front to make retrieval quick and hassle-free on game day.
With drive-up access, convenient same-day rentals, and month-to-month leases that allow you to have the seasonal storage you need for your gear, you can keep all your tailgating supplies close by, at the ready, and out of the way.
Explore our nearby storage facilities and handy online size guide to find the right storage unit for you and all your game-day gear so you can organize your tailgate like a pro.
