The Ultimate Tailgate Checklist

A great tailgate is part science, part tradition, and part making sure you didn't forget the bottle opener again. Here's the full setup we bring every single week, broken down by category.

Shelter and Setup

• A canopy or tent — Philly weather does not care about your plans
• Stakes and weights strong enough to survive wind gusts off the parking lot
• Fold-out tables and enough chairs for everyone who "might stop by"
• A tarp or outdoor rug so the whole setup doesn't sit directly on asphalt

The Grill Station

• A good grill and enough charcoal or propane for the whole afternoon, plus backup
• Tongs, a spatula, and a meat thermometer — nobody wants undercooked tailgate food
• A cutting board and knife that live permanently in the tailgate bin
• Paper towels, way more than you think you need

Cold Storage

• A cooler that can survive a full day in the sun without turning into soup
• Ice, bought the morning of, not the night before
• A separate cooler for drinks so the food cooler doesn't get raided every five minutes

Entertainment

• Portable speaker for pregame hype — charged the night before, every time
• A football or cornhole set for the group that shows up two hours early
• A phone charger bank, because someone always forgets to charge overnight

Gear Up for the Whole Day

Dress in layers you can shed as the lot fills up and the grill gets going. The Flight-Tech Half-Zip is a tailgate staple for exactly this reason — warm enough for the early morning setup, breathable enough once the grill's going and the sun's out. A Stadium Snapback keeps the sun out of your eyes during those early kickoffs, and the Franchise Trainer is built for standing on asphalt for six hours without your feet giving out by the second quarter.

The Cleanup Kit

Trash bags, more than one. A cooler bag for leftovers. And a designated person whose entire job is making sure the spot is left cleaner than you found it — every tailgate crew needs one, and if you don't know who yours is, it's probably you.

Get There Early

The best tailgate spots go fast. Arriving early isn't just about the parking spot — it's about the extra hours with the people who make game day worth it in the first place. See you in the lot.