Advice for tailgating

This isn't remotely close to a realistic option for me, given where I live. But I do recognize one thing--the conflicting desires of awesome tailgating, the fan experience, and wanting to watch all of the other great games.

There are lots of variables, of course. How many people do you tailgate with? Who, if anyone, wants to go to the games? Do you go to a few? What's your budget? Tickets can get expensive, but then, satellite tv, camping trailers (and parking), food, and generators are expensive too. 

Thing is, I want to go to the game. It's part of the excitement. So if I were in this position, I would try to combine the best of everything:

1. Park somewhere where you can tailgate all day and close up shop at like 10pm

2. Do the Generator/Satellite/double tv thing. One tv presumably on a network broadcast of some kind, one wired to the satellite. Actually, a third tv for a second antenna broadcast isn't a bad idea now, since so many prime time games are over the air.

3. Eat a good meal. Nobody talks about this, but if you're tailgating for a noon game, do brunch instead of lunch. If I am eating before 11 (and there's no way I want wait till 11 since I want to catch the band and not be rushing) I'm not in the mood for bratwurst or burgers. While eating, have College Gameday or the noon games on. Watch and enjoy.

4. Turn stuff off and lock up for the game. Walk up to the stadium with some cash, buy tickets at the gate. With our weak home slate this year no game will be above face value and it's quite possible (I haven't done this in 10 years so I'm qualifying here) that every single game will be easily accessible for something below face value.

5. Leave as the game ends or when you feel like it; the only rush is to dodge getting blocked in a clogged aisle, or if an important game is starting. Being in the Stadium is great, though.

6. Go back to your rig. Open the tailgate, turn on the generator, turn on the tvs, pull out your second meal, fire up the grill, and watch the later games while your steaks are cooking.

7. Pack up as the late games wind down and go home. 

DISH kills Direct TV when it comes to tailgating.  Buy the "Tailgator" from Dish Network.  Easiest decision ever.  Hook up a generator, add TV and the Tailgator and youre done.  I put the Tailgator on top of my car - no problem.  Took it to Penn State last year ... no problem.  I come from Indiana every home game - no problem.

Tailgator find the satellites and you have access to every channel you would from your house ...cost is $7 per month.  No setup charge, no disconnect fee. $7 bucks period.  

My kids bought the Tailgator for me last year.  Pre-game and post game are perfect for watching the other games... why fight traffic - get there early - stay late and not miss any football.

This is a NO - BRAINER ...    Go Blue!

makes this a non starter.  Thats on the order of $800 if you get the quiet Honda EU1000 version.

2 non premium season tickets cost on the order of $1000-1100.

You could pay $100 for 1 game per season for 8 years before breaking even on the genset.

You don't have to pay for parking if your legs work well.

Not saying my answer is best/only as there are many flavors of how to spend your fall Saturdays. 

I waste pullenty of time on TV outside of a trip to the Big Haus; ESPN has games on Thursday, Friday, Saturday from noon to midnight (9am if you watch GameDay), and I find all of them interesting and fascinating.