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A tailgate party at the 2005 Big 12 Championship game - note the pickup truck tailgates

New York Jets Tailgate

Miami Dolphins Tailgate

Minnesota Vikings Tailgate

In North America, a tailgate party is an often celebratory social event held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle. Tailgating often involves alcoholic beverages. Tailgate parties usually occur in the parking lots at stadiums and arenas before, and occasionally after or during, sporting events. People attending such a party are said to be tailgating. Many people participate even if their vehicles do not have tailgates.

A tailgate party may include barbecuing and usually involves sports fans preparing for baseball, ice hockey, stock car racing, and especially Canadian and American football games.

In 1993, ESPN's pre-game college football show College GameDay took on a tailgate-party atmosphere by placing the hosts on a portable stage set at the campus of the school hosting the week's marquee rivalry matchup with fans gathering around it to celebrate. The Fox network's NASCAR on FOX and FOX NFL Sunday have also begun using similar setups.

In 2007, the NFL angered many football fans by banning tailgating at Super Bowl XLI in Miami. They cited security risks, though many suspected it had more to do with corporate sponsored events than any real threat.

The first nationally syndicated radio show dedicated to the "sport" of tailgating debuts in March 2007 broadcast live on wsRadio. The Tailgate Guy with Jay DiEugenio will be a weekly hour-long talk show with special guests, listener's calls, etc.

• The Boulevard, a tailgate party before football games at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas

• American Tailgaters Association The national tailgating organization of the United States
• YourTailgateParty.com: Tailgating across America in search of the blacktop's best chefs
• The Ultimate Tailgater Books, podcasts, videos, blog, recipes and more from author and host Stephen Linn.
• Canadian Tailgaters Association The national tailgating organization of Canada
• Tailgating.com: The Commissioner of Tailgating tours the NFL and NCAA in search of the best tailgating
• OnTheBlacktop.com: online community of tailgaters with message boards and photo galleries
• MaximumTailgating.com: forums, games, products, user articles, images
• Nationaltailgate.com: News, Tips, and all the Products you need to throw the perfect tailgate.

• EHow.com: How to throw a tailgate party
• Party 411: Tailgate party planning ideas
• WeHow.com: How to set up a satellite TV system at a tailgate party

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