Tailgate Parties:  How popular is grilling at tailgate parties? The Weber Grillwatch Survey says that nearly 4,000,000 portable grills were purchased in 2001 by folks who said they planned to use the grills at tailgating events.

Favorite Bratwurst:  When tailgate fans choose the best of the "wurst", it depends on where they fire up the grill. According to "The Tailgater" magazine, Italian sausage is the favorite among fans on the east coast, but tailgaters in the central states prefer Bratwurst.

How Many RV's?: According to one industry estimate, as many as 25,000 RV's are used for tailgating on a busy fall weekend. And that's just the rentals! Top venues: NACSAR events and football games.

Cold Tailgates:  Who are the coldest tailgaters on record? Green Bay Packer fans, who braved a wind chill of 48 degrees below zero in the so-called "Ice Bowl" of 1967, when the Packers defeated the Cowboys 21-17.

Tailgaters:  According to the web-site Tailgating.com, the average tailgater spends more then $500.00 per year of tailgate foods. He attends six to 10 parties a season, travels less than one-hour to get to the sports event, and starts the party 3 - 4 hours before the event begins.
Infamous for brutally cold late-season temperatures, Green Bay, Wisconsin's Lambeau Field also is well known for packing in the tailgaters. Arron Popkey of the Green Bay Packers public relations department says the number of tailgaters dwindles some in November and December, but the die-hards appear for every game. Sandals and shorts give way to boots and parkas. Fans huddle around grills for warmth, and drinks and food take on a heartier nature. But some fans still coon an elegant steak and seafood meal.  

Card Collecting:  Card trading in the parking lot isn't just about the players. It's becoming popular for tailgate groups to print their own trading cards. One group hands out cards with a map showing their tailgating spot. If friends need more help looking for the group, they look for a flagpole or other distinguishing marker the group has set up.

The Origin of Tailgating:  Accounts of how tailgating started differ: One story says that in 1904 fans arriving by railcar for the Harvard-Yale football game became famished after the long trip. They decided to bring a picnic hamper to future games, thus launching the tailgate tradition.

Tailgaters Preview:  Joe Cahn, founder of the New Orleans School of Cooking and the self-proclaimed commissioner of tailgating, is in his seventh season of visiting parking lots of professional football, college and high-school teams. Here's how he ranks some of football's most superlative
*Biggest Eaters: LSU - Roasted Pig and Jambalaya
*Most Gracious: Green Bay with their Packer hospitality.
*Nicest Cars: Jets and Giants.
*Rowdiest: Oakland. Like a bikers convention at Mardi Gras.

Extremist:  Who are the most extreme tailgaters??? One fan says it's the Jimmy Buffet concert crowd, who builds islands complete with portable sand, palm trees and hammocks. The menu, margaritas and cheeseburgers, naturally!

Trash: Don't forget to clean up after your tailgate. Ravinia crews clear out over 30 tons of garbage after a large concert!