32 NFL Tailgates in 17 weeks: Tailgate32′s Ultimate Football Fan Roadtrip
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Tailgating is a tradition that we here in Baltimore take very seriously.
We ritualistically wake up before the sun rises on Sunday mornings to pack our coolers full of our favorite foods and alcoholic beverages. We layer our Ravens gear to not only protect ourselves from the elements, but to show our purple pride to our neighbors in the parking lot. We eat crab cakes and eggs for breakfast. It’s not just tailgating – It’s camaraderie, it’s a way of life, and it’s an essential part of Ravens Sundays.
I had the opportunity to talk to John Trupiano , one of the founders of the project Tailgate32.
John and his brother have planned a cross-country road trip that will take them to all of the stadiums in theUnited Statesthis season. The main mission of this trip is to create a documentary of three great American traditions: Tailgating, football, and road tripping.
Thanks for taking the time to tell Ravens fans about your project, Tailgate32. Where did this awesome idea come from?
We (brothers John and Mike) are both lifelong football fans, road trip fans, and adventure fans–and we’re both entrepreneurs. While John was still running his previous company in Baltimore last summer, we kicked around ideas about what our next big project together ought to be. We were both pretty adamant about choosing something that really got us excited. We both recognized how enthusiastic we got whenever “football” or “RVs” or “road trips” came up… so we built the concept out further. We realized we could document the whole thing and turn it into a digital series that could have pretty broad appeal. You can think of it as “Anthony Bourdain meets football fan culture.” The stories we’ll share are focused on what makes the football fan culture special to each team’s fan base… from traditions to team pride to local food and drink. We’ll show what it’s like to be a fan of each team in the league.
What team do you represent on Sundays, Mondays, and sometimes Thursdays?
The home team! For example, we’ll be Ravens fans on Monday, September 10th and (hold your fire!) Steelers’ fans on Monday, November 12th. On our off days, though, we do have our own rooting interests. We were born and raised in Detroit–so we’re Lions fans. John spent 10 years in Baltimore, so he’s also a very knowledgeable and passionate Ravens fan. Mike spent 10 years in Boston… and he feels the same way about the Patriots.
I am a huge fan of the tailgate experience. From the food, to the booze, to the camaraderie – There’s just nothing bad about it. What is your favorite tailgating tradition?
We agree–there’s nothing bad about it! We both really love the camaraderie/community aspect. You see it at all ends of the spectrum–from the old-timers who have been getting together for decades to the new friendships that are formed every week of the season… even amongst fans who are rooting for opposing teams. We tailgated the Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit a couple years ago when the Patriots visited Detroit. Even though we were decked out in Lions gear, we spent a bunch of time with complete strangers who had road tripped to see the Pats. They gave us clam chowder. We gave them high fives.
You guys will be making your way into town on our home opener, Monday, September 10th against the Bengals. What have you heard about the games and tailgates at M&T? Are you looking forward to anything specific?
John is definitely looking forward to returning to the place he called home for 10 years. It’s terrific that the Baltimore tailgate is early in the season–John still has so many connections in Baltimore. The tailgate is sure to be quite a rowdy one and the video we produce should really show off Ravens fans and the city of Baltimore in a great light. M&T has a couple of great lots and Ravens fans are some of the best around. And you’ve gotta be excited about a game against a division rival!
Will you be bringing any towel-waving Steelers fans in your entourage?
Not on the RV. The other members of our crew root for the Eagles, Bears, and Packers, respectively. We can’t promise Steelers fans won’t show up along the way, though.
How can fans follow along with the Tailgate32 project?
We’ve got the usual social media arsenal of Facebook , Twitter ( @tailgate_32 ), and our website Tailgate32 . We’d love tips on the can’t-miss things in Baltimore and at M&T. Fans can watch our digital episodes–we’re producing one per stop throughout the season–and all are welcome to show up at any of our tailgates to share their stories.
Thanks to John of Tailgate 32. BmoreChix wishes you safe and happy travels!
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