Nothing says pre-game football traditions like an exciting tailgate party!
For those unfamiliar with tailgating, here’s a quick 101 review: Tailgating is a social gathering before a football game. People come together to enjoy food and talk game day to Super Bowl predictions, all from behind a vehicle with a good-sized truck bed. Typically, people gather in a parking lot outside the stadium before the sporting event. Here, strangers become friends before players even snap the ball.
Along with tossing back a few cervezas (with lime and Tajin, please), a tailgate party is also a great time to celebrate the team you’re rooting for with fellow fans. The team spirit shared at a tailgate party will easily transfer once the game begins. Football tradition has become a significant part of the Latine culture of the NFL for the last 70 years.
But where did tailgating originate, and how is its history reflected in the modern Latine fandom?
First, a history lesson: According to History.com, the origins of tailgating can be traced back to ancient times during the fall harvest celebrations of Ancient Greece and Rome. Some historians believe American spectators started tailgating in the 1860s when they gathered for picnics to watch Civil War battles.
“Historians generally agree this was a case of the right idea at the wrong time, war not being a spectator sport,” writes AmericanHeritage.com. “Still, for those who attended, there was socializing and tradition, tension and excitement.”
Within NFL fandom, the Green Bay Packers fans reportedly popularized tailgating before NFL games in the 1950s. Some of the team’s fans claim they coined the term “tailgating” when it was established in 1919.
The cultural significance of tailgating comes from the importance of building community. Our culture brims with warmth and hospitality. Because of our strong sense of family and community, we welcome newly met fellow fans with open arms. Plus, we know how to throw a party. For example, if you’ve ever attended a quinceañera or Día de los Muertos occasion, you know how much enthusiasm we put into these festivities.
When it comes to tailgating, these celebrations occur across America during football season. Of the 30 U.S. cities with an NFL team (New York and Los Angeles have two each), 10 have Latine populations of 25 percent and above. That’s a lot of Latine NFL fans! The city with the most Latines is Miami, home of the Dolphins, with 73 percent. That’s followed by Los Angeles, home of the Rams and the Chargers, with 49 percent.
According to a Nielsen report, 31 million Latines identified as NFL fans in 2020. Last year, this number increased to more than 39 million. Initiatives, such as the NFL’s “Por La Cultura,” actively celebrate and honor the cultural heritage and contributions of the Latine NFL community, driving this increase.
The NFL community is also made up of current and former Latine players in the league who add to the deep connection between fans and athletes and provide a sense of pride to know that they are a part of the game. This includes current Latine players like Cairo Santos, Brazilian-American kicker for the Chicago Bears; Cesar Ruiz, Dominican and Puerto Rican lineman for the New Orleans Saints; and Isiah Pacheco, Dominican and Puerto Rican running back for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Latines have always been a part of the NFL family. Look at a team like the Las Vegas Raiders, whose history with the league is noteworthy. This includes legend Tom Flores, the first Latino starting quarterback in professional football, the first Latino head coach, and the first coach of color to win a Super Bowl. Former Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett, who is Mexican-American, won Super Bowl XVIII for the Raiders and had a hand in developing one of the biggest Latine fan bases in the NFL.
With so many Latine NFL fans out there, it’s only natural that tailgating becomes a reflection of our culture, especially when it comes to the food served at these parties. Sure, burgers and hotdogs are staples for most tailgaters, but our gente is known to put a little more flavor in their cuisine. So, look for foods like brisket-stuffed poblano peppers, shrimp quesadillas, savory tacos, traditional tortilla chips, homemade guacamole, and queso. If you live in a city with a noteworthy local Latin American dish, add that to the menu, too (like sizzling fajitas in Houston, for example). Simply put, food serves as another way to bring fans together.
As more and more Latine fans tailgate, the long-standing tradition continues to grow across generations. It is essential to keep these traditions and pass them down to our children and grandchildren so that we can preserve our cultural identity, strengthen family bonds, and create a sense of belonging. So, in case your team isn’t doing so well this season, at least you can celebrate having pride in being a Latine football fan. Viva, the NFL!
