Wow! I can't believe I've never been tailgating. I guess just rushing to make the game has been the biggest thing on my mind these past 17 years!

So, I'm taking my daughter and we are setting up at the Mountaineer Village. It's just the 2 of us and I know it will likely rain and I have no idea what all the essentials are that I will likely forget.

With that in mind, does anyone have any advice or suggestions? (I will not be cooking ribs, a pig or any gourmet meal!)

Come on down to the stadium lot and huddle under our tent with us. You and your daughter are welcome. We're in spot 76 on the row closest to the stadium - black Jeep, grill attached to the trailer hitch, fat lady cooking.

You'll want to be where you can get under a tent if it rains. It's looking like much of the rain will be gone by game time. Remember, they don't allow umbrellas in the stadium, so raincoats are the best bet. I like to take a little towel to dry the bleachers a bit or wear my rain pants.

Above all, be comfortable and enjoy the Appalachian family.

Come early enough to walk around some and just enjoy the atmosphere.
Bring rain gear (poncho, rain suit, etc.) and then hope you don't need it, rather than vice versa.
Bring something to sit on/in.
Bring your beverage of choice (water, soft drink, adult, etc.) or look longingly at someone else's beverage and they will probably offer you one.
Bring some food and or make plans for food, or look longingly at someone else's food and they will probably offer you some.

Enjoy the day!

@DaphneUrquhart, thanks for the invitation, unfortunately I couldn't see my own posts and/or any replies before I left work on Friday! I guess it was because I was new.
Saturday morning was kinda crazy and I didn't even get online. So, I went into the fray hoping for the best.

@MountainMan, you weren't kidding about coming early! We got there a few minutes after noon (I was officially told that's when tailgating started) and there wasn't anywhere close to park near Mountaineer Village. So, we found a spot to park and set up in the grass of the parking deck. Nice view of the porta-johns! At least they were close by

Setting up a tent with a 9 year old is a lesson in patience. After we finally got that thing up and totally secured for wind, I was exhausted! But then, we set up the table, chairs, grill and food and I felt a bit better.

I grilled some cracked-pepercorn ribeyes and roasted new potatoes. Meat and taters, yummy! We had some other snack foods before we grilled so we sat and people watched. Lots of people arrived later and every other person had that cornhole game

Luckily, we were all done when I saw the rain clouds coming. It took far less time to tear down than to set up. We sat under the parking deck and waited out the rain until it was time to go.

Next week I hope to have some people join us. One 9 year old roadie won't cut it!

Last year was my first time tailgating and after 44 years I found something I was always meant to do!!! Luckily I ran into some old friends who invited me along and have now welcomed us all into the fold.
It's great to be a mountaineer!!!!
Hoping to meet you all soon!

mom_n_buggie wrote:@DaphneUrquhart, thanks for the invitation, unfortunately I couldn't see my own posts and/or any replies before I left work on Friday! I guess it was because I was new.
Saturday morning was kinda crazy and I didn't even get online. So, I went into the fray hoping for the best.

@MountainMan, you weren't kidding about coming early! We got there a few minutes after noon (I was officially told that's when tailgating started) and there wasn't anywhere close to park near Mountaineer Village. So, we found a spot to park and set up in the grass of the parking deck. Nice view of the porta-johns! At least they were close by

Setting up a tent with a 9 year old is a lesson in patience. After we finally got that thing up and totally secured for wind, I was exhausted! But then, we set up the table, chairs, grill and food and I felt a bit better.

I grilled some cracked-pepercorn ribeyes and roasted new potatoes. Meat and taters, yummy! We had some other snack foods before we grilled so we sat and people watched. Lots of people arrived later and every other person had that cornhole game

Luckily, we were all done when I saw the rain clouds coming. It took far less time to tear down than to set up. We sat under the parking deck and waited out the rain until it was time to go.

Next week I hope to have some people join us. One 9 year old roadie won't cut it!

Congratulations! You are officially an expert now If you've ever got too much going on on a tailgate day, just let me know. We can always have more family members at our spot. It's great to be a Mountaineer.