Tailgate Parties and Baseball

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13 Comments
Countries all across the globe have their own great sports traditions.  One of the great traditions in the United States is the tailgate party.  A tailgate party is usually held before a sports game in the parking lot of the stadium, and is all about food, beer, and fun.  The participants park their cars, open up the “tailgates” of their vehicles (technically, a rear door of a pickup truck that opens downward to create a flat surface where one can sit), and hang out with their fellow sports fans while enjoying some food and drinks.  Tailgates are usually held before American football games, but today many people have them before soccer, basketball, hockey, and baseball games as well.

This is what a tailgate party looks like.

The complexity of the tailgate party varies from group to group, but often people bring large coolers full of drinks, food, games, lawn chairs, and even barbecue grills.  These parties are 100% by and for the sports fans, so socializing and a sense of community are important parts of the experience.  Games like Cornhole, which involves throwing a bag of dried corn through a hole on a board, are often set up and played by people to get into the competitive spirit.  Over the years, the tradition of the tailgate party has evolved from an underground subculture to a mainstay of sporting events across the country.  The food and games may vary depending on where you are in the United States, but the sports fan community spirit (and the beer) can be found at tailgate parties everywhere.

At the end of July we held our first-ever tailgate party just prior to a Doosan baseball game at Jamsil Stadium.  The space was perfect for us to set everything up.  I brought beer donated by the Hand and Malt Brewery to share with everyone, and others brought fried chicken and take-out pizza for people to eat.  Even though the weather was very hot, it was a lot of fun and everyone had a really great time.

We had our first-ever tailgate party in July and it was really great!

In fact, our first tailgate party was such a success, that I am planning on holding another one.  This time I would like to invite some of our social media followers to join me.  We will be holding a drawing for three people to win an invitation to the tailgate party, as well as a ticket to the Doosan vs. Nexen baseball game on Saturday, September 3 at Jamsil Stadium.  It will be a great opportunity for you to meet members of the American Embassy community as well as to experience a special part of American culture.  

To enter the drawing, please leave a comment telling us what kind of food you think would be great to eat at a tailgate party.  I look forward to seeing you there!


13 comments:

  1. I'm from North Caolina and it isn't a true southern tailgate if there isn't BBQ! :)

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  2. I'm a Korean Texan, born and raised in Dallas and been living in Korea for a while. I agree with the above and some sort of Meat, would be great. I'd like to nominate Korean bbq aka Samgyupsal as a great Koreanized tailgate item!
    (also am a big fan of the Doosan Bears ^^)

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  3. I haven't been to a tailgate party since I was 9 years old. I rememeber not being able to stop myself from eating the addicting, mouthwatering combination of chips and salsa with guacamole. It's also been a very long time since I have had chips with guacamole, and I think they are the perfect snack for a tailgate party.
    Even if I am not picked, I really appreciate all the opportunities you give to your followers! Thank you!!

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  5. I am a 9 year old SF Giants & LG Twins fan and I love BBQ ribs and fried chicken!! And ice cream!

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  6. Burgers and hot dogs... like a true American

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  7. Burgers and hot dogs... like a true American

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  9. How about a rack of ribs smothered in a sweet/spicy gochjang sauce, potato salad, and cole slaw. A plate of that served with a cold drink. Perfect.

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  10. Having lived in SEC country, you can't beat some great grilled burgers or smoked BBQ. Here in Korea, some awesome fried chicken would definitely top my list.

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  11. Pulled pork sandwiches with the right beer are a delight before a game.

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  12. I think Koreans would really love to eat homemade Rice Krispies Treats at a tailgate. Not only are they an American classic, but they are easy to make, require few ingredients (many of which are regularly available), and can be stored at room temperature (so you have more room for beer in the cooler). Rice Krispies Treats can also be shaped and decorated for any occasion, and themed-food works great for almost any sports tailgate.

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