12-28-06 UPDATE

Season Finale Photos Are Up

Despite their being more Bear tailgaters than Lions tailgaters, a great time was had by all. Al Poe out-did himself again with his pork loin and crown pork roast, the Lions limo made an appearance and a preacher caught fire. We'd also like to send a big Detroit Tailgate welcome to Nancy and her sons who made Christmas Eve their first Lions game experience.

SEE THE PHOTOS

12-21-06 UPDATE

A Present for You

Many of you who don't have QuickTime have been missing out on our video footage. Some videos have been uploaded to google videos and youtube.com, so now you can see yourself on the net. Many more videos to come. Merry Christmas! CLICK HERE

12-19-06 UPDATE

Dear Santa,

We've been very good fans here in Detroit, and all we want for Christmas is a good team.

There's alot of talk about what the fans will do during the final home game, but we're not going to talk about that here. We'll focus on the final tailgate of '06 and toast the new friends we've made and the great times we've had this season.

Be sure to send us your photos so you're family can see how you spent Christmas Eve and why you weren't at Aunt Francine's. It's Christmas in Detroit and there's only one way to celebrate... beer and BBQ.

Check out the forum topic

For those of you who want to wallow in Lions despair, here are some videos for your stocking.

Save the Lions

Another One Bites the Dust

Fire Millen

12-12-06 UPDATE

Another Beautiful Day

We've been spoiled this season with excellent weather and this past Sunday was no exception. Al was a maestro on the smoker, Joe Cahn ate chili in the hottub, new friends were made and a great time was had by all. Too bad game time comes so soon.

We'd like to say hi to Rick, April and Ben for sharing some great stories and a special thanks to Bill North and his hard working crew for putting on such a great party week after week.

Thanks to all the great people we've met this season for helping make this website so entertaining. Detroit truely has some of the best tailgaters in the league.

See the new photos

12-5-06 UPDATE

Hide From Cleo
& Chili Cook-Off Videos Are Up

Re-live this awesome day or witness it for the first time with a ton of new footage in the video section.

Dirty Santa and Tubgaters videos still to come.

Tubgaters Thanksgiving Day Photos
The infamous Tubgaters showoff their world-class Thanksgiving Day celebration.

VikingsTailgate.com
Visit our tailgating brothers and sisters of the north. A great website from our rival NFC tailgaters. Check out all their great photos, videos and stories.

More Entertaining Links
Vikings Message Board
Lions Message Board

12-1-06 UPDATE

Lions Blow, Tailgates Rule

We've learned not to let the Lions ruin Thanksgiving. Turkeys, beers and Santa kept us happy. The Photos are up now, and the videos of Dirty Santa will be posted soon. We'd also like to say hi to our new friend Coach Mike.

Joe Cahn, the Commissioner of Tailgating
According to tailgating.com, the Commish will be in town December 10 for the Vikings game. This is going to be a cold but great tailgate and we're looking forward to seeing the slackers who have been in hiding since the Chili Cook-Off. You know who you are.

Vikings Tailgate Menu

Forum Discussion

11-21-06 UPDATE

Happy Thanksgiving!

Quick note to let you know we haven't fallen asleep here at DetroitTailgate.com. We still have a ton of video to sift through from the last few tailgates and a Hide From Cleo music video in the works. If we posted the raw footage, your computer would go psycho from the sheer awesomeness. We also have a great interview with Detroit's own Tubgaters that we're editing together.

Speaking of the Tubgaters, we'd like to thank them for stepping-up as the great ambassadors they are and taking in a few lost tailgaters from out of town who contacted us in need of some Detroit love for Thanksgiving. That's what it's all about. Cheers!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

GO LIONS!

11-14-06 UPDATE

Home for the Holidays:
Beaubien & Congress

We're going to hold our Thanksgiving Day feast back at our old stomping grounds at Beaubien & Congress. Fielding Fowler and his group invited us to witness the arrival of Evil Santa and possibly airing it on Late Night with David Letterman.

San Francisco Photos are Up
It was a miserable game to watch, but the tailgate photos are great. See Kevin Saine and his Ultimate Tailgaters and you can also check-out the Tubgaters in tubgating action HERE.

Want to Talk Some Smack?
Check out the Dolphin talk about Harrington in Miami and speculations on the Thanksgiving game HERE. Be sure to check-out their tailgating section for more fun reading HERE.

11-7-06 UPDATE

"You are trailblazers, you were better than the game."

That comment was left by Tory Maise on HFC's message board. I think we all hold that sentiment and cannot thank Hide From Cleo enough for making the Atlanta tailgate a legendary event.

The weather was beautiful, the music was great and the chili pots were plentiful.

2006 Chili Champion Crowned
Stacey's "Four-Star Chili" took the prize as this year's best chili in the parking lot. Thanks to everyone who entered, and if you didn't get a chance, we'll see you next season.

Alot of time and effort was put into this event by many different people, and we love you all for it. There is so much to write about and so much video to process that I could spend the rest of the season recapping this one party. So stay tuned, it could be draft day before you get the whole story.

Until then, you can read this
I found this on an Atlanta Falcons board...

"Still hopin' someone can help us with finding out where to tailgate. It sounds to me like the fans in Detroit are kinda pathetic and there might not be much in the way of tailgate areas." - IceColdATLien

I think "dueche-bag" is the correct word to describe that clown. You can read more entertaining Falcons talk HERE

10-19-06 UPDATE

11/5/06
Live Tailgate Concert By
Hide From Cleo and Annual
Chili Cook-Off

We are proud to announce that recording artists
Hide From Cleo will be setting up their stage at the Eastern Market at the Sunday, November 5th tailgate before the Atlanta Falcons game.

Go to their website and get familiar with them. Hell, buy a CD while you're there. Awesome original music from the heart of Michigan. Seriously, we wouldn't promote a band we didn't listen to ourselves. They rock. 'Nuff said.

Annual Detroit Tailgate Chili Cook-Off
November 5th will also be the date of our annual Detroit Tailgate Chili Cookoff. All entries are welcome and we'll have some cool prizes. The grand prize, of course, being a one-of-a-kind "Detroit Tailgate Chili Champion" jersey for you to wear and remind everyone of your dominating pot skills for the entire next year.

Entry is open to everyone and it's free. Register at the foosball table. Bring it in a crockpot so you can plug in and keep it warm throughout the judging. Winner will be determined by a popular vote and announced at 11:45 am.

Regardless of the weather, this is going to be one helluva party and you'd do better to jump off a bridge if you sleep on this one.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DISCUSSION

10-9-06 UPDATE

Oct. 15 - Eastern Market

Too bad the Lions are sucking it up so bad because our tailgates are on the verge of kicking more ass than a Bruce Lee flick.

We're returning to the Eastern Market this week vs Buffalo. There are some exciting things being planned for future tailgates that we hope to announce soon, so check back often. You don't want to miss it. Put a pillow on the floor so you don't hurt your jaw when it drops.

Until then, come-on and tailgate! It's all we got to look forward to.

Who's bringing what?
Get to the forum and let us know what you're bringing. CLICK HERE

10-5-06 UPDATE

RIG TOURS

A quick glimpse of some of Detroit's finest tailgate rigs and setups. If you have a rig that must be seen, send us an email and we'll take the tour.

foosballchamp@detroittailgate.com

If you're in one of these videos, contact us and get on the email list. There are some events being planned which we'd appreciate your input.

9-24-06 UPDATE

Eastern Market:
THE Place to Be

What a great place to tailgate. A friendly carnival atmosphere and some of the most sophisticated tailgates in the city. If you want to see and be seen, take your tailgate to Eastern Market. Get there early.

Rig Tours
I took the time to tour some of the most creative vehicles and tailgates in our vicinity, and those videos will be up soon. Keep an eye out for:

Jim & Co's "DETROAR" RV

Gary & Co's new "Lions Bus"

Vic & Co's "Lions Country" van

Rock & Ace's "Panzilla"

Thanks to everyone for letting me poke around and if I didn't see you, send some photos and we'll get you posted here. I'm very disappointed I missed the "Tubgaters." If there are any "Tubgaters" reading this, send me an email. You guys are first class.

foosballchamp@detroittailgate.com

Thanks again to everyone. Some of the nicest people I've ever met at a tailgate are at Eastern Market.

CLICK HERE FOR 9-24-06 PHOTOS

CLICK HERE FOR TAILGATE RECAP

9-21-06 UPDATE

EASTERN MARKET TAILGATE

We're taking our circus on the road this week to witness the mayhem of the Eastern Market. Koko and Foosball Champ are bringing the burgers, but we need someone to step up and bring a bag of fries to fry. Get to the forum for more info. CLICK HERE

We'd also like to announce that Jack & Sandie will be joining us. They visited us once last year, and most will remember Jack as a long time Green Bay fan who's been to a number of our tailgates.

Need directions to the Eastern Market?
Wherever you're coming from, it looks like the best way to get there is to exit I-75 @ Mack Ave, go east two blocks, then turn south on Russell St. Our taigate will be on your left in the southern pavillion area of the market. Keep your cell phones on.
CLICK HERE for maps of the area.

The server is back up
Apologies to everyone who has been trying to log-on during the past couple days. The Detroit Tailgate server was being upgraded and the repairs took a little longer than expected. We haven't gone anywhere. We're still here.

9-18-06 UPDATE

Welcome to the New Site

I walked into the office yesterday and found the web monkey lying on the keyboard dead from exhaustion, so I figured I'd put up what he had done. There are still some bugs and broken links, but they'll be worked out soon enough.

Photos of Steve's Birthday Party are up!
If you couldn't make it, these pictures will make you wish you did. There's nothing but a smoking crater where Steve & Sue's house once stood. It was vaporized by the coolness. CLICK HERE

Eastern Market Tailgate
Stay tuned for details concerning our trip to
Eastern Market.

9-10-06 UPDATE

It's Good to Tailgate

New friends were made, a mystery was solved, a chicken showed up, shrimp was fried and beer was consumed. It's fair to say we rocked the house. Photos are up... CLICK HERE

Steve and Sue, we missed you very much!
In case you didn't know, Steve's 50th birthday is on the horizon, and Sue is hosting a major git-down this Saturday. If you're not there, you're a friggin' loser. Bands, beer and snake wrestlers... what more do you need? Need directions? Shoot me an email and I'll give you a clue. foosballchamp@detroittailgate.com

And in case you didn't know, "Viking" is Celtic for "little girl."

9-5-06 UPDATE

The Time Has Come: Bring It.

After a long preseason of weeknight games with no tailgating, we are on the eve of our first bash of the season and I know everyone can't wait for Sunday. However, there is much to be discussed...

First and foremost
We need to decide if and where we will change the location of our tailgating headquarters. You may have heard the rumors, but if you haven't, let me lay it on you; field scouts have reporterd that as of the last preseason game, our cozy home for the past four seasons is no more. DTE has fenced off our little yard and it is now inaccessible.

The consensus so far seems to be to move to a lot closer to the stadium. I personally think this is a good idea, however I think we should tailgate one last time at Beaubien and Congress and use this week to discuss and explore our future options.

The next item on the agenda is food
Since the Seahawks are returning to the scene of the crime, ocean critters will do us well. Fish, shrimp and chips? Surf and turf? Our resident former Seattlites, Steve and Sue, can give us insight into Seahawk menus.

Get to the FORUM and figure this out.
CLICK HERE

The Packers hold the world record for suckage.

8-15-06 UPDATE

Big Changes In Progress

The Lions showed major impovement in their preseason win over Denver. The number of deep balls thrown, completed passes and onfield confidence and purpose of the offense was a welcome sign. It won't be until the regular season whether we actually see what the Lions are capable or incapable of achieving. Visit Detroit Lions Blog for a common sense opinion on your Detroit Lions.

Big changes are in store for DetroitTailgate.com, too. We've chained our web monkey to the desk and he's banging on the keyboard with both fists. Before the beginning of the season we'll hose the poop and banana off the monitor and reveal a new and improved DetroitTailgate.com for your Detroit Tailgating news and needs.

The next preseason game is 7:30 pm Thursday, August 31. It's FoosballChamp's birthday, so be at The Detroiter and buy him a beer or four if you know what's good for you.

8-5-06 UPDATE

The Season is Sneaking Up

Summer is at full-throttle and it doesn't seem quite right thinking about football season, but the first preseason game versus the Broncos is next friday night at 7:30.

Due to the day and the time, it would be a miracle if we could all get out of work on time and get downtown in time to eat and drink before the game. Those who can make it will find us at The Detroiter Bar around 6:00-6:30. More...

4-7-06 UPDATE

The 2006 Regular Season Schedule
Has Been Announced

The home schedule this year is a bit disappointing from a tailgater's perspective. None of us expected a Monday Night game, but we don't even have a single 4:00 pm start this year. The preseason games, which are good for nothing but tailgating and are during the best weather of the year, are on a Friday and Thursday night.

October looks to be a slow month with only one home game and November is busy with three. If that weren't enough, we also have a Christmas Eve game which puts holiday plans in a bit of a spin.
The only way I'm going to make that game is if the Lions are in the hunt for the division title and need a win over the Bears. LOL.
If that happens, you may need to carry an umbrella, because pig dung will be falling from the sky, hell will be frozen over, armageddon
will be on its way and monkeys will be shooting like rockets out of
my butt, so bring your cameras.

As far as our opponents at home go, it looks like we should be
able to squeak out possibly three or four wins. But who knows what's in store for us with coach Marinelli at the helm. The home opener against the NFC Champion Seahawks could be the highlight of
the season as the Lions will have a respectable record and a
.500 average at 0-0.

GO LIONS!

BEARS SUCK!

3-21-06 UPDATE

Time to Recoup and Retool

We've had a much needed break after the heartbreaking season by the Lions and the long Super Bowl week here in Detroit. Our scruffy band of tailgaters has really become a tight team and are proud of everything we've accomplished this season and our growing reputation for damn good parties regardless of weather or circumstances.

Site updates and upgrades
You'll notice the front page has been cleaned. You can reach past seasons through the newly added "ARCHIVES" button.

New video gallery
Click here to see if you're in one of the videos. On the other hand, maybe it's best if you didn't.

The Lions are making big moves
I'm not going to even talk about that. Who cares? I'll believe it when I see it, and if I don't see it soon... well, we don't want to talk about that just yet. To get your Lions news and blog fill, check out our friends websites at the bottom of the left column.

Our tailgating team will also have a few roster changes next season with the loss of pro-bowl tailgater and original member, The Mustache. But like any good ninja, one falls and two spring up in his place. Long-time second stringers The Meister and The Mouth have joined forces to fill the hole The Mustache has left and will rotate their starting positions bringing a new dimension and new friends to the 2006 season.

Enjoy your off-season
Besides sporadic upgrades and section additions, the next major site updates will probably be after the draft and the announcement of the '06 schedule. A Monday Night Football game? I doubt it. Roadtrip to an away game? Start thinking about it.