Weber GrillWatch™ Survey Reveals Latest Tailgating Trends

From Weber's media newsroom.

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Weber GrillWatch™ Survey Reveals Latest Tailgating Trends

PALATINE, Ill., Aug. 22, 2013—According to the 24th annual Weber GrillWatch™ Survey*, the top three must-have items among grill owners for a proper tailgating party are a grill (82 percent), food (80 percent) and a cooler (80 percent). Chairs (76 percent) and alcoholic beverages (66 percent) round out the top five. Just half of grill owners (50 percent) consider tickets to the game a must-have item.

The grill of choice among tailgaters is a portable model (65 percent) versus 29 percent who opt to bring full-size models to their tailgate parties.

Overall, grilling away from home has increased in popularity over the past two years, with tailgate parties ranking as the fourth most popular location to grill away from home (22 percent). Camping is ranked as the top spot (44 percent), followed by the park (37 percent) and the beach (23 percent).

Nearly one-half (48 percent) of grill owners report they place their grill on the ground when tailgating or grilling away from home in general; approximately one-third (32 percent) of those surveyed bring a table to use as a grill stand, and 17 percent use their truck beds.

Other Tailgating Trends from the 24th annual Weber GrillWatch Survey:
• Twenty percent of U.S. grill owners have attended a tailgate party during the past 12 months, up from 14 percent last year.
• Sixty-seven percent of grill owners who tailgate say that grilling is always a part of their tailgating activities.
• The top five foods to grill when tailgating are hamburgers (71 percent), hot dogs (47 percent), brats (40 percent), chicken (29 percent) and steak (25 percent).
• On average, grill owners spend a hefty $122 for food and drinks at a tailgating party.
• Attending the game is secondary to many tailgaters, with 57 percent revealing they have attended a tailgate in the past 12 months without going into the game. This number jumped 13 percent from last year.

For more information about Weber's new portable grills, including the Weber Jumbo Joe; and new grilling accessories perfect for tailgating, including the Portable Charcoal Table and the Compact RapidFire® Chimney Starter visit www.weber.com or www.thewebernewsroom.com. For more tailgating tips from Weber's Grill Master Kevin Kolman, visit www.weber.com/blog.

*Weber-Stephen Products LLC commissioned Toluna (formerly Greenfield Online), a leading online survey panel provider, to field the 24th annual Weber GrillWatch Survey. A total of 1,000 grill owners throughout the United States completed the online survey. All respondents were 21 years of age or older and owned a charcoal, gas or electric outdoor grill or smoker. The sample was divided between 50 percent males and 50 percent females and was balanced demographically to represent households across the U.S.

About Weber-Stephen Products LLC
Weber-Stephen Products LLC, headquartered in Palatine, Ill., is the world's premier manufacturer of charcoal, gas and electric grills, grilling accessories and other outdoor room products. Weber has the strongest consumer outreach program in the industry with its Weber Grill-Line(SM) (1-800-GRILL-OUT®) and a content-rich website with grilling tips, techniques, and original Weber recipes at www.weber.com®. Weber can also be followed on Facebook (www.facebook.com/weberbbq) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/webergrills).

SOURCE Weber-Stephen Products LLC

I'd have to attest to the validity of this report. I'd like to know what he percentage is of the number of fans that attend the tailgate, go into the game and leave early just for the sole purpose of going back to tailgate. I attend the Purdue games frequently and I know a lot of people leave at half and go tailgate for the remainder. But maybe thats because Purdue has been such a sub par team for so long.

At the Texans games tailgating has been built up as the star attraction. The reasons are two-fold:
1. When the Oilers were here the owner didn't allow tailgating so now it is kind of a new tradition locally.
2. When the Texans were terrible, tailgating was the only reason people would go to games because the team was plain depressing.

So now you see tailgating parties where half the people go into the stadium and the other half stay outside and watch the game on TV. I am not sure why those that don't go into the stadium don't just tailgate in their driveway instead. Seems like a better way of going about it. A lot less traffic and hassle.

Attending the game is secondary to many tailgaters, with 57 percent revealing they have attended a tailgate in the past 12 months without going into the game....because they drank too much.

Fixed it.

As a parrot head, I have to say the most serious tailgatingI've seen has been not at football games, but before a Jimmy Buffet concert. They take it to a whole new level. :0