The Perfect Tailgate

To kick off the season, Franklin and I have put together our top 5 tips to help everyone's Lambeau tailgating adventures reach their full potential. We have a combined 50 years experience at over 350 Packer games, so you know our advice is a good as the award-winning sausage from Louie's.

Franklin suggests Tunes. Or some kind of audio system. Be it the sweet system in your customized minivan or a boombox with only a cassette option, some kind of music is essential. You’ll need plenty of AC/DC and two musts are Robert Brooks' Jump in the Stands as well as the Packerena.

Robert suggests a Football. No matter what Packer you’re trying to emulate, whipping a pigskin can really bring out the best in a parking lot party. Because there’s cars, bottles, burning grills, drunkards (perhaps you’re one of them), and a million other obstacles, it requires both skill and general knuckleheadedness. Nothing will provide the same levels of exhirliration, comradery and manhood you’re looking for quite like throwing the football.

Franklin suggests Beef Jerky. You need something to gnaw on while sitting in traffic. Nuff said.

Robert suggests the 20% Rule. Whenever you think you’ve finished packing all your food and booze, add another 20%. Here’s why: You never know when you’ll meet some cool fans you’d be willing to share some Leinies and curds with, or maybe a couple of hot chicks up from Madison really dig your style and want to party. Plus, that leftover braunschweiger and kraut after the game can make that Packer win taste even more satisfying.

Franklin suggests Beer from Wisconsin. Get a wide variety of choices, all the way from Miller down to Lake Mills’ Tyranena, Pabst, Old Milwaukee, Milwaukee's Best, Point, and New Glarus. Having any sort of imported beer (in this case, "imported" refers to beer brewed outside of WI state lines) is an insult and should draw derision and scorn from your fellow Packer fans. It may even prove you are a closet Viking fan, you poser. LEAVE THE PARKING LOT AND TAKE YOUR GRAIN BELT WITH YOU!

Man On A Mission

Hans Steiniger may consider himself your average, moderately paid, tailgating, beer-guzzling, NFL-loving American male, but he is anything but your ordinary football fan. This guy decided to celebrate his birthday a couple years back by embarking on a quest that would take him to every stadium in the NFL – all 31 of them.

Not only did Hans' ambitious plan entail going to the games, he also vowed to absorb himself in the home team’s culture – from donning shoulder pads and spikes in Oakland to waving a terrible towel in Pittsburgh and sucking down Milwaukee’s Best while eating bratwurst pizza and sporting a giant block of foam cheese on his melon in beautiful Green Bay, Wisconsin.

This December, Hans’ quest will be fulfilled as he travels to the Superdome as the Saints host the Bucs (spoiler alert: Saints win 33-13) for the last stadium in his journey. As I’m known as quite the major rager myself, I can respect Hans wanting to celebrate his quest by getting his drink on along Bourbon Street after the game. However, I think Hans would admit that as far as stadium experiences go, like Jim Levenstein, he peaked quite early in his journey.

For lucky stadium #7, Hans headed from his stomping grounds in NY to the sacred grounds of Lambeau Field. “This was the crowning achievement of my Quest,” Hans says on his website. Pretty bold statement when you consider he had 24 stadiums to go (but us Packers fans definitely understand).

He goes on to say some awesome things about his Packer experience that I wanted to share: “Of all the stadiums in the league, this is the one I most wanted to attend a game in… I couldn't help but be absorbed by the mystique of the legend of Green Bay, Wisconsin and its fabled Green Bay Packers franchise… I guess there's just something about watching football in Green Bay wearing a hat of cheese on your head. I can't explain it, but strangely enough, I completely understand it.”

Just look at that smile. Congratulations, Hans!