Good Taste: Gridiron Good Times
Fall is just around the corner, and along with it come football season and the great American pastime of tailgating. More than ever, people want to get together, and tailgating provides plenty of opportunity for gathering and good times. Promo can get in on the action to help brands make the most of the celebratory atmosphere as fans root for their favorite teams.
We’ve all seen the extreme tailgaters who basically build a living room in the stadium parking lot, but you don’t need to haul out a recliner and big-screen TV to host a successful tailgate. Gameday essentials include food and beverages, of course, but don’t forget seating, shelter and something to keep everyone entertained.
Andy Hudson, director of marketing for St. Louis-based supplier Incentive Concepts, says his list of must-haves includes a portable grill, a game to bring people together and a cooler for your drinks. Ultimately, he adds, tailgating is about enjoying a shared experience.
“I don’t want to get too philosophical here, but COVID kind of made us all appreciate what we really have, that we have our family and that if things go wrong, we can persevere through the thick and the thin of challenges,” Hudson says. “That’s what it’s all about now, and I think the people that contact us now are more thoughtful about what they’re going to give to their employees or their customers or partners, whoever their clients are.”
Here are a few promo products perfect for hosting an amazing tailgate:
Get the gridiron party started with a grill that goes with you. The Broil King Porta-Chef 320 features 426 square inches of cooking space, cast iron cooking grids, three stainless steel tube burners and folding resin side shelves. Four sturdy snap-in legs are easily detachable and can be stored under the grill for easy portability. (Standard propane tank sold separately.)
Incentive Concepts / PPAI 212912, S10
Savory snacks are a must. These Fully Cooked Chicken Wings are pre-cooked for perfect results every time. They are light and crispy, like they were fried, but without the mess or time required to achieve their smoky flavor with hints of salt and pepper.
OS SalesCo dba Omaha Steaks / PPAI 434044, S1
Break out the Cheesehead hats and serve up A Taste of Wisconsin (delicious for non-Packers fans, too). The gift set includes your choice of mild cheddar or shelf-stable mild pepper cheese, tangy beef summer sausage, a box of water crackers and a small cleaver perfect for serving, plus a heavy-duty, sustainable bamboo chopping board, fire-branded with your custom imprint.
Maple Ridge Farms / PPAI 114165, S8
Make your tailgate tail-great with The Ultimate Tailgating Playbook and its 75 mouthwatering food and beverage recipes sure to make you an MVP.
The Book Company / PPAI 218850, S5
Share sweet treats with a festive Football Cupcake Stand. This easy-to-assemble display offers three levels of serving space.
The Beistle Company / PPAI 111182, S3
Hand out Touchdown Tubes labeled with your logo and filled with your choice of chocolate footballs wrapped in foil (shown) or Jelly Belly jelly beans or chocolate buttons in your team colors. (Also available in bags and other container options.)
Midnite Snax / PPAI 113793, S3
Keep the party going during timeouts and commercials with a game. This Triumph Sports Official Fowling Set combines two of America’s favorite games – football and bowling – in one perfectly portable package. “You throw the football in the air instead of throwing a bowling ball down the lane, and you try to knock over the pins,” says Hudson. “It’s amazing. We’ve played it here with our team, and it just ties everything together for your outdoor experience.” Includes 20 pins, two brandable boards, one football and one air pump.
Incentive Concepts / PPAI 212912, S10
READ MORE:
- Editor’s Picks: Tailgating Products Get the Party Started
- Add Sizzle To Backyard Barbecues And Cookouts With Promo Products (buyer-safe!)
Transport ice, drinks and snacks easily with the Coleman 60-Qt. Wheeled Cooler. Available in white (shown) or fog gray with one-color or full-color digital imprint. This wheeled cooler is great for tailgating with its 95-can capacity and hinged lid with four built-in beverage holders, plus a retractable telescoping handle and rustproof drain.
IMAGEN Brands / PPAI 114197, S10
Add tunes or a radio play-by-play to your tailgate with a portable speaker like the Origaudio Breakaway Wireless Bluetooth Speaker. Simply twist the left and right sides to separate one speaker into two, filling even large rooms with high-quality surround sound. A silicone sleeve makes it easy to twist back together and take on the go.
HPG / PPAI 110772, S11
No tailgate is complete without can coolers. This Koozie britePix Can Kooler can be decorated with an all-over, full-color imprint in sharp detail, or choose from stock themes (football shown) or dozens of colors.
Koozie Group / PPAI 114187, S13
Engage remote employees or thank customers from afar with a tailgating-themed gift like this Rustic Laser Engraved Wood Box With Two Beers & Snacks, which includes two cans of beer and two snacks inside a slide top wood box laser engraved with a custom message or company logo.
A+ Wine Designs / PPAI 173549, S4
Advertise your brand and provide shelter with this 10-foot Square Canopy Tent with full-color digital printing on all valances and peaks. Includes aluminum pole frame, canopy, stake and rope kit, and carrying case with wheels for easy travel and setup (weights to secure frame not included). Wall options available.
Quinn / PPAI 360359, S5
The Tailgating Couch, built with lightweight steel construction and hard wood armrests with cup holders, offers a 12-by-9 inch imprint area for maximum impact. Available in black (shown), red, blue and navy.
AAA Innovations / PPAI 110972, S4