Tailgating is one of the greatest NFL fan traditions. Sure, going to the actual game is fun, and it’s even better when your team wins, but the fact is no one has ever lost a good tailgate.
Every NFL fanbase has a robust tailgating scene, though some are more famous than others. In a new study, VegasInsider came up with its list of the top 10 tailgating scenes in the NFL.
According to the numbers, America’s Team has the best NFL tailgate in the country. The Dallas Cowboys have “the gold standard for NFL tailgating,” thanks to their “massive fan turnout, high engagement, and a reputation for larger-than-life game days.”
“AT&T Stadium is one of the most recognizable landmarks in American sports — and its tailgating scene reflects that same sense of scale and energy,” said a VegasInsiderspokesperson. “Cowboys fans consistently bring one of the most spirited and organized pre-game atmospheres in the league.”
How the rankings were calculated
Dallas’ Tailgating Index Score of 76.54 was the highest of all 32 NFL teams. Every fanbase was graded in three key metrics: affordability (40%), fan passion (40%) and accessibility (20%).
Affordability scores were calculated based on the average costs of beer, meet, BBQ fuel and parking, while fan passion was measured by fan sentiment across Reddit, Google Reviews, and TripAdvisor and search-volume data from Google Keyword Planner.
Finally, accessibility took into account stadium parking capacity and the number of football teams per state. The Cowboys, for example, had the third-most stadium parking and the most fan searches in the NFL, while also ranking in the top 10 of positive fan sentiment.
You can find the full set of rankings and data here.
