American Pre-Game Tailgating is a Thing in Sydney Now

Tailgating. Not just driving up the arse of the car in front of you, it's a long-held American tradition that makes your regular sporting match into an epic escapade of Peter Jackson proportions. Everyone gets together in the stadium carpark, you throw back crispy bevs, you grill Various Meats, you partake in furious debates laden with snarky stats and high volume rants. It's a bonafide buzz-inducer, with some serious enthusiasts behind it.

Until now, its a tradition Sydneysiders have only partaken in on trips to the States or vicariously through watching Varsity Blues (absolutely still relevant). But now Sydney is taking a crack at 'gating.

Kicked off in Moore Park last Saturday, June 14 for the Swans vs Port Adelaide and Roosters vs Knights games on the weekend, two Australian entrepreneurs have brought the so-called Tailgate Experience to Sydney — during and after every game at either the Sydney Cricket Ground or Sydney Football Stadium (Allianz Stadium). Setting up shop in front of Kippax Lake opposite the SFS and SCG, this no-fee organised tailgate party is a fully-licensed, fenced-off area with noms, bevs, live tunes and ring toss.

Having won the right to bags the space in Moore Park, Sydney duo Richard Colvin and Patrick Yeoland are aiming to bolster the social buzz around Australian sport. "Tailgate events in the US are such a hugely successful way of building momentum before major sporting events and bring a whole new level of social interaction to the games," says Colvin, managing director of hospitality group That’s Mint. "We’re hoping our idea can emulate the fun of a real tailgate and we think this is a natural evolution for Aussie sport. We hope that Australia’s sport codes and the public embrace it as an additional incentive to get out to games."

Scheduled to get the pre-game party started four hours ahead of the live kick off, the Tailgate Experience raves on after the game — the perfect post-victory throwdown or commiseration wake. Whether Sydneysiders pick up on the tailgating thing (and whether the po-po/council shut it down) remains to be seen, with the next party scheduled for the Australia vs France rugby showdown, this Saturday 21 June.

The Tailgate Experience current schedule:

21 June 2014 – Australia vs France (Rugby Union International)
28 June 2014 – Swans vs GWS
5 July 2014 – Roosters vs Sharks
6 July 2014 – Waratahs vs Highlanders
12 July 2014 – Swans vs Carlton