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Do I even have to say it? The SEC football season is ramping up, which means it’s officially tailgate season.
Check out our tips for curating a top-notch game day experience, plus what to do with all that stuff between games. (Hint: Out of sight, out of mind.)
P.S: Scroll to the bottom to view a full schedule of some of our favorite local SEC teams’ football games!
Level up your tailgate
Are you cheering on the Tide or the Tigers? (Ally Engleman / Bham Now)
It’s not football without a tailgate in the South. But what will make your tailgate the best? Here are some essentials from a former SEC student:
Food + drink
- Individually-packaged snacks like popcorn, chips, cheesestraws + more
- Sliders + BBQ with a portable grill
- Any chip + dip combo (Buffalo chicken is always a hit)
- Catering take-out from a local restaurant
- Individually-portioned desserts
- Water bottles + drinks
Essential set up + gear
- TV
- Fold-out chairs + tables
- Tent or canopy
- Cooler + ice
- Paper towels, plates, plastic wear + cups
- Power banks + extension chords
- Trash bags + trash can
- Bug deterrents
- Portable fan or heater
- Blankets for the colder games
- First aid kit + sunscreen
For the vibes
- Flags + team merch
- Corn hole, Spikeball + simple games
- Speaker + hype playtlist
- Outdoor rug or tarp
- Temporary tattoos or stickers
- Signature drink with garnish
- Table cloths + table decor
Packing tips
- Keep cold vs warm weather supplies separate so it’s easy to store + grab for next season
- Label bins clearly + keep essential supplies together (plates, cups, etc.)
- Use a wagon and large bins for easy transportation
As for getting a spot, arrive as early as possible for larger schools like Alabama and Auburn. Free tailgating fills up extremely quickly. Here are some general guidelines for Alabama and Auburn:
Alabama
Quad tailgate supply drop-off can be accessed via Stadium Dr. and is open during the following times:
- Friday | 6PM-8PM
- Saturday | Based on kickoff
- 11AM kickoff | 6AM-8:00AM
- Before 3:30PM kickoff | 7AM-10AM
- 3:30PM or later kickoff | 7AM-12PM
Fans are permitted 15 minutes to unload equipment along Colonial Dr on the west side of the Quad.
Auburn
Founded by Auburn alumni, The Tailgate Guys are an easy way to guarantee an iconic white tent on game day.
- Tailgating begins at 4PM on the Friday before
- Tailgating for the Alabama game will begin at 6AM on Friday
Where to store your gear between games + seasons
Have you thought about giving your tailgate setup its own home? (Jacob Blakenship / Bham Now)
How can you be a minimalist when you’re a die-hard football fan? If you have tailgate gear cluttering your garage, attic or closets, there is a simpler solution: a storage unit!
While having an elaborate tailgate set-up is great for game day, we have a hack for keeping it out of sight and out of mind between games and seasons.👇
Get your storage solution fast at StoreEase
Swipe to see what to expect from StoreEase’s high-tech storage unit experience. (Jacob Blakenship / Bham Now)
Ready to give that tailgate gear its own space? StoreEase is a local storage hub with a twist: it’s a tech-forward, self-guided experience!
Here are the simple steps to getting a unit at StoreEase:
- 1. Find a storage location near you
- Use the store locator to find locations in Hoover, Helena + more
- 2. Reserve your unit with ease
- Visit the store + connect with a virtual manager on a high-tech screen (just like FaceTime)
- Choose the unit size that works best for you
- Follow the on-screen steps to complete your rental
- 3. Move in to your Smart Unit
- Access + secure your unit using smart locks
It’s as easy as that! Fun fact: The virtual managers are based in Birmingham.
Upcoming football season games
Auburn
- Auburn at Baylor
- Fri, Aug 29
- 7PM CDT
- Auburn vs Ball State
- Sat, Sep 6
- 6:30PM CDT
- Auburn vs South Alabama
- Sat, Sep 13
- 11:45AM CDT
- Auburn at Oklahoma
- Sat, Sep 20
- Flex
- Auburn at Texas A&M
- Sat, Sep 27
- Afternoon
- Auburn vs Geogia
- Sat, Oct 11
- Night
- Auburn vs Missouri
- Sat, Oct 18
- Flex
- Auburn at Arkansas
- Sat, Oct 25
- Early
- Auburn vs Kentucky
- Sat, Nov 1
- Flex
- Auburn at Vanderbilt
- Sat, Nov 8
- Afternoon
- Auburn vs Mercer
- Sat, Nov 22
- 1PM CST
- Auburn vs Alabama
- Sat, Nov 29
- Flex
Alabama
- Alabama at Florida State
- Sat, Aug 30
- 2:30 PM CT
- Alabama vs ULM
- Sat, Sep 6
- 6:45 PM CT
- Alabama vs Wisconsin
- Sat, Sep 13
- 11AM CT
- Alabama at Georgia
- Sat, Sep 27
- 6:30PM CT
- Alabama vs Vanderbilt
- Sat, Oct 4
- TBD
- Alabama at Missouri
- Sat, Oct 11
- 11AM CT
- Alabama vs Tennessee
- Sat, Oct 18
- TBD
- Alabama at South Carolina
- Sat, Oct 25
- TBD
- Alabama vs LSU
- Sat, Nov 8
- TBD
- Alabama vs Oklahoma
- Sat, Nov 15
- TBD
- Alabama vs Eastern Illinois
- Sat, Nov 22
- 1PM CT
- Alabama at Auburn
- Sat, Nov 29
- TBD
UAB
- UAB vs Alabama State
- Thu, Aug 28
- 7:30PM
- UAB at Navy
- Sat, Sep 6
- 2:30PM
- UAB vs Akron
- Sat, Sep 13
- 7:30PM
- UAB at Tennessee
- Sat, Sep 20
- 11:45AM
- UAB vs Army
- Sat, Oct 4
- TBD
- UAB at Florida Atlantic
- Sat, Oct 11
- TBD
- UAB vs Memphis
- Sat, Oct 18
- TBD
- UAB at UConn
- Sat, Nov 1
- 11AM
- UAB at Rice
- Sat, Nov 8
- TBD
- UAB vs North Texas
- Sat, Nov 15
- TBD
- UAB vs South Florida
- Sat, Nov 22
- TBD
- UAB at Tulsa
- Sat, Nov 29
- TBD
Samford
- Samford vs West Georgia
- Thu, Aug 28
- 6:30PM CT
- Samford vs The Citadel
- Sat, Sep 6
- 2:30PM CT
- Samford at Baylor
- Sat, Sep 13
- 11AM CT
- Samford at Western Carolina
- Sat, Sep 20
- 1:30PM CT
- Samford vs Furman
- Sat, Sep 27
- 2:30PM CT
- Samford at Mercer
- Sat, Oct 4
- 3PM CT
- Samford at VMI
- Sat, Oct 18
- 12:30PM CT
- Samford vs Chattanooga
- Sat, Oct 25
- 2:30PM CT
- Samford at Wofford
- Sat, Nov 1
- 12:30PM CT
- Samford vs ETSU
- Sat, Nov 8
- 2:30PM CT
- Samford at Austin Peay
- Sat, Nov 15
- 1PM CT
- Samford at Texas A&M
- Sat, Nov 22
- 11AM CT
Check out StoreEase’s multiple unit sizes that can keep your tailgate gear safe this football season. Tell us your favorite tailgating hack @bhamnow!
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