Tailgating is losing ground to a new game-day tradition

Any American sports fan knows that watching a game is a day-long affair, with celebrations starting hours before kickoff. Yet despite being a staple of the sport experience, America’s beloved social tradition—tailgating—might be starting to look different. According to a recent study by Talker Research, around 39% of those surveyed preferred “homegating” over tailgating, bringing food and the social aspect of the tradition to one’s homes. While less than half prefer staying at home, that doesn’t mean everyone else actually is heading to the stadium parking lot either. In fact, according to the survey, only 24% of respondents prefer tailgating a game outside of the stadium. Still, most agree that the fun of watching sports extends beyond the actual game, with 61% of respondents saying they prefer pregaming over the actual game, while 68% keep the party going after the game. The shift in popularity in favor of the home seems to be attributed to people increasingly looking for comfort, flexibility, and wider food options. “Homegating includes all the comforts of home: every appliance at your fingertips, plenty of food, and an open invitation for friends and family to join in, it’s th…