The origins of tailgating are as varied as those spinning tailgating yarns. Some say the tradition dates back to community events in ancient Greece and Rome that were tied to the harvest. In America, the tailgating tradition seemingly has roots in the late 19th century, when college football began to invigorate the masses with popular teams at Harvard, Yale and Princeton tearing up the gridiron. Fans would gather around the tailgate of horse-drawn wagons (later automobiles) that were carrying the team’s equipment. This was the unofficial meeting point before a game.
