{
  "id": 11509560,
  "title": "Tailgating is losing ground to a new game-day tradition",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/tailgating-is-losing-ground-to-a-new-game-day-tradition",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-02T19:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91617698/tailgating-is-losing-ground-to-a-new-game-day-tradition"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Traditional tailgating is facing a decline in popularity as a new game-day tradition emerges - homegating. According to a recent study conducted by Talker Research, 39% of Americans now prefer the convenience and social aspect of hosting the big game at home instead of heading to the stadium parking lot. While 24% still enjoy tailgating outside of the stadium, it appears that most individuals would rather have the comfort, flexibility, and wider food options that come with staying at home.\n\nThe shift towards homegating can be attributed to a desire for more comfort, flexibility, and a wider selection of food options. Retail chef Amy Forbis, who commissioned the survey on behalf of Hormel Foods, explained that homegating provides a more comfortable experience with all the appliances at one's disposal, plus ample food and space for friends and family to gather. Retail chef Forbis also highlighted the nutritional benefits of staying home, as it allows individuals to control the ingredients in their high-protein meals, particularly appealing in the current Ozempic era.\n\nInterestingly, 64% of respondents are choosing high-protein meals over traditional sports-day fare, with popular dishes including pulled BBQ, hamburgers, hotdogs, and meat and cheese trays. Other common offerings, such as pizza and chips, align with the priority placed on socializing with friends and family during the event, rather than spending time preparing food throughout the day.\n\nForbis concluded that game day is meant to be spent enjoying the company of friends and family while watching the game, rather than preoccupied with cooking. As such, homegating seems to be a more attractive option for many Americans, as it allows them to fully embrace the social aspect of the tradition while still enjoying high-quality food and a comfortable atmosphere.",
  "summary": "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…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}