The business adage “location, location, location” stands as one that you’ve probably heard at least a few dozen times. It makes a lot of sense. If you take a sports apparel store that caters to urban athletes in out in the country, you can expect that things are going to fall apart rather quickly. On that same token, a tailgate party that takes place in the wrong spot can make the gathering a forgettable one, perhaps, regrettable. Although your tailgating tables and game sets are essential to your party, they won’t do much for you if your guests are uncomfortable. So it makes sense to devote some time to the “geographics” of your get-together.

The advice to “devote” some of your precious time to finding the right spot might seem a bit heavy-handed. You might think the opposite and say that there’s nothing too complicated about picking the right location. While it’s true that the task is not a rubix cube-like mindgame, there are some factors to think about. Fortunately, this article has tips on how you can locate the perfect ground on which to host your party.

Narrowing in on the Ideal Spot

In all the major sports like football or basketball, players need to be in the right place at the right time if they want to make good plays. If you are fan of either, you’ve probably heard commentators saying that so and so always knows where he needs to be when they have to. You need to do the same when planning for a tailgating party. Thankfully, you have much more than a few precious seconds to make decisions unlike athletes on a field or court. With that said, it’s worth taking a look at your situation and the circumstances you may have to face.

The Factors that Will Determine Your Choice

• Number of guests – Take a look at your guestlist (or number of email RSVPs). The number of names that appear on that list will play a big role in the location you choose. Naturally, a greater amount of attendees means you’ll need to find a spot that can accommodate all those people. A smaller number of people will allow you to get away with choosing a more “intimate” space.

• Quantity of equipment – If you’re hauling a ton of stuff with you, then that too will make some locations better than others. Like a higher number of people, a greater amount of equipment will necessitate a larger space. With that said, you should strive to bring tailgate tables that are portable, lightweight, and compact, so that space doesn’t remain an issue.

• Activities you plan to include – Are some of your tailgate games going to involve a ton of throwing (ie. cornhole)? If so, then take that into account. Your choice of activities may bring on a need for greater space, or they may take up the minimum. If you’ve invited a few kids, consider a larger space even though your activities may require minimal space. After all, they are kids and they will run.

• Property laws – Now this one’s an essential. Certain commercial spaces (parking spots and fields) may be off limits when it comes to their usage. You may recall the NFL banning tailgating parties in the parking lots of some major stadiums. Therefore, know beforehand if there are rules and regulations that will render a location of limits.

Once You’ve Found Some Spots…

The previous section can serve as a checklist. In fact, try it out and you may just see that the stress of finding the right spot will wear off. You’ll narrow your choices down to those few worthwhile spots, and then you can zero in on the exact choice.

A Second Setting Deciding Factors

• Access to the main road – This is important, because a sudden thunderstorm or downpour could force you to abandon the festivities real fast. That’s one of the reasons why parking lots are a prime choice. Additionally, it’s just a heck of a lot easier to head out when it’s time to drive home. Even a lightweight tailgate table that’s easy to carry can turn into a burden when there’s a big distance to travel.

• Land usage – The other thing to think about is how other crowds use the space for your desired location. Depending on who uses it, you could find yourself in a spot that resembles a miniature landfill. This could actually present itself as a safety hazard since some objects like glass or certain chemicals could linger in the space. Therefore, you’ll want to lookout for those fields or lots that have a volume of traffic.

• Wildlife – Finally, there’s a little something to be said about animal presence. You obviously wouldn’t want to host a tailgating party where there have been reports of coyotes running around. Ignoring that would be insane. But even smaller animals could cause problems. A flock of hungry seagulls might turn the event into an embarrassing ordeal for some of your guests. So be cognisant of such animals.

Voila!

Once you’ve considered all the above factors, the perfect spot will jump out at you. If it’s not one, then maybe two or three. You can always involved the opinions of your guests as to which would be the perfect location if a few options still linger. Naturally, tailgating parties usually unfold in parking lots and grassy fields next to sporting venues. However, the deciding factors listed above may take you to an unexpected and exciting place, so don’t sweat it. As the cliche says, go with the flow! The most important thing is that you prepare ahead of time, so that you don’t have to put up with any drama. Make sure that your tailgate tables are up to par and can handle the elements and repeated use. Take some practical steps as well, such as watching weather forecasts. Remember, your tailgating games are serious business, so remember the adage “location, location, location”. Your guests will thank you for it!