#tailgating

#tailgating

We've got one final opponent standing between us and the offseason: The New Orleans Saints in Week 18. The Falcons have nothing left to play for but pride at this point, and beating the Saints would get that job done. But we are talking about the Atlanta Falcons, one of the most unpredictable teams in the league, and the Saints are on a draft-position-ruining four-game winning streak. Who knows what Sunday will bring!

This has been nearly a lifelong tradition for the native of Linda Vista, starting in 2005 when he was 8 years old and UCLA romped over Oregon State. When he got his driver's license in 2012, Niderhaus started throwing his own tailgates, bringing chicken-in-a-biscuit crackers because he couldn't afford fancier fare. He was back Saturday afternoon underneath a tent on the grass in Lot H, wearing his favorite No. 2 Eric McNeal jersey,

Initially I was disappointed I was going to miss Sunday's game. I was in Minneapolis doing some on-camera stuff for work, and since we were filming tailgating before Ravens-Vikings, I was out on location while the game was going on. I had it on in the rental car as we were driving between locations and every time we were in the car, it sounded like the Falcons were looking pretty good. It was a close one.

Whether you're a lifelong Nittany Lions fan or visiting Happy Valley for the first time, there's nothing quite like a Penn State football weekend. The energy is electric-fans flood the streets, cowbells ring through the autumn air, and Beaver Stadium becomes the second-largest "city" in Pennsylvania on game day. But before kickoff, there's one crucial play to make: where you'll stay.

As my friend Dana and I stood next to the giant balloon arch and let someone take our photo, people around us were feeling optimistic about "winning it all" and "getting a ring." Dana and I talked about how happy we were to be back, how good it felt to return to the ballpark we spend all summer in each summer, how fresh the grass smelled, and how grateful we were that the long offseason was over.

College football isn't just an athletic spectacle-it's a money-making powerhouse for the hospitality industry and the food & beverage sector. Last year alone saw consumer spending top $16.5 billion during football's peak season. With an estimated 13 billion meals eaten at tailgates annually, food and beverage operators are primed to score big, both in their dining rooms and via takeout, delivery, and catering. If you're a restaurant owner, food and beverage manager, or a hospitality executive looking for your next profitable play,