Tailgating Tips: The Stadium Series Is Not Just A Game
If you are tailgating at the Stadium Series Game for the first time, or a regular at Carolina Hurricanes home games, here are some fun tips to make your tailgate better! Whether it is food, some fun beverages featuring the Official Red Punch Of The Carolina Hurricanes, or games to play we have you covered with ideas. And trust us, we know how to eat, drink, and be merry when it comes to Hurricanes hockey season!
Food
BBQ- If you are going to serve BBQ, and truly be inclusive of all Carolina Hurricanes tailgating with you, you might need to 1) find a mustard based sauce for our friends from south of the border and 2) have both Western and Eastern NC style. In case you are not sure the difference, Western NC is tomato based, Eastern in vinegar based. Because I am from where I am from, Western is better. But you might have some Caniacs in your party that only eat Eastern. Having both makes you worldly. And who doesn’t want to be a worldly Caniac?
You could split the difference but that is hard to do.
I prefer Durham, NC based Mike D’s sauce if I have to placate everyone! Its a perfect blend of both. You can get a spicey verse too (it makes a great Bloody Mary mix) or go for a dry rub that is good on just about anything from spaghetti to tuna salad.
BBQ is a lot like ice cream and a few other things. If it’s good, its good BBQ. If its bad, it’s still BBQ.
Other Food- Serve whatever you want! Burgers, brats, dogs, seafood. Who cares? If you have a way to cook it that is your way of cooking it, do it. If you want to try a new way, try the new way.
Sandwiches are good too! Just have plenty of things to put on it! Sammies are great if you are new to tailgating. You cannot mess up too much with them and who doesn’t like a good sammie?
I prefer BBQ if you are tailgating but trust me I will eat anything.
Sides
The more the merrier. I will say you only have so much room on your tailgate tables. You have to get a good ratio, but if it is deciding between a side, and a main, the main wins. Tailgating rules clearly state: Main foods shall prevail if there is a decision between a side and main.
Potato salad, green salad…you name it. It’s hockey season and more than likely it won’t go bad. If it a warmer Canes game be careful with eating anything that didn’t make it back to the cooler. If it’s really cold, which is rare for Raleigh, than you can just leave it out. NOAA is still saying 50’s for the high Saturday, so it should be a bit cooler by puck drop for the Stadium Series Game. If it is a regular game, you should be fine.
Wings are a good tailgating side if they are not you main. I hold they are clearly a side, but some folks will make them a main. It does not matter to me. Wings are like BBQ, ice cream, and a few other things. If they are good, they are good wings. If they are bad, they are still wings.
Dessert
Here is where I disagree with many folks. If I am tailgating, I don’t want a big dessert. Cookie are fine with me, if you HAVE to have something. Some folks have to have a big dessert. If you are one of those people, bring a big dessert
Drinks
If you drink, bring what you drink. You can try some of our mixed drinks with the Official Red Punch Of The Carolina Hurricanes (we can say it real name) we have concocted.
If you drink barley pops, you can bring some of the Official Beer of The Carolina Hurricanes, or whatever you want. Beer is like wings, BBQ, ice cream and a few other things. If it is good beer, its good. If its not good beer, its still beer.
If you don’t drink, good on you! Bring some Red Punches. The kids will at least drink them.
Or you can brink Pepsi. It’s a North Carolina original.
Games
Shut The Puck Up Marchand
This is just like “Pin The Tail On The Donkey” but features Brad “The Rat” Marchand.
What You Will Need
A blindfold
A picture of Brad Marchand printed off
Pictures of hockey pucks
Tape
How To Play
Tap the picture of Marchand on something
Blindfolded players try sticking their pucks closest to Marchand’s mouth (where it belongs)
(If you’ve had a few, you don’t even need the blindfold)
Hurricane Curling
This is a brand new tailgating game I have created. It’s a little like curling and a little like horseshoes.
What You Will Need
A rather large Carolina Hurricanes Logo. You can print one off, or draw one on a posterboard
Cornhole Beanbags
How To Play
Two players per team
Player One Tosses
Player Two stands at the back edge of the paper the logo is on and can hit the throw beanbag for an adjustment. If Player Two catches the thrown beanbag in their attempt to adjust, no points are awarded.
You can play as many rounds as you want, but I suggest five tosses.
Points are to we awarded by the closeness to the eye of the hurricane.
If you cannot tell by now, this article is really just an excuse to talk more about food, tailgating, playing goofy games, and the Carolina Hurricanes. Bring whatever food you want. Bring whatever drinks you want, but if they are of the adult variety, please be responsible. Bring as much food as you want, bring as many games as you want.
If you are tailgating pro, you do not need me to tell you how. If you are a novice, than I hope these helped, but do what you want. Just do not stress it. It’s supposed to be fun!
The Stadium Series ( any game really) is going to be great. Tailgating is going to a great way for us Caniacs to get together and enjoy our team. You’re going to have a great time! And as a wise man once said, tailgating is a little like beer, wings, BBQ, ice cream, and a few other things. If it is good, its good tailgating. If it is bad….there is no such thing a bad tailgating with the Carolina Hurricanes.