No tailgating at the Super Bowl

Tailgating outside an Eagles game. | Brittany Connor
(Brittany Connor)

Tailgating is sacred to Eagles fans: drinking beers and barbecuing outside the Linc before an Eagles game is for some fans as much of a part of the tradition as the sport itself.

But come Super Bowl LII in Minnesota, there won’t be any tailgating around the stadium allowed.

“No, this will be a very contained, secured perimeter area,” Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo told the Inquirer.“So the traditional Philly tailgate, unfortunately, unless they do it by the hotels, we don’t see any. And that’s for the Patriots fans, too. There’s just going to be so much going on in front of U.S. Bank Stadium.”

U.S. Bank Stadium acknowledges on its website that “tailgating is part of the U.S. Bank Stadium guest experience.”

But increased security for the Super Bowl LII makes that impossible, city leaders said. NFL security chief Cathy Lanier told the Inquirer that fans could potentially tailgate’ outside the nearby Mall of America, where security “pre-screening” will be offered for fans boarding the light rail directly to the stadium.

Other pre-game party options include the Players Tailgate, a charitable dinner attended by 25 NFL athletes and this year hosted by celeb chef Guy Fieri.