Introduction to The Tailgate
A relatively mild late fall evening set the stage for the fourth edition of an all-out party devoted to everyone’s favorite way to get in the gameday spirit. For the second year in a row, the event took place at 8th Wonder in EaDo, where more than 500 attendees enjoyed a stroll through the venue’s expansive backyard. The area was loaded with vendors serving a wide array of food and drinks, creating the perfect atmosphere for fans to get ready for the game.
Meet-and-Greet with Sports Legends
VIP attendees had the unique opportunity to enjoy a special meet-and-greet with two Houston sports legends. Former Astro Ryan Pressly, a member of the club’s World Series-winning 2022 squad, and former Texan Owen Daniels, a fan favorite tight end who won a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos, posed for pictures, chatted with fans, and signed autographs. Daniels expressed his optimism about the Texans’ chances to bounce back on Monday Night Football after losing their week one matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
Food and Drinks Galore
No tailgate is complete without delicious food, and attendees were spoiled for choice with numerous participating restaurants. Some of the highlights included assorted sandwiches from Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys, chicken tenders and cheesy chicken sandwich sliders from Bad Chx, and dry-aged beef kielbasa-stuffed pierogis with honey jalapeño sour cream from Bayou Butchers. Other notable mentions included BB’s Tex-Orleans, Christian’s Tailgate, Chubbies Sliders, Coastline Pizza, Common Bond’s, Little Rey, Local Foods, Loro’s, Phat Eatery’s, Pincho Burgers + Kebabs, Pizaro’s Pizza, Russo’s New York Pizzeria, Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Savoy, TASTE Kitchen + Bar, The Waffle Bus, and Traveler’s Cart.
Refreshments and Entertainment
Fans had a number of choices for refreshments, including THC seltzers, beer from FLIGHT by Yuengling, and other fun beverages featuring spirits from Patrón Tequila, Teeling Whiskey, and St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur. Local sports teams also kept fans entertained, with the Texans having cheerleaders on hand to sign autographs, along with a game to complete a NFL-style passing drill. The Astros showed off the 2017 and 2022 World Series Trophies, and Houston soccer stars the Dynamo and Dash were on hand to tout their upcoming seasons.
Activities and Surprises
One of the night’s unexpected surprises was the challenging task of piloting the Yuengling drone, which left many people in stitches as they ran over obstacles instead of avoiding them. After four rounds of voting, modern Mexican restaurant Mayahuel emerged as the winner in the Top Taco Tournament. Attendees also selected the jerk lamb chops from TASTE Kitchen + Bar as their favorite dish of the night.
Conclusion
At the end of the night, there was only one complaint to be made: The Tailgate had to come to an end for another season. Despite this, the event was a huge success, thanks to its sponsors, including FLIGHT by Yuengling, Puttshack, Mizzen+Main, Sysco To Go, Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys, NXT LVL Events, Patrón Tequila, Teeling Whiskey, and St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur. The Tailgate proved to be an unforgettable experience, and fans are already looking forward to the next edition.
