Tailgate Party
A ticketed pre-game tailgate - catered food, a raffle, and sponsor tents - that turns your biggest home game into a fundraiser before kickoff.
Why it works
Your fans are already coming early; a tailgate gives them a reason to buy in. Ticketed entry with food, a raffle, and sponsor tents captures the game-day energy and turns it into real money before the whistle even blows.
How to run it
- 1
Create a Ticketed Event for the tailgate, tied to your biggest home game.
- 2
Set capacity and ticket tiers (adult, family, kids-eat-free) only after pricing food, supplies, ticket fees, and a weather backup so every paid ticket leaves margin.
- 3
Sell tent or table sponsorships to local businesses, they reach a captive, fired-up crowd.
- 4
Add a prize-basket raffle (and a 50/50 if your state allows) for extra revenue.
- 5
Get venue and food-service approval, then arrange licensed catering or an approved grill team, hand-washing and allergy signage, setup volunteers, and a rain plan.
- 6
Promote to season-ticket families, alumni, and the community, then on the day feed the crowd, draw the raffle, and roll the energy into the game.
- 7
Print the QR poster from the Share tab and put it at the gate, the concessions stand, and anywhere fans queue, cashless fans give when it's one scan away.
- 8
Load your contact list and let the built-in email + text sequence do the reminding (Write with AI drafts the messages), most gifts arrive on the second or third touch.
Responsibilities
Who does what, and when, so nothing slips.
- Create the ticketed event and tiers, sell tent sponsorships, and arrange catering or a grill team.
- Promote it in the weeks before and run the day.
- Set up, grill and serve, and run the gate and the raffle.
- Buy tickets, bring friends, and come early to pack the lot.
Example messages
Sample outreach for this play, to spark your own.
Tailgate with your team before the big game on {date}! Food, drinks, a raffle, and sponsor tents. Grab your tickets, fuel up, and let's pack the stands: {link}
Hi {business}, your team is hosting a pre-game tailgate for a fired-up local crowd. A tent or table sponsorship puts your brand right in front of them. Want a spot? {link}
Two days to the your team tailgate! Grab your tickets before they're gone, food, fun, and a great crowd before kickoff: {link}
These are just examples. You'll write and send your own messages when you set up your campaign.
Boost it. Plays that pair well
Homecoming Fundraiser Package
Stack everything on your biggest crowd of the year: program, raffle, QR drive, spirit wear, and alumni asks, all in one homecoming week.
Team Sponsorship Drive
One structured campaign to fund a game, a stretch of home games, or the full season with local business money. Offer a clear ladder from a single-game sponsor to multi-game packages, banner placements, and one top presenting sponsor.