What defines San Diego other than its gorgeous weather and its gorgeous people? Football. The Chargers are a perennial power in the AFC West. The Bolts are always in contention for a postseason berth and always give their fans reason to cheer. They also have one of the loudest NFL fan containers around, Qualcomm Stadium, which seats over 70,000 for Chargers home games. But where are these hungry and thirsty football-craving fanatics before kickoff? They out posted up in one of the many accessible parking lots at one of the innumerable amount of tailgate parties chowing down on some surf and turf and getting their drink on with their best buds. Whether the Chargers win or lose, San Diego fans always have a good time and that’s why this Southern California hotspot is known as one of the best tailgating locations in the country.
There’s never been a better way to have fun in the sun than at a San Diego Chargers tailgate party. It’s what makes gameday special at Qualcomm Stadium and fortunately the stadium provides plenty of tailgating areas to accommodate the Chargers faithful. Finding the perfect tailgating spot is always a breeze at Qualcomm with the North lots, Inner and Outer Rings and RV areas available to park your rig and set up your tailgating station. Gates open five hours prior to kickoff for RVs and four hours for regular vehicles and you’ll want to get there that early to soak up the sun and the Chargers gameday experience, one that’s like no other in the NFL.
There are parties-a-plenty in the lots outside Qualcomm that feature some of the best food in all of San Diego, premier local brews and various games and pregame activities that appeal to all ages. Even if you are not one to bring your own tailgate gear and grub, don’t worry. Just take a walk around the lots and you’ll be sure to find something to excite your taste buds. Although the region is known for its fine seafood and Latin cuisine, food trucks inside the lots are serving up everything from gourmet hot dogs to vegetarian-friendly dishes. There are also trucks offering top notch adult beverages like the Whiskey Bar and Beers of the World and hey, you’re not driving into the stadium from here, so why not?
Chargers fans may be known as some of the best, biggest and baddest tailgaters around on gameday, but because of this, the lots around Qualcomm can get pretty crazy. If the lots get too packed for your liking, you can always take your party mobile and there are several local services that can accommodate. The Cali Party Bus is one that has been doing it for over a decade. The bus features succulent barbeque, a wide-selection of beer and even beer pong tables for some friendly competition before the big game. There is also a DJ to play your favorite tunes and for $60-$100, it sounds like a pretty good deal considering all that’s included.
So next time you are in town for a Chargers game, don’t just go for the game. Go for the experience and to truly experience Bolts football, you gotta get there early and you gotta partake in one of the awesome tailgate parties that So Cal has to offer. Bring your sunscreen and your game face and enjoy Chargers gameday! To take your gameday experience up a notch, don’t forget to check out our incredible Chargers Fan Experiences HERE.