When I originally started this tailgating blog in August 2007, it was in reaction to searching for tailgating information and only finding websites willing to sell me something. On top of that, it was never anything good. The websites out there offered the same old, same old, folding chairs, pop-up tents and the same tailgating grills you see in hardware stores, Target or Wal-Mart. Nobody was out there sharing information, doing tailgating gear reviews, discovering new tailgating games and just in general offering a voice of the tailgater. It’s been a fun three year ride and I have no plans of slowing down. But I do have some news to share with you.

For the past few months I have been feverishly updating our sister site, Shop.TailgatingIdeas.com. Although it has not been stocked 100% completely with all of the tailgating gear that I believe any tailgater would want, it has enough to cut the ribbon and open the doors to the public.

But wait! Didn’t I just tell you that I started TailgatingIdeas.com because I was sick and tired of only finding websites willing to sell tailgaters gear? Doesn’t opening up an online tailgating store make me a sell out and no better than the rest of those other guys? That could be the perception. The reason we have opened up Shop.TailgatingIdeas.com is to make finding that cool and unique tailgating gear much easier because most of the products are not found anywhere else.

Over the years, makers and manufacturers of tailgating items have sent me samples and asked for my unbiased opinion on their product and how it translates to a real-life tailgating environment. I have been brutally honest and at times warned tailgaters to avoid buying the product at all costs. On the other hand, when the product meets all the requirements we as tailgats look for in tailgating gear, I have typically offered it for sale here on TailgatingIdeas.com via Google Checkout. More often than not, this website and the manufacturer’s website are the only two places on the web or any physical stores for that matter, where that product is available for purchase. By offering it for sale here, we were giving tailgaters another outlet to buy the product that would help them not just tailgate, but to tailgate better. Where else would you find something like the Tailgate Couch, BoomCooler or a Tow Hitch Kegerator?

By centralizing all the products that you will probably not find in stores or any other places online, makes it easier on you, the tailgater, to find that unique tailgating gear you have been wanting. With easy to navigate categories and a spot-on search function, if you look for it on Shop.TailgatingIdeas.com and can’t find it, they probably have not invented it yet. Also, TailgatingIdeas.com will be reserved strictly for articles and posts about tailgating. If we review a tailgating product that you would like to buy, we’ll either link you to the product page on Shop.TailgatingIdeas.com or to another retailer, typically the manufacturer’s website.

So with the upcoming football season rapidly approaching, you are bound to need to replace something in your tailgating arsenal. Before you get sucked into buying something from Home Depot or Target yet again, checkout our online tailgating store. Chances are you will find something you didn’t know was out there but you’ll definitely want to get before football season starts.