Eagles fans calling to ‘save Philadelphia tailgating’ after new guidelines proposed for sports complex
The rules would go into effect for the next home game, Oct. 4 vs. the Los Angeles Rams. Tailgaters want ‘a seat at the table’ to discuss changes to the beloved tradition.
South Jersey native Carmen “Big Carm” Conti has been tailgating Eagles games for 10 years. And every year, the 38-year-old has set up in the exact same spot in F Lot. Just this past season opener, Conti’s tailgate welcomed about 75 to 100 people with a wing competition and a rotating DJ set — but that may have been the tailgate’s big send-off.
Last Monday, Conti took to social media to express concerns about the tradition’s future. In a post that read “Save Philadelphia Tailgating,” Conti explained the changes that could be coming to the South Philadelphia sports complex.
“Increased restrictions in the parking lots threaten the larger tailgates that have become part of the Eagles game-day experience,” Conti wrote on Facebook. “We are being told that tailgating should be limited to the space directly in front of or behind a vehicle. But larger, organized tailgates often require four to six parking spaces for tents, tables, grills, food preparation, entertainment, equipment, and most importantly, room for people to safely gather.
“And now there is another major concern: hand parking. Under this system, parking attendants would direct vehicles into specific spaces instead of allowing fans to park in the locations they have used for years. That might sound like a small change to someone who simply arrives, parks, and walks into the stadium. For established tailgates, it is anything but small.”
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Conti first learned about the news when security guards approached him at his tailgate during Week 1 vs. the Washington Commanders.
“They try to do this like every three years,” Conti said. “They try to implement something where it cracks down on the tailgate. It’s a Philly tradition, you know, it’s something my family has been doing since before I was born. Tailgating brings people together. It doesn’t matter what team you’re on. … It’s our way of standing behind our team and bringing everybody together.”
The new rules would crack down on the bigger tailgates, adding new restrictions on oversized vehicles. The Inquirer reached out to SP+, the parking management company, on Friday and have yet to receive a response.
However, SP+ did make an announcement on new guidelines, sent via email, that would be enforced “in an effort to provide a smoother, more convenient parking experience for guests.”
Here’s what it said:
The designated parking for oversized vehicles will be in Lot D in the Xfinity Mobile Arena and the upper section of Lot N. Parking locations will be assigned and cannot be saved by guests. All equipment and vehicles must stay within the purchased space, and companion standard-sized cars and trucks will not be permitted to park in the areas designated for oversized vehicles.
“I don’t think it’s terribly surprising, although it does stink for the bigger tailgates that rely on being grouped together,” said Dylan Marck, a self-taught chef who has been serving high-end cuisines at tailgates since 2022. “But getting in and out has always been a mess, even with permits, so it’s not really surprising that they’re trying to change it up and maximize that space.”
Changes will be enforced for the next home game scheduled for Oct. 4 vs. the Los Angeles Rams — leaving some tailgaters worried about the communities that have been built in the parking lots of the South Philadelphia sports complex.
“I do think it could effectively end a lot of the bigger tailgates and little micro communities that developed,” Marck said. “Personally, not looking forward to potentially being whisked to a random spot and then having to figure it out from there, but we will adapt. We always do.”
‘Ready to fight’
On Wednesday, Conti and other tailgaters affected by the change held a news conference at South Philly Boxing Gym in South Philadelphia.
“Where are we at? A boxing gym,” said Louis Jordan, a member of Hungry Dawgs tailgate. “We’re ready to fight for what we believe in and what we love.”
Conti emphasized that the tailgaters wanted a “seat at the table” to discuss the upcoming changes. To do so, the tailgaters moved to organize.
“We are starting a committee so we can actually sit down on the board,” Conti said. “That’s going to be chosen right after here, after we get done. It’s going to be called the Philadelphia Tailgaters Association for Tailgate. We have to do something. We have to stand together.”
Affordability was a major topic of the news conference. Multiple tailgaters emphasized that tailgating offers a low-cost alternative for families who cannot afford to attend an Eagles game. One noted he regularly gets “heartfelt messages” of gratitude from mothers who take their children to tailgates to get a game day experience.
This September, a single ticket to an Eagles game cost an average of $523.
“Yeah, there’s a lot of kids that come to the tailgates and the parents bring them just because they know it’s safe,” Kellie Berrios, a tailgate DJ, said. ”They can walk around. There’s food everywhere. Everyone’s having good time. It makes you feel welcome.”
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Multiple tailgaters present also pointed out that FIFA bent its rules to allow tailgates outside of Lincoln Financial Field for the World Cup this summer. At the time, a spokesperson for Philadelphia’s local organizing committee told The Inquirer that it was “committed to delivering a World Cup that is authentically Philadelphia.”
“We told FIFA we wouldn’t change our tailgate culture for them,” Jeremy Smith, a tailgate chef, said. “So why are you actually changing it for us? We don’t understand. We like have a seat at the table.”
The Eagles survived -- again. This time, instead of holding on for dear life as they did in their opener against Washington, the Eagles came from behind in the final minutes to pull out a gutsy win at Tennessee, with their quarterback leading the way. With the Eagles 2-0, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Mike Sielski examine Jalen Hurts’ promising performance through two games, and dig into the uneven play of the defense. Listen here.
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