Gone are the days of patiently passing the time with friends or tossing the pigskin.
"It used to be a lot more simple," Vince Pacifico said.
Pacifico would know: He has been religiously tailgaiting at Eagles games for 20 years. The Reading native leaves his home at 5 a.m. on Sundays in order to get the best real estate in the parking lot.
Four years ago, Pacifico purchased an aging ambulance and completely gutted it. Freshly painted Eagles green and tattoed with team logos, his custom van becomes his group's home on game day.
With a DirecTV satellite dish bolted to the side, the once mobile-care unit quickly becomes a mobile communications unit. The dish powers his 32-inch, flat-panel TV with the latest high-definition action from around the NFL. One storage cabinet houses a 3,000-watt audio system, which outputs to two huge speakers resting on the top of the van. A diesel generator supplies all of the power necessary for TV and tunes.
No tailgate would be complete without food and drink. Pacifico had another custom cabinet made to house three kegs of his favorite Reading-brewed beers. The taps screw right on to the outside of the door, allowing easy access for the 65-to-100 members of his crew. There is also another tap located inside the cab, which is convenient for whoever is sitting on the couch watching TV.
Pacifico's spread before yesterday's season opener against the Rams included meatballs and sausage, corn on the cob and barbecue chicken.
In other corners of the parking lot, smoke from burnt hot dogs and hamburgers wafted through the air.
"Ten years ago, we used to rent a U-Haul and huddle around the back of it," Pacifico said. "I wanted one vehicle that would bring everything we needed for our whole crew instead of everyone needing to bring their own things."
Originally designed to save money, Pacifico says the van actually costs his crew a little more. The drive from Reading costs nearly $100 in gas each trip and parking is $40 for large vehicles .
Also, the conveniences of today's tailgates haven't made them any more convenient to host.
"It's made it a challenge every week," Pacifico said. "It is a struggle to get here early enough with traffic. Sometimes you need to fight for your usual spot. Parking fees are outrageous. It used to be a lot easier.
"But it's worth it for the atmosphere. Your friends and fellow Eagles fans make it worth it."
The latest and greatest RVs are also a new trend among Eagles fans. Butch Balas, from Hazleton, drives his 32-foot RV 110 miles to Philadelphia for each game. The brand-new motor home feels like just that: a home. It has a full kitchen with microwave and oven, three LCD TVs with DirecTV, a bathroom with a shower, and a king-size bed. The two leather couches in the front also fold out into beds.
Balas had a laptop sitting on the kitchen counter that was equipped with wireless Internet.
"It's a convenience, really," he said. "It is nice for the inclement weather. It's comfortable. It is a good way to spend Sunday with your family."
Come game time, the lines at the busy port-a-potties shorten, and owners begin to lock their vehicles. The blenders stop spinning and the beer bongs lay scattered. Fans come to their senses and remember why the big party started. Finally, the jovial - and buzzed - little city empties into the Linc. The remnants, however, remain: spilled cocktails, unfinished beer and even urine runs to the storm drains like stragglers into the stadium.
Even though the accessories have changed, rest assured, it's still the same party. *
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