Are you looking to pre-game a sporting event or concert? Do you also enjoy being on a boat? If you answered ‘yes’ to both of those, then boatgating is the perfect fit for you! If you don’t know what boatgating is, it’s practically having a tailgate, but on a boat instead of around the tailgate of a vehicle. The foundation of a tailgate remains – plenty of drinks, music, appetizers, and laughs will be had while boatgating. Below you can find some top destinations to tailgate on the water, arranged by the type of sport that you’re a fan of. From football stadiums to baseball fields, to a couple of hockey arenas – we’ve got you covered this season.
Starting with America’s most beloved – football. Below are the top 9 NFL stadiums for tailgating on the water, beginning in the south, heading north, and ending on the west coast:
1. TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville, FL)
Previously named the EverBank Field, The TIAA Bank Field is home to the Jacksonville Jaguars and sits alongside the St. Johns River. Conveniently, the Metropolitan Park Marina is located right next to the field, which contains nearly 80 boat slips for boats up to 80’.
Pro Football: Ravens vs. Jaguars – November 27, 2022
Pro Football: Cowboys vs. Jaguars – December 18, 2022
Pro Football: Titans vs. Jaguars – January 8, 2023
2. M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore, MD)
Having the capacity of just over 71,000 guests, the M&T Bank Stadium is positioned between two mouths of the Patapsco River. Baltimore, home to the Ravens, makes for a historic boatgating destination. Located in the inner-harbor one could find the USS Constellation, the last remaining sail-only warship commissioned by the U.S. Navy.
Pro Football: Bengals vs. Ravens – October 9, 2022
Pro Football: Browns vs. Ravens – October 23, 2022
Pro Football: Panthers vs. Ravens – November 11, 2022
College Football: Navy vs. Notre Dame – November 12, 2022
Pro Football: Broncos vs. Ravens – December 4, 2022
Pro Football: Falcons vs. Ravens – December 24, 2022
Pro Football: Steelers vs. Ravens – January 1, 2023
3. Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh, PA)
Formerly known as Heinz Field, the Acrisure Stadium is home to both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers. Sitting on the fork where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers form the Ohio River, the Acrisure Stadium is surrounded by riverfront marinas.
College Football: Rhode Island vs. Pitt – September 24, 2022
College Football: Georgia Tech vs. Pitt – October 1, 2022
Pro Football: Jets vs. Steelers – October 2, 2022
College Football: Virginia Tech vs. Pitt – October 8, 2022
Pro Football: Buccaneers vs. Steelers – October 16, 2022
College Football: Syracuse vs. Pitt – November 5, 2022
Pro Football: Saints vs. Steelers – November 13, 2022
College Football: Duke vs. Pitt – November 19, 2022
Pro Football: Bengals vs. Steelers – November 20, 2022
Pro Football: Ravens vs. Steelers – December 11, 2022
Pro Football: Raiders vs. Steelers – December 24, 2022
Pro Football: Browns vs. Steelers – January 8, 2023
Concert: Luke Combs World Tour – April 29, 2023
4. Soldier Field (Chicago, IL)
Home to the Chicago Bears, Soldier Field is conveniently placed immediately next to the Burnham Harbor, which leads out into Lake Michigan. The Burnham Harbor is a quintessential boatgating destination, housing over 25 boat docks while being steps away from Soldier Field.
Pro Football: Texans vs. Bears – September 25, 2022
Pro Football: Commanders vs. Bears – October 13, 2022
Pro Football: Dolphins vs. Bears – November 6, 2022
Pro Football: Lions vs. Bears – November 13, 2022
Pro Football: Packers vs. Bears – December 4, 2022
Pro Football: Eagles vs. Bears – December 18, 2022
Pro Football: Bills vs. Bears – December 24, 2022
Pro Football: Vikings vs. Bears – January 8, 2023
Concert: Luke Combs World Tour – May 6, 2023
5. FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland, OH)
The FirstEnergy Stadium is seated right on the fourth largest Great Lake, Lake Erie, where it has marinas and yacht clubs sprinkled around the Cleveland Harbor. Home to the Cleveland Browns, the FirstEnergy Stadium holds nearly 68,000 guests in their lakefront stadium.
Quick overview of upcoming events at the FirstEnergy Stadium:
Pro Football: Steelers vs. Browns – September 22, 2022
Pro Football: Chargers vs. Browns – October 9, 2022
Pro Football: Patriots vs. Browns – October 16, 2022
Pro Football: Bengals vs. Browns – October 31, 2022
Pro Football: Buccaneers vs. Browns – November 27, 2022
Pro Football: Ravens vs. Browns – December 17-18, 2022
Pro Football: Saints vs. Browns – December 24, 2022
College Hockey: Faceoff on the Lake: Big 10 Men’s Hockey – February 18, 2023
Honorable Mentions: Tailgating On The Water
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, FL) – Home of the Miami Dolphins
Caesar’s Superdome (New Orleans, LA) – Home of the New Orleans Saints
Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, TN) – Home of the Tennessee Volunteers
Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)– Home of the Seattle Seahawks
Moving on to America’s National Pastime – baseball. Below are the top 9 MLB fields for tailgating on the water, beginning in the south, heading north, and ending on the west coast.
1. Nationals Park (Washington D.C.)
Located just south of the Capitol building in Washington D.C., Nationals Park is situated right on the Anacostia River, adjacent to the Navy yard. National Park was also the first major stadium to receive US LEED certification. The park redefines modern sports facility architecture and serves as the catalyst and cornerstone of a new multipurpose riverfront in our nation’s capital.
Concert: Elton John – The Final Tour – September 24, 2022
Baseball: Braves vs. Nationals – September 26-28 & 30, 2022
Baseball: Phillies vs. Nationals – October 1-2, 2022
Event: DC Beer Festival – November 5, 2022
Event: Enchant – November 25, 2022 – January 1, 2023
2. Citi Field (Queens, NY)
Sitting next to Flushing Bay is where you can find Citi Field. Home to the New York Mets, Citi Field is close to boat docks and just minutes away from the LaGuardia airport, making boat or air travel an easy and accessible option.
Concert: Rolling Loud Festival – September 23-25, 2022
Baseball: Marlins vs. Mets – September 27-28, 2022
Baseball: Nationals vs. Mets – October 3-5, 2022
3. T-Mobile Park (Seattle, WA)
T-Mobile Park is a retractable roof stadium perched immediately south of Lumen Field in Seattle. Home to the Seattle Mariners, T-Mobile Park is minutes away from the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, so you know it must be close to a body of water.
Baseball: Rangers vs. Mariners – September 27-29, 2022
Baseball: Athletics vs. Mariners – September 30 – October 2, 2022
Baseball: Tigers vs. Mariners – October 4-5, 2022
4. Oracle Park (San Francisco, CA)
Hugging Mission Bay in San Francisco is where you can find the home of the Giants. Previously AT&T Park, and not to be confused with Oracle Arena in Oakland, Oracle Park offers exclusive bay views, including boat dockage and pier access immediately next to the field.
Baseball: Rockies vs. Giants – September 27-29, 2022
Baseball: Diamondbacks vs. Giants – September 30 – October 2, 2022
Event: Opera at the Ballpark – November 11, 2022
Event: Play Golf at Oracle Park – November 17-20, 2022
5. Petco Park (San Diego, CA)
Petco Park is located just inside San Diego Bay and across from sunny Coronado. A slew of boat docks lines the same street Petco Park sits on, making it an ideal spot for your boatgating festivities. Moreover, located outside the outfield wall, but inside the Petco gates, is Gallagher Square, a grassy area of approximately 2.8 acres.
Concert: Wild Horses Country Festival – with Cody Jinks & Midland – September 24-25, 2022
Event: Padres Fiesta in the Park (White Sox) – Gallagher Square – September 30, 2022
Baseball: Giants vs. Padres – October 5, 2022
Concert: A Day To Remember – Gallagher Square – October 7, 2022
Concert: FKJ – Gallagher Square – October 9, 2022
Concert: Marc Rebillet – November 3, 2022
Concert: Elton John – November 9, 2022
Concert: Zach Bryan – Gallagher Square – November 11, 2022
Football: SDCCU Holiday Bowl (NCAA) – December 28, 2022
Event: Monster Jam – January 15-16, 2023
Event: AMA Supercross – January 22, 2022
Honorable Mentions: Tailgating On The Water
LoanDepot Park (Miami, FL) – Home to the Miami Marlins
Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg, FL) – Home to the Tampa Bay Rays
Oriole Park (Baltimore, MD) – Home to the Baltimore Orioles
Fenway Park (Boston, MA) – Home to the Boston Red Socks
Last but surely not least – hockey. Below are the top two NHL arenas for tailgating on the water, beginning in the south, heading north, and ending on the west coast.
1. Amalie Arena (Tampa, FL) – Home to the Tampa Bay Lightning
Sitting right behind Harbor Island, across from plentiful boat docks on the Garrison Channel is where you can find Amalie Arena. Surely, you can always find something to do when you’re just minutes away from Harbor Island, Channelside, and Riverwalk. Restaurants on Harbor Island, such as American Social and Jackson’s Bistro Bar & Sushi, offer waterfront views with boat docks and a cheerful atmosphere. Home to the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, this is the ice that the Tampa Bay Lightning calls home.
Hockey: Hurricanes vs. Lightning – September 28, 2022
Hockey: Predators vs. Lightning – September 29, 2022
Concert: Panic! At The Disco – October 5, 2022
Concert: Jane’s Addiction – October 7, 2022
Hockey: Panthers vs. Lightning – October 8, 2022
Hockey: Flyers vs. Lightning – October 18, 2022
Hockey: Islanders vs. Lightning – October 22, 2022
Concert: Greta Van Fleet – October 26, 2022
Concert: Iron Maiden – October 27, 2022
Hockey: Senators vs. Lightning – November 1, 2022
Hockey: Hurricanes vs. Lightning – November 3, 2022
Concert: Marc Anthony – November 4, 2022
Hockey: Sabres vs. Lightning – November 5, 2022
Event: Adam Sandler – November 6, 2022
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Hockey: Oilers vs. Lightning – November 8, 2022
Concert: Reba – November 11, 2022
Hockey: Capitols vs. Lightning – November 13, 2022
Hockey: Stars vs. Lightning – November 15, 2022
Hockey: Flames vs. Lightning – November 17, 2022
Hockey: Bruins vs. Lightning – November 21, 2022
Concert: Five Finger Death Punch & Brantley Gilbert – November 22, 2022
Hockey: Blues vs. Lightning – November 25, 2022
Hockey: Maple Leafs vs. Lightning – December 3, 2022
Hockey: Red Wings vs. Lightning – December 6, 2022
Hockey: Panthers vs. Lightning – December 10, 2022
Hockey: Kraken vs. Lightning – December 13, 2022
Basketball: Ohio vs. Florida – December 14, 2022
Hockey: Blue Jackets vs. Lightning – December 15, 2022
Concert: Trans-Siberian Orchestra – December 18, 2022
Hockey: Canadiens vs. Lightning – December 28, 2022
Hockey: Rangers vs. Lightning – December 29, 2022
Events: WWE Smackdown – December 30, 2022
Hockey: Coyotes vs. Lightning – December 31, 2022
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2. Xcel Energy Center (St. Paul, MN)
Located behind the Mississippi River is the Xcel Energy Center, home to the Minnesota Wild. Just across the river, on Harriet Island, you can find a cluster of boat docks.
Concert: Trans-Siberian Orchestra – December 23, 2022
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Honorable Mentions: Tailgating On The Water
Capital One Arena (Washington D.C.) – Home to the Washington Capitals
Enterprise Center (St. Louis, MO) – Home to the St. Louis Blues
Bonus Events: Boatgating Destinations
1. Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg – IndyCar Series Racing Event
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is an IndyCar Series race held in St. Petersburg, Florida. In most years since 2009, the race has served as the season opener. The Firestone Grand Prix also features an exclusive Yacht Club area with private floating docks at Turns 10 and 11. Current race dates are set for February 25-27, 2023.
2. Monaco Grand Prix – F1 Racing Event
Founded in 1929, The Monaco Grand Prix is a Formula One motor racing event held annually on the Circuit de Monaco, in late May or early June. The track sits right against Port Hercule, allowing yachts to get a front-row view of the race. I mean, it doesn’t get much better than being on the deck of a Super Yacht in Monte Carlo with a glass of Champagne while watching the most famous race in the world.
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