Skip to main content
Fog icon
68º

Diehard Texans' fans up their tailgating game

Some of biggest competition happens off field over in parking lots

HOUSTON – It's a Sunday morning at NRG Stadium. We're just a few hours away from another home game, but some of the biggest competition is happening off the field over in the parking lots.

Every year, diehard Texans' fans are upping their tailgating game.

Bob Frappier has been tailgating since day one, every game, for 14 years.

"Since the beginning. Since the beginning of the Texans," Frappier said.

He started with just a tent. Now he's got a fully loaded rig.

"One hundred thousand dollars to $125,000," Frappier said about the cost.

It's a converted hunting vehicle with a grill, TV and even a bathroom.

Right next door Michael Redman entertains his friends.

"It's a trailer we built," Redman said. "We built a bar on it. It's got a gas pit on it, a griddle, coolers. It's got a stage that goes down. I have Elvis Presley sometimes out here."

But if you want to meet the kings of the tailgate you have to go 50 miles north to Magnolia and Imagi-Motive solutions.

Click or tap here to expand.

Kevin Mims knows a thing or two about a good football tailgate. He started out his career on the field playing for Northwestern University.

Now he designs and builds high-end tailgates for a living.

"It's a great excuse for a party," Mims said.

His team has built fully-loaded tailgate trailers out of Airstreams, Hummers and even a school bus.

"If you can dream it, we can built it," Mims said.

But what if you don't have $100,000 or more to thrown down? Mims makes portable man caves for $5,000.

Or another option, "Lease your fun," said Mike Hall, with Tailgate USA.

You can look like a millionaire without paying the hefty price tag. Their rates start at $950 a day for something like the Lil Amigo. Some of the things it'll get you include a trailer, with a TV, grill, a tent, tables and linens. A big plus is it also includes setup and cleanup.

"The thought behind this whole thing was that everybody likes a great tailgate, but not everybody likes the work and so for us, you tell us where to be, you just show up, have fun and let us do the work," Hall said.

Their top-of-the-line option costs $1,600 to rent.

"You've got two TVs, you can watch two different games. We bring out the tables, class it up a little bit with stretched linens, make it look good to where it's not like everybody else tailgating," Hall said. "The ladies' favorite, the private restroom, we try to keep that clean."

There is also a rooftop deck.

For extra, Tailgate USA will even bring in the food, drinks and games.


About the Authors
Debbie Strauss headshot

Award-winning broadcast journalist covering local, regional, national and international stories. Recognized in the industry for subject matter expertise including: Legal/Court Research, the Space Industry, Education, Environmental Issues, Underserved Populations and Data Visualization.

Owen Conflenti headshot

Morning anchor, proud father, creative weirdo

Loading...