Tailgating Toughness: Women More Likely Than Men To Brave Sub-Zero Temperatures For College Football Tailgate Parties

October 10, 2013

Hot Dogs and Brats Edge Out Hamburgers as the Must-Have Food

RIVERWOODS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 10, 2013-- Hats and gloves are a girl’s best friend when she’s a college football fan.

Twenty-three percent of women compared to 20 percent of men would brave the coldest of cold temperatures for tailgating festivities and never call them off, according to the Discover Fan Loyalty Poll.

Overall, 44 percent of fans would decide to cancel their tailgate party if the mercury read anywhere below 32 degrees.

When fans were asked how cold is too cold to hold a tailgate party:

  • 8 percent would call it off between 41 and 50 degrees
  • 23 percent would pack it in between 33 and 40 degrees
  • 31 percent couldn’t handle between 0 and 32 degrees
  • 13 percent would quit below 0 degrees
  • 21 percent said they would never call off a tailgate party
  • 4 percent are not sure which temperature would be their breaking point

The conference with the toughest tailgaters is the PAC-12. Its fans show the ultimate warm-blooded loyalty to their favorite college football team, as 28 percent would never call off their tailgate party, even in sub-zero temperatures.

When it comes to who does what at the party, grillmasters rule the roost with 13 percent of college football fans claiming the title of “Cook” at their tailgate party. However, they better bring extra food since 10 percent of fans call themselves “Freeloaders” and let their friends do all the work. Fans who make over $200,000 per year are also those who “freeload” the most, at 22 percent. Another 10 percent of fans consider themselves the “Grateful Guest”, signifying they bring a dish to pass.

As for the food fight, meats take the cake over sweets. Hot dogs and brats edged out hamburgers, 39 percent to 33 percent, as the one food every tailgate party should have, followed by chips and salty snacks at 14 percent. Fans care least for coleslaw and potato salad, at 4 percent, and cookies and other desserts, at 2 percent.

The Discover Fan Loyalty Poll gives die-hard college football fans a platform to showcase their love for the sport. For the second consecutive poll, fans chose Alabama as the best team in the country right now at 42 percent, followed by:

  • Oregon: 14 percent
  • Ohio State: 11 percent
  • Florida State: 3 percent
  • Stanford: 3 percent

The Discover Fan Loyalty Poll is conducted twice a month by Rasmussen Reports, a nationally recognized leader in polling, who gathers sentiment by phone from 1500 college football fans who follow games at least once per week on television, radio, in person or online.

The Poll leads up to the 2014 Discover Orange Bowl. Discover’s commitment to college football includes relationships with ESPN and Notre Dame Football on NBC.

About Discover

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers home loans, private student loans, personal loans, home equity loans, checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its direct banking business. It operates the Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.

Source: Discover Financial Services

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