Every home game at Empower Field at Mile High deserves a game plan, and the best ones start long before kickoff. This is Chef Mike's field manual for a South Lot tailgate: a timeline you can adapt, from the first cooler to the last trash bag. It is a fan guide, not an official stadium document, so always follow stadium rules and posted signage over anything you read here.
Setup: Two to Three Hours Out
Arrive early enough that nobody is rushing. Claim your space respectfully, set up your grill or smoker on a level spot, and position it so smoke drifts away from neighbors. Park your chairs and tables first, then the cooking gear, then the cooler. Keep a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water within reach, and know where your propane valve is.
Here is the tailgate checklist we like to run through, written out as a list so you can copy it into your phone notes:
- Grill or smoker, fuel, lighter and a spare
- Fire extinguisher and a bucket of water
- Meat thermometer and tongs
- Two coolers: one for food, one for drinks
- Water, plus non-alcoholic drinks for everyone
- Trash bags, paper towels and a tarp
- Layers, hand warmers and sunscreen
- A plan for a designated driver or a ride home
This checklist is just a list inside this article. ColoFandom does not offer a downloadable version, and nothing here is a permit or a pass.
Smoker Timing
Work backward from kickoff. Pulled pork or a brisket needs many hours, so most fans cook it at home and reheat on game day. For the lot itself, think in short bites: sausages, wings, smoked sides and chili. Light your smoker about two hours before you want to eat, let it settle at a steady temperature, and resist opening the lid. At 5,280 feet water boils at a lower temperature and food can take longer, so trust a thermometer rather than the clock.
Green Chile Brats
This is the signature play. Simmer bratwurst gently in a pan of lager, sliced onion and a couple of spoonfuls of roasted Hatch green chile until they are cooked through, then finish them over direct heat for color. Fresh, canned or frozen roasted chile all work; pick your heat level and keep a mild option for the crowd. Pile them on a sturdy roll with chopped chile, grilled onion and a squeeze of mustard. Cook sausage to a safe internal temperature and keep raw and cooked food on separate plates.
Pairings
Green chile and smoke love a crisp, cold beer. A cold IPA brings bitterness that cuts through fat without the heavy hop sweetness of a hazy. A clean Colorado lager is a safe, refreshing default, and an amber lager or red ale suits smoked pork. For the cold-weather games, a stout next to chili is hard to beat. Pour responsibly, pace yourself, offer water and soda, and never drive if you have been drinking. Nominate a designated driver before the day begins.
Wind and Altitude
Wind in the south lot can push heat out of a grill and carry smoke into the next group. Turn the grill's back toward the wind, use a windbreak that is not flammable, and never leave a flame unattended. Thin air means stronger sun, drier skin and quicker dehydration, so drink water between beers. Temperatures can swing a long way from the afternoon to the fourth quarter, so pack layers.
Meeting Zones: Lots C, J and M
In ColoFandom's community designs you will see Lots C, J and M used as informal meeting zones for our fans, a quick way to say where friends might gather. These are community shorthand only. They are not official lot rules, assignments or designations, and nobody should treat them as such. Use the stadium's own information for parking, entry and lot regulations, follow posted signage, and listen to staff.
Cleanup and Leaving
Start cleanup before the final whistle if you can. Let the grill cool, never dump hot coals in a trash can, and use the disposal options the venue provides. Bag your trash, pick up what neighbors may have dropped, and leave your space cleaner than you found it. Plan your exit: traffic will be heavy, so be patient, wait for a sober driver, and give yourself time. Then go home, and be ready to do it again next Sunday.
Final Whistle Checklist
Before you pack out, run one last sweep. Fires fully out, propane valves closed, trash bagged, chairs folded and keys in the pocket of the designated driver. Count your group, confirm the meeting spot for the walk back to the car, and keep phones charged in case service gets crowded. A little discipline at the end keeps the whole tradition welcome for everyone who tailgates after you. Remember too that a tailgate is a shared space: keep music at a friendly level, welcome visiting fans, and share a brat with a neighbor if they look hungry. Good hosts make good lots, and good lots make better game days.
One more tip on timing: build a buffer into everything. Cooking, setup and walking to the gate all take longer than you expect when the lot is packed and the air is thin. If you are running late, simplify the menu instead of rushing the fire.