Vote Your City's Tailgate
NFL Cities Compete in Great American Tailgate Challenge, Fans Vote for Signature Dishes
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Key Points
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In Jacksonville, the Jaguars' signature dish is framed as 'the coastal classic that brings people together and turns every tailgate into a feast.'
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Broncos fans are highlighted with the dish described as 'green chile burgers are the rightful champions of Rocky Mountain tailgating.'
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For the Packers, the piece emphasizes 'bratwurst is the undisputed champion of Lambeau tailgating.'
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Eagles fans are presented with the line that 'Philly cheesesteaks are the undisputed champions of East Coast tailgating.'
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Bengals fans are described as promoting 'Cincinnati chili dogs are the rightful kings of Queen City tailgating.'
USA TODAY and the Pro Football Hall of Fame have teamed up to launch the Great American Tailgate Challenge, a bracket-style vote pitting signature dishes from all 32 NFL cities against each other. The winner gets bragging rights — and one lucky voter wins a $1,000 Hall of Fame merchandise prize. USA TODAY launched the campaign on April 27, 2026, framing tailgating as "a unifying ritual" that runs from stadium parking lots to city streets.
Voting is open to U.S. residents 21 and older, with one vote allowed per round per day. No purchase is required to enter. The bracket is now in its primary phase, with fan bases across the country rallying hard for their hometown dish.
Hall of Fame Teams Up With USA TODAY to Run It
Jim Porter, President and CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, called the event a natural fit. "Watching football and enjoying great food go together naturally," Porter said. "This partnership with USA TODAY will create a tailgate-like atmosphere with 32 delicious offerings that represent each NFL team market." Business Wire reported the partnership announcement on April 27, 2026.
The USA TODAY Network, owned by Gannett Co., reaches over 100 million unique visitors per month, according to Gannett Investor Relations. That massive reach gives local newsrooms — like The Florida Times-Union and The Cincinnati Enquirer — a platform to push their city's dish. Each of the 32 NFL markets gets one designated signature dish in the bracket.
Coastal Boils, Green Chile, and Bratwurst Lead Regional Rallies
In Jacksonville, Jaguars fans are pushing the low-country boil — shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes — as "the coastal classic that brings people together and turns every tailgate into a feast." In Denver, Broncos backers insist "green chile burgers are the rightful champions of Rocky Mountain tailgating." Both dishes lean hard into local identity rather than generic football food like wings or nachos.
In Green Bay, the case is simpler. "Bratwurst is the undisputed champion of Lambeau tailgating," according to Packers Wire. Packers fans have grilled brats over charcoal outside Lambeau Field for decades. The dish is less a choice and more a tradition carved into Wisconsin culture.
Cheesesteaks, Chili Dogs, and Coney Dogs Fight for East Coast Respect
Philadelphia Eagles fans are not subtle about their entry. "Philly cheesesteaks are the undisputed champions of East Coast tailgating," boosters say. Cincinnati Bengals fans counter that "Cincinnati chili dogs are the rightful kings of Queen City tailgating." Detroit Lions fans, meanwhile, champion the coney dog — a hot dog topped with meat sauce and mustard — as the Motor City's rightful representative.
Food purists have pushed back. Some argue that picking one dish — like Detroit coney dogs over Detroit-style pizza — creates forced rivalries that flatten a city's real food culture. But the Hall of Fame's involvement gives the selections an official stamp that is hard to argue with, according to IndyStar.
Campaign Doubles as a Data Play for the NFL Off-Season Dead Zone
Marketing analysts have flagged a second purpose behind the bracket. By requiring fans to log in and vote daily, USA TODAY collects first-party data — direct user information — ahead of the 2026-27 NFL season. The $1,000 prize is a low-cost way to generate free advertising through fan-led social media buzz during July, the quietest stretch of the NFL calendar before training camps open.
For the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the campaign fills a gap between February's Super Bowl and August's Enshrinement Week. It follows a similar engagement playbook to the HOF's "Snap Your Way to Canton" promotion with SnapDragon Apples in December 2025, which sent winners to the 2026 Enshrinement ceremony, according to Pro Football Hall of Fame. If the tailgate challenge lands well, analysts expect MLB and NBA to try similar local food brackets.
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