• by September 11, 2008

33% hope to tailgate during football season

29% hope to do "some" tailgating in the next 12 months, down from 37% a year ago

27% of those who tailgated at least twice in the past year cite rising fuel costs for cutting back on tailgating; 18% cite rising game/event costs; 17% say they won't be buying season tickets; 14% cite rising food costs

Among tailgaters:

68% report "always grilling" at their parties

90% consider grilling to be an important part of the tailgate (57%, in fact, say it's "extremely important")

64% bought their grills just for tailgating

21% plan to host more tailgates in the next year because, say 24%, they prefer the food over stadium food; 23% are going to more sporting events; 16% are just more interested in tailgating; and 15% like paying less for tailgate food than stadium food

14% plan to host fewer tailgates in the next year

2008 Weber Tailgating Study