Southern Tradition Tailgating

Company to host outings at Texas, Baylor football games

Brad Vickers said he was enjoying a tailgate party at Mississippi State University in 2008, but he wanted to watch his alma mater, the University of Georgia, take on its rival, the University of South Carolina. He could not find the game on TV anywhere he looked.

"There's got to be a better way," Vickers thought to himself.

He came up with the solution in 2009 when he founded Southern Tradition Tailgating, a luxury tailgating service. The idea was to enable people to tailgate while keeping up with other games throughout the country.

Customers are only required to show up, and Southern Tradition Tailgating provides the seats, televisions with a satellite dish, ice coolers, power generators, tents and more to make the experience hassle-free.

"We customize to fit the needs of each individual group that tailgates with us," Vickers said.

Southern Tradition Tailgating started out at Mississippi State and the University of Mississippi but has since ventured throughout the South to include The University of Texas, and, starting this fall, Baylor University.

"We did a couple of select games in Austin to test it out," Vickers said. "Next season will be our first full season."

The luxury tailgating company sets up tents for customers by 9 a.m. regardless of kickoff time and stays running even after the game is over so the party can keep going, Vickers said.

Southern Tradition Tailgating, Robert Dedman Drive, , The University of Texas campus, www.southerntraditiontailgating.com