Philadelphia Eagles fans Mike Burnett and Steve Ogen have been tailgating at the Wells Fargo Center parking lot since 1998.
In the more than quarter-century since, their small tailgating has evolved into something of a festival, writes Isaac Avilucea for AXIOS Philadelphia.
Initially, their setup consisted of a grill they had bought from Home Depot and meat from Burnett’s mother’s fridge.
Fast forward and now there are live DJs, an impressive lineup of chefs, and occasional celebrity sightings in section C6.
“Two became four, four became eight,” Burnett said of their tailgate attendees.
Over time, 500 to 1,000 people began showing up during Eagles’ home games at Lincoln Financial Field.
The tailgating has become a place where Eagles fans and the opposing teams’ fans come gather and mingle with one another.
The gathering has become so mainstream that it has caught the attention of Eagles great Jason Kelce, and even Gov. Josh Shapiro. Freddie Mitchell, a former Eagles wide receiver, is a regular attendee.
In addition to providing a space for Eagles fans, the tailgates have also helped Philadelphians overcome personal problems, health scares, and financial challenges.
The C6 tailgate has meant so much to so many people and looks like it will just continue to grow.
Read more about the popular Eagles tailgate at AXIOS Philadelphia.
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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on PHILADELPHIA Today in January 2025.
