Tailgate Tents
By the Team Tents crew · Notice Me Marketing & Media · Updated
A tailgate tent is a portable pop-up canopy (typically 10x10 or 10x20 feet) designed for quick setup at stadium parking lots. Look for a lightweight aluminum or steel frame, one-person setup, UV/water-resistant fabric, and stake-down or weight options to handle wind — features that separate tailgate-ready tents from basic backyard canopies.
Team Tents builds tailgate tents on hex aluminum frames with a full-color printed top in your colors — 10x10 canopies one person can raise, and the double-wide 10x20 canopy for the whole crew. Graphic design is included on every order.
What Makes a Good Tailgate Tent
A backyard canopy and a tailgate tent look alike. The parking lot is where they separate.
Setup Speed
Lot time is short. Our 10×10 goes up with one person in under five minutes; the 10×20 takes two people, still under five. The frame stays in one piece, so there are no loose poles to hunt for at 7 a.m.
Wind & Weather
Parking lots are open, and gusts funnel between rows of cars. Anchor every leg. Our 50mm hex aluminum frame, anchored with sandbags, ground spikes, or tie-down ropes, is rated for winds up to 50 mph. The 600D PU polyester top is waterproof, UV-resistant, and flame retardant.
Weight & Portability
Every frame packs into a rolling trolley bag, so one person can get it from the trunk to the spot across the lot. Check that the packed tent fits the vehicle you drive to the game.
One-Person Setup
If you're usually first to the lot, the 10×10 is the tent you can raise alone. Save the 10×20 for crews that arrive together.
Built for a Full Season
A 40mm hex frame suits a home-game schedule. Step up to 50mm if the tent also works weekday events, travels to away games, or sets up on windy, open lots.
Team Colors You Can Spot
A printed canopy is how friends find you in a sea of blue pop-ups. Dye-sublimation drives ink into the fabric, so colors and logos won't crack or peel after a season in the sun.
Shop Tailgate Tents by Size
Size, what fits under it, and who it's for. Every tent is quoted to the job, with design included.
| Size | Footprint | What Fits | Setup | Frame | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10×10 tailgate tent | 10 ft × 10 ft (100 sq ft) | One 6-ft or 8-ft table along the back, with the rest open for chairs and a cooler | 1 person · under 5 min | 40mm or 50mm hex aluminum | A standard single tailgate slot; small crews and families |
| 10×20 tailgate tent | 10 ft × 20 ft (200 sq ft) | Two 8-ft tables along the back, with room for a food line or grill-side prep | 2 people · under 5 min | 50mm hex aluminum + cast joints | Big groups, alumni and booster tailgates, a double slot |
| Canopy top only | Fits your existing 10×10 or 10×20 frame | Same as the frame you already own | Swap the top in minutes | Your standard pop-up frame | Rebranding a frame you already tailgate with |
Team & Custom Tailgate Tents
Stock tailgate canopies come in a handful of solid colors. A custom tailgate tent is printed edge to edge — canopy, the 8-inch valance on all four sides, and any walls you add — in your colors, with your name on it.
Official pro and college team logos are trademarks, so print artwork you have the rights to: your crew or league name, school colors, a group logo, or your own design. Our designers build it with you, and you approve a digital proof before anything prints.
Design Your Tailgate TentCollege Game Day
School colors across the canopy and valance, your crew's name on the peak. The tent everyone uses as the meet-up point.
Pro Football Sundays
A season-ticket group's name, a lot number, or a group logo — printed so the whole crew can find the tent from the gate.
Fantasy Leagues & Friend Groups
League name, the trophy, the running joke. Custom artwork is included with every print order.
Booster Clubs & High School Football
Booster booths, concessions, and spirit-gear sales before Friday-night kickoff, in the program's colors.
Running a program rather than a tailgate crew? See our custom team tents and sideline tent setups.
Tailgate Tent Accessories
Everything that turns a canopy into your spot for the day.
Sidewalls & Half-Walls
Full walls block wind, sideways rain, and low afternoon sun. Half-walls (~36 in.) mark your spot without closing it in. Zip on, printable.
anchorAnchors: Sandbags, Spikes, Tie-Downs
Sandbags on pavement, ground spikes on grass lots, tie-down ropes where you can use them. Ask for an anchor kit on your quote and we'll match it to your lot.
table_restaurantCustom Table Covers
6-ft and 8-ft printed covers that match the canopy — the food table becomes part of the setup.
flagFeather Flags
A tall flag in team colors is the landmark your group texts to latecomers.
wall_artTeam Banners
Hang a crew or school banner off the frame or a fence line.
swap_horizReplacement Canopy Tops
A new printed top for any standard 10×10 or 10×20 pop-up frame.
How to Set Up a Tailgate Tent Fast
For a 10×10 (one person) or 10×20 (two people) on a hex aluminum frame. Under five minutes to raise; anchoring and walls take a few more.
- 01
Park, then pick the tent spot
Leave room behind the tailgate for the tent footprint. Clear bottles and debris, and roll the trolley bag to the middle of the spot.
- 02
Stand the frame up and open it partway
Stand the collapsed frame upright and walk it outward from opposite sides until the truss is partly open. One person can do a 10×10; use two people on opposite sides for a 10×20.
- 03
Attach the canopy top
Drape the canopy over the frame and secure the corners with the velcro and zip clips while the frame is still low enough to reach.
- 04
Extend fully and raise the legs
Push the frame fully open until the sliders lock, then raise the legs one side at a time. In wind, keep the legs at their shortest height.
- 05
Anchor every leg before anything else
Sandbags on asphalt, ground spikes on grass, tie-down ropes where you can. Anchor before you set up tables or walls — a gust can move an unanchored canopy across the lot.
- 06
Add walls and set up the tables
Zip sidewalls or half-walls on at the eave and velcro them at the legs, on the windward side first. Then bring in the tables, table covers, and chairs.
After the Final Whistle
- Take down walls and tables first, then the anchors — last thing off, first thing on.
- Lower the legs, release the sliders, and walk the frame closed from opposite sides.
- If the canopy is wet, pack it loosely and dry it out completely at home before storage.
- Roll the closed frame into the trolley bag with the canopy and walls.
More detail on frames and packing: compare pop up tent canopies.
Tailgate Tent FAQs
Sizing, solo setup, wind, rain, and custom printing.
- What size tailgate tent do I need?
- A 10×10 fits a standard tailgate slot and covers about 100 square feet — room for one 6-ft or 8-ft table plus chairs and a cooler. Choose a 10×20 (200 square feet) for bigger groups, alumni or booster tailgates, or when you have a double spot; it fits two 8-ft tables along the back.
- Can I set up a tailgate tent alone?
- Yes, with a 10×10. A Team Tents 10×10 goes up with one person in under five minutes and packs into a rolling trolley bag. A 10×20 is a two-person setup, also under five minutes.
- What's the best tailgate tent for wind?
- A heavier frame that's anchored on every leg. Our 50mm hex aluminum frame, anchored with sandbags, ground spikes, or tie-down ropes, is rated for winds up to 50 mph. Use sandbags on pavement and spikes on grass, keep the legs low in gusts, and put a wall on the windward side.
- Is a tailgate tent waterproof?
- Team Tents canopies and walls are 600D PU polyester, which is waterproof, UV-resistant, and flame retardant. Add full sidewalls to keep wind-driven rain out of the sides.
- Can I put my team's colors or logo on a tailgate tent?
- Yes. Team Tents prints the canopy, valance, and walls in full-color dye-sublimation, and graphic design with a digital proof is included. Production takes 10 to 14 business days after artwork approval and payment, plus transit. Official pro and college team logos are trademarks, so use artwork you have the rights to — your crew name, league name, school colors, or your own logo.
- How long does it take to get a custom tailgate tent?
- 10 to 14 business days after artwork approval and payment, plus transit. Order before the season opener to have it for the first home game.
Sources
- 10×10 Custom Printed Tent — solo setup time, frame options, table layouts
- 10×20 Custom Printed Tent — two-person setup, 50 mph anchored wind rating, two 8-ft table fit
- Custom Tent Sidewalls — half-wall height, zip-on install
- Custom Canopies — 600D PU polyester fabric, dye-sublimation print
- Request a Quote — design, anchor kits, and production time