WELCOME TO...
 THE TAILGATER
 The Monthly Tailgating Webzine

When you think of tailgating

in Chicago, you probably think of blistery

days along Lake Michigan outside of 

Solider Field.  Well think again because 

Arena Football is back!  And that means 

the Chicago Rush’s Express Fan Club is

back in action.

(AFL) season starts this month and the Express Fan Club are gearing up for 

the parties in the parking lot.  The group tailgates right outside Allstate Arena 

where the Rush play their games.  Just off Interstate 90 on the northwest side

of Chicago, the arena has a fenced in tailgating area that holds about fifty cars.

“The size of the area along with the tight knit group of tailgaters makes for a 

great time,” says Ben Sanders, Rush season ticket holder, avid tailgater and a 

member of the fan club.  

Working for a major insurance company by day, Ben tailgates at every home 

game plus play-offs with his wife Diane.  They leave for the games from their

home on the Illinois-Wisconsin border four hours before the game starts.  “The 

parking lot opens three hours before kickoff and we get in line so we can get 

one of the fifty spots,” says Ben.  “There is usually a line of about fifteen to 

twenty cars when it opens.”  Ben  and Diane travel to the games in an 

expertly-packed Honda Civic,  loaded with two grills, two tables, a cooler, 

several chairs and a tailgating tote.

Diane isn’t a fan of the NFL but loves Arena Football.  “The fast  pace and fan 

friendly nature of the game keep her coming back,” says Ben.  This year the

couple plans on going to New Orleans to attend the Arena Bowl, the AFL’s 

championship game.

The League

The Arena Football League was founded in 1987 as an indoor football league.

They play on what is essentially a half-size football field.  Each team fields 

eight players on the field with a 20-man active roster and a four-man inactive

roster.  After a rough start and many teams folding, the AFL's attendance has

increased dramatically over the last few years, rising to an average of almost 

12,500 fans per game in 2007.  The teams each play a 16-game schedule.  

Besides Chicago, other teams with big time tailgating clubs include the

Colorado Crush and Kansas City Brigade.

The Club

The Express Fan Club’s 

tailgating action consists of 

members of the club as well 

as friends. However, over the

years they’ve gotten to know 

a lot of the other regulars in 

the lot so it is really just one

big Chicago Rush party.  

And this fan club is stocked 

with serious tailgaters.  In addition to grilling at the Rush games, this group of 

almost 150 fans tailgates at NASCAR events, Bears, White Sox and Brewers 

games, as well as Jimmy Buffet concerts, semi-pro outdoor football, minor 

league baseball and various other sports. “There is no shortage of sports to 

attend in the Chicago area, and we cover ‘em all,” says Ben.  Jim Szyc, a 

member of the fan club, actually drives all the way from Kentucky for every 

Rush  home game!  Now that is dedication!

Once in the parking lot, the club members grill up brats, sausage, burgers, 

chicken and the occasional steak. Ben is in charge of tailgating for the club. 

“Any member can join us before the game and grab a brat and soda on the 

club until they are gone,” says Ben.  The club plans out their tailgates by 

communicating via links on their website (www.expressfanclub.com) and 

a message board.

Wear Your Woollies 

Like tailgates for the NFL Bears, the Express must deal with Chicago’s

 chilly temperatures early on in the season.  But the cold has never 

deterred the Rush tailgaters.  “Five or six years ago, for one of the first 

games of the season there were only two cars tailgating in the lot,” 

reminisces Ben.  “My friend and I were one of them. Why only two? It 

was about ten degrees outside and the wind chill was below zero. We 

had to keep our open beers inside the cooler to keep them from freezing! 

The other group had a gas grill and it never warmed up. Luckily we had 

the old charcoal grill going and saved the day. The other group of tailgaters

is great friends of ours to this day.”  Tailgaters helping tailgaters is part 

of the parking lot code!

Family Atmosphere

A unique part of the Express 

Fan Club is that they have 

had Rush players come and 

join them for a quick bite 

before the game.  “They will

stop by on their way into the 

stadium,” says Ben.  “The fan

friendly nature of the AFL is 

really a huge part of the game.

How many NFL players do 

you know who stop by the lot 

and hang with tailgaters before they go in?”  The only drawback to the 

surroundings is that the Allstate  Arena is part of the flight path for planes 

landing at O’Hare airport. “When planes are landing they are literally right over 

our heads,” says Ben.  “There is nothing  like a little airplane exhaust to go

with your food!”

Party Before the Party

For Ben and his merry band of tailgaters, the best part about going to the Rush

games is the party before the party! “It gives everyone the opportunity to talk about

the players and team while we get our fill of food and drink,” says Ben.  “Tickets to

the games run as inexpensive as eight dollars so everyone attends the games.  

Then if it’s an early game, it’s back outside to fire up the grill!”

So if you are ever in Chicago in the spring and baseball isn’t in town, you can still 

always tailgate with a great group of tailgaters at the Chicago Rush games.  For 

more information or to contact them, check out the Express Fan Club website at

www.expressfanclub.com.