THE TAILGATE
Here's how you can attend Houston's most anticipated sports and food event
Sep 6, 2023, 8:33 am
Haley Fahrenthold, Jackie Heston, Grace Ryan, and Peyton Ross at the 2022 Tailgate event. Photo by Emily Jaschke
As anyone who’s rolled up to NRG Stadium before dawn with brisket, beer, and gameday gear ready to go knows, Houston tailgating isn’t for rookies.
With that in mind, CultureMap and SportsMap are teaming up to celebrate the return of the big fall sports season with The Tailgate, our all-out party devoted to our favorite sports pastime, which debuted as a smash-hit event last year.
It all goes down on Wednesday, October 25 at Silver Street Studios, and tickets are already on sale.
Tailgaters can look forward to sports-inspired bites from favorite local restaurants, premium cocktails, coveted memorabilia from Texas legends, and plenty of game-day fun at this signature event, which shows major league love for the MVP fans who cheer them on.
Favorite Houston restaurants and chefs will create tailgate-inspired dishes for you to sample and vote for your favorite. Participants include (with more restaurants to be announced):
- FM Kitchen
- Wild Concepts
- Aiko
- Good Vibes Coastal Kitchen
- Cobos
- Twin Peaks
- Quad HTX
- Patterson Park
- Maple Leaf Pub
- The Phoenix on Westheimer
- Rockhouse Southern Kitchen
- The Waffle Bus
- d'Alba Craft Kitchen and Cocktails
As a new twist this year, readers will get to vote for their favorite local sports bar in our Ultimate Sports Bar Showdown. Think of this as sort of like the Sweet 16, where local champs face off in an online tournament. The winner will be revealed at the party.
The event also will shine a spotlight on sports-related nonprofits and give you the chance to pitch in and make a difference for the causes they champion. You'll get to learn more about Dynamo and Dash Charities, Houston Texans Foundation, and more nonprofit partners to be announced.
We'll keep you up to date on all things Tailgate-related in a special editorial series of stories leading up to the event.
A limited number of Early Bird tickets are on sale now at discounted rates of $35 for general admission (regularly $50) and $60 for VIP (regularly $75).
All tickets include bites by participating restaurants, complimentary premium beverages, and access to fun activities throughout the event. VIP tickets get you one-hour early entry, a dedicated VIP bar, and more perks for an elevated experience.
Head here to buy your tickets now.
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The Tailgate is sponsored by Bud Light, NÜTRL Vodka Seltzer, Cutwater Spirits, 1800 Tequila, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, and more to be announced.
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Rockets hold off Bulls 117-114 behind Jalen Green’s 28 points
Mar 16, 2025, 12:58 pm
Emanuel Sharpe scored 26 points, LJ Cryer had 20 and second-ranked Houston stifled No. 17 BYU in a 74-54 victory Friday night that moved the Cougars into the Big 12 Tournament championship game for the second consecutive season.
Milos Uzan added 14 points and Mylik Wilson pulled down 13 rebounds, helping the tournament's top seed jump to a big early lead and roll into Saturday night's matchup with Arizona on a 12-game win streak.
Houston (29-4) played without J'Wan Roberts, its leading rebounder, after he sprained his ankle early in the second half of the Cougars' quarterfinal win over Colorado. Roberts watched from the bench with his right foot in a walking boot.
He got to watch quite a defensive show by one of the nation's best.
Houston forced BYU to miss its first nine shots, including seven from beyond the arc, where coach Kevin Young's team had set a Big 12 Tournament record with 18 made 3s on its way to 96 points in a quarterfinal win over Iowa State. That nearly seven-minute lull allowed Houston to roar to a 15-0 lead that it spent the rest of the game protecting.
BYU trimmed its 40-21 halftime deficit to 13 midway through the second half but never threatened to come all the way back.
Keba Keita had 14 points and 12 rebounds for BYU. Dawson Baker scored 11 points and Richie Saunders had 10.
Takeaways
BYU still has not won a conference tournament title since 2001 in the Mountain West.
Houston lived up to its billing as the nation's No. 1 team in defensive efficiency.
Key moment
Sharpe converted a four-point play with 13:40 left in the first half to give Houston its 15-0 lead.
Key stat
Houston has beaten BYU by an average of 25.5 points in their two games this season.
Up next
Houston will play the Wildcats for the Big 12 title.