Some tailgates measure their success by the size of the crowd.  The Tailgate Warriors measure it by how many people keep coming back.  What began with a handful of Arizona Cardinals fans sharing another Sunday together has grown into a community where familiar faces become extended family and first-time visitors rarely remain strangers for long.  Nestled among the sea of red outside State Farm Stadium, the Tailgate Warriors have built a tradition rooted in friendship, shared responsibility, and the belief that everyone has something to contribute.  Whether someone arrives carrying a side dish, tending the bar, or simply looking for a place to belong before kickoff, they are welcomed into a gathering that has always valued relationships far more than attendance.

The story of the Tailgate Warriors began in 2015 when a close-knit group of six friends decided they wanted more than a place to cook before the game.  They wanted to create a gathering where people could spend the day together, celebrate Cardinals football, and build lasting relationships.  Under the leadership of co-captains Troy Landrum and Cherie Sandoval, that vision steadily expanded.  Family members joined, friends invited friends, and visitors who stopped by for a meal often found themselves returning week after week.  Today, the Tailgate Warriors welcome fans from across the United States and around the world, including guests from Canada and the United Kingdom, all drawn together by the same spirit of hospitality that defined the group from its earliest days.

Game day begins long before the stadium parking lots officially open.  Members of the core group arrive hours before sunrise to secure their familiar location and prepare for another Sunday together.  Those early morning hours have become part of the tradition, giving everyone time to set up, reconnect, and welcome arriving guests before the larger crowds fill the parking lot.  By the time fellow Cardinals fans begin making their way through the lots, the Tailgate Warriors are already in full swing, creating a gathering place where conversation flows as easily as the food and drinks.

Sharing a meal has always been one of the defining traditions of the Tailgate Warriors.  Every home game features an extensive menu prepared for friends and visitors alike, accompanied by a full bar highlighted by the group's signature Red Sea Shot.  While every Sunday offers something different, one celebration stands above the rest.  Their annual Friendsgiving tailgate has become a favorite tradition, bringing everyone together around oversized county fair-style turkey legs and a holiday feast complete with all the familiar side dishes.  More than a meal, Friendsgiving reflects the philosophy that has guided the Tailgate Warriors from the beginning: football provides the occasion, but friendship is the reason everyone gathers.

Years of hosting at home and traveling to road games have helped the Tailgate Warriors build friendships throughout the NFL tailgating community.  Those relationships stretch far beyond Arizona, connecting Cardinals fans with tailgaters representing nearly every corner of the league.  Visitors are welcomed regardless of the logo on their jersey, and many who arrive as strangers leave with invitations to return the next time they are in town.  That willingness to share the experience has earned the Tailgate Warriors the respect of fellow tailgaters across the country while helping showcase the welcoming side of Cardinals fandom.

The Tailgate Warriors represent everything the Tailgating Hall of Fame seeks to preserve.  They have built a community where lifelong friendships are celebrated, newcomers are embraced, and every home game strengthens traditions that continue to grow with each passing season.  Their legacy is not defined by a single event or attraction, but by years of creating a place where people genuinely enjoy being together before cheering on the Arizona Cardinals.  That enduring commitment to hospitality, fellowship, and gameday tradition is what earned the Tailgate Warriors their place in the Tailgating Hall of Fame.

Charity Work:

• The Tailgate Warriors are active with HopeKids out of Scottsdale, Arizona. Click here for more information: https://give.hopekids.org/team/610395