On Sundays in Cleveland, a pilgrimage begins well before kickoff. As the sun rises over Lake Erie, the Cleveland Municipal Parking Lot—known simply as the Muni Lot—transforms into a raucous, concrete carnival of beer, barbeque, and Browns pride. For thousands of die-hard fans, tailgating here is just as important as the game itself. And in Section B, beneath a towering orange flag near the Shoreway, you’ll find one of the wildest, most welcoming parties on the pavement: The Browns Bunch.

Founded in 2005 by Jason Darwish and Daniel Clarke, The Browns Bunch was built on one simple principle—tailgating should be fun. Since then, they’ve elevated it to an art form. Their signature orange van, slathered in Browns decals and slogans, marks the epicenter of this spectacle. Surrounding it is a playground for grown-ups, featuring giant-sized tailgate games like a six-foot Connect Four, an 8-person beer bong known as the Bunch Bong, and their crown jewel invention: keg bowling. Yes, keg bowling. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Ten bowling pins. One empty keg. And a crowd of howling fans waiting to see if you can avoid the dreaded goose egg—because if you miss all ten? That’s 20 push-ups, right there on the blacktop.

The energy at the Browns Bunch tailgate is electric from the jump. As soon as the gates open—some fans line up hours before dawn to be first in—music pumps from speakers and the smell of sizzling meat fills the air. Week after week, The Browns Bunch throws themed parties that often take playful jabs at the opposing team, complete with costumed revelers, unique cocktails, and games tailored to the matchup. The atmosphere blends organized chaos with Midwestern hospitality. This is a space where newcomers are greeted like old friends, and good times are the priority.

And when it’s time to head toward the stadium, tradition takes over. A group toast signals the march to FirstEnergy Stadium, where everyone raises their cups and belts out the Bunch’s pregame chant before making the short walk down the lakefront.

Of course, it’s not all just beer bongs and bravado. The Browns Bunch also puts their heart into giving back. Their annual “Dawgs for the Dogs” charity tailgate supports Live Love Rescue, an organization that helps abused and neglected animals find loving homes. It’s that balance of over-the-top fun and genuine community care that defines this group and has made them a cornerstone of Cleveland’s gameday culture.

To attend a Browns Bunch tailgate is to feel the pulse of Cleveland fandom—raw, rowdy, and relentlessly loyal. There’s something primal and poetic about it. Fans bark like dogs, wear dog masks, paint their faces, and stand on top of coolers barking at strangers—and yet, the camaraderie is real. The Muni Lot isn’t just asphalt. It’s hallowed ground where generations of fans gather to turn shared pain into pride, where the memory of heartbreak seasons is washed down with cold beer and deep laughter.

Even as times change—stadium names, team records, city skylines—The Browns Bunch remains a constant. Rain, snow, win, or loss, they’re there with keg pins set up and the Bunch Bong loaded. Because for these Clevelanders, tailgating isn’t just the prelude—it’s the point.

So if you ever find yourself near the lakeshore on a fall Sunday, don’t just go to the game. Go to the Muni Lot. Find the orange van. Step up to the line for a round of keg bowling. And remember: if you don’t knock one down, you owe 20 push-ups.

YOU KNOW HOW WE DO!