Alabama-based Tailgate Guys is a "fast-growing startup that organizes tailgates from start to finish," and founding President & CEO Parker Duffey "has seen his company balloon to the point where he’s had to turn down eight-figure buyout offers," according to Zack Guzman of YAHOO FINANCE. The company has set up "exclusive relationships with colleges," starting with Auburn. After attracting an "undisclosed investment for 25% of the company" from Teall Capital Partners' Ben Sutton, Duffey "put the funds to work by buying out the man who founded" Alabama’s original Game Day Tents, and then looked to other schools. Duffey in '16 grew the operation from six colleges to 16, and he "recently added NFL stadiums to its list of event spaces, which totals 43 across the country." The company’s services have grown to include "full catering options and even packages with multiple satellite TVs." A standard package costs roughly $20-30 per person and "comes with tents, tables and chairs that are set up and broken down before and after the game." But expansion "has brought its own set of challenges as the company learned everyone has their own idea of what tailgating is." Duffey: "We’re part of a generation where the athletic event somewhat becomes secondary in a lot of ways. We’re drawn to the community aspect of things, where the event around the event is actually the draw and with ride sharing as big as it is people aren’t even driving to games anymore.” Annual sales revenue has grown "five-fold over the past two years" since crossing $10M in '16. Duffey said that the company has "plans to continue ramping up partnerships with other stadiums across the country while also building on existing services" (FINANCE.YAHOO.com, 10/26).
