I appreciate the feedback, Terry. My brother Ron and my sons Geoff & Matt are masters of the grills and smokers and I think the food helps distinguish our tailgate from the average game-day experience. But as you alluded to, it's really the people that make the day.
Everyone on the bus was personally invited: I don't advertise to draw a crowd so I have some control over who attends and I don't invite jerks! Then, of course, you, Marcus, and the folks you guys brought all fit right in.
When I stepped back from the tailgate and took in the whole crowd you couldn't even tell the 'bus people' from the 'Herd people'. Just like you said, everyone mingled with everyone else and that's really what made it a great event..
We left Albany at 6:30am and got back at 8:30pm. We had a ball on the bus both ways, at the tailgate, and at the game. I'm glad you got to join in the fun at the tailgate: you have a window into what my entire day was like!!
Food for thought: the Rams will be back in 2023 and one of my guys runs a ton of bus trips to Metlife Stadium and has an 'in' with the Group Sales team. We will get a block of tickets, probably in the end zone on the 200 level. When the time comes I'll check with you and the rest of the board to see if anyone wants to get tickets thru me (at my cost). That way you get another 3+ hours of good times with the gang!!
AlbaNY_Ram
