From The Banner · Hau Chu · · 2m
Tailgate Ted Hosts Commanders Game Day
Ted Abela, known as 'Tailgate Ted,' prepares for Commanders game with his Hail BBQ Crew.
In brief
Ted Abela, known as 'Tailgate Ted,' prepares for Commanders game with his Hail BBQ Crew. Ted Abela hosts Washington Commanders tailgates for over 20 years, serving themed food and fostering community despite stadium relocation concerns. Originally reported by The Banner.
Ted Abela prepares for Commanders game
Ted Abela, known better by Commanders fans as 'Tailgate Ted,' has hosted tailgates for Washington football games for more than 2 decades.
Abela starts early for tailgate
Abela began packing ingredients at 5:30 a.m. for his Hail BBQ Crew, which serves at least 150 people.
Abela grills wings for tailgate
Abela jerry-rigged his fryer to double-fry wings and managed three propane grills at Northwest Stadium.
Hail BBQ Crew menu features local themes
The Hail BBQ Crew offers a Seattle-style hot dog and teriyaki chicken to honor the Seahawks opponent.
Tailgating community worries about stadium move
Fans fret about the Commanders' move back to Washington and potential tailgate space shortages at the new stadium.
Abela's tailgating history
Abela has been a season ticket holder since 2001 and started tailgating around that time.
Abela's cooking background
Abela learned cooking from his grandmother making lumpia, a fried spring roll, which taught him the importance of patience and connection.
Abela creates themed menus
Abela challenges himself to create thematic menus for Washington's opponents, including alligator for the Jaguars and boudin sausage for the Saints.
Hail BBQ Crew supports charity
The Hail BBQ Crew raised $15,000 for the Capital Area Food Bank last season to support those affected by federal government cuts.
Volunteers join Abela's crew
Volunteers like Christine Brooks, a native of Frankfurt, Germany, and Jeff Brooks, a lifelong fan, help run the tailgates.
Tailgaters worry about stadium move
Tailgaters like Tarni Pannell and Tina Laguna fear the new stadium will eliminate tailgating, a key part of Washington football culture.
Abela plans for future tailgates
Abela will likely stop tailgating after the team moves to Washington, but he plans to adapt to new stadium conditions.
Abela watches game in tailgate gear
Abela dons his custom 'TAILGATE TED' No. 77 burgundy Washington jersey to watch the game after tailgating.
At a glance
Ted Abela hosts Washington Commanders tailgates for over 20 years, serving themed food and fostering community despite stadium relocation concerns.
