# Tailgate Ted Hosts Commanders Game Day

> Ted Abela, known as 'Tailgate Ted,' prepares for Commanders game with his Hail BBQ Crew.
- Title: Tailgate Ted Hosts Commanders Game Day · The Banner | Shortify
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: tailgate ted, commanders, hail bbq crew, seahawks, washington, landover, tailgate, nfl, food bank, charity, news, local
- Source: The Banner — https://thebanner.com/sports/commanders-nfl/commanders-tailgate-ted-hail-bbq-crew-XQQGRXVXCFBGHPRMFXXPGNIW74
- Author: Hau Chu
- Published: 2026-09-27T23:02:33.774+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: tailgate ted, commanders, hail bbq crew, seahawks, washington, landover, tailgate, nfl, food bank, charity, news, local
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Ted Abela hosts Washington Commanders tailgates for over 20 years, serving themed food and fostering community despite stadium relocation concerns.