Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Lepper
Hi Ryan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As a student at the University of Texas and an avid college football fan, my friends and I attended every home UT football game we could. We loved making fun of the other schools in the conference and always wished we could find T-shirts that expressed exactly how we felt about these other schools! Back then, you couldn’t find apparel in stores that talked trash about other schools and the ability to design and print your own shirts was pretty pricey. We came up with some designs, scrounged up some money and had about 2 dozen t-shirts printed up to sell. We found that the best way to sell these things was by walking around on gameday. That was great, but kind of a pain. So, we thought, “hey, let’s throw a tailgate.” So, we put together a small – VERY small – tailgate and tried to make sales. Pretty soon we realized the tailgate was a lot more fun that trying to hock these shirts and it seems that our friends kept coming by and just staying. Two turned into four and then four turned into ten and the next thing we knew, we had fifty plus people just hanging out. We didn’t sell any shirts, but we enjoyed the experience. So, we eventually gave up on the shirts and just enjoyed the tailgating. As the tailgate grew, the costs starting getting prohibitive, so we started asking for donations and looking for sponsors. I was amazed at how many people were willing to support the tailgate. Then it dawned on me that we could grow this thing and create a juggernaut. Here we are 24 years after that beginning and we’re one of the biggest and best tailgates in the country, offering experiences and opportunities that no tailgate offers. We are now a destination event and have hosted guests from all over the World, including Canada, England & Australia!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Anytime you build a company from scratch you hit road bumps along the way. You can’t produce the type of events we do without having buy-in from the people around you. Unfortunately, it’s difficult for everyone to be on the same page, so friendships struggle. Often times friendships end. There’s also a time-commitment that’s overwhelming. The amount of time I have to put in is unreal – this on top of having a regular job, family and many other commitments. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about HornBall Tailgaters?
The HornBall Tailgaters are a group of devoted Longhorns dedicated to producing the best pre-game experience for their guests and unique marketing opportunities for their partners. One of the largest non-corporate run tailgates in the nation, and 2018 Tailgate Connect National Tailgate of the Year, it hosts 10,000+ visitors annually and has been featured on multiple local and national television & radio shows, as well as dozens of print & online publications.
While DJ/AC is pumping up the diverse crowd with his amazing mixes, the Hi-Def satellite televisions are pumping out the football action while tailgaters indulge in multiple activities, product samplings and giveaways. Known for their ability to throw a great party, the internationally known HornBall Tailgaters is a destination event for out-of-towners, bachelor parties, birthday celebrations and more, having hosted groups from Canada, England and even Australia! The HornBall Tailgaters are also known for providing turn-key, custom corporate tailgating events for companies looking to reward employees or impress important clients.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Most people don’t know that the tailgate started out as a T-Shirt company. Most people are surprised when I tell them the story.
They are also surprised that we’ve been doing this for 24 straight years. In fact, we are the only tailgate allowed to operate during the Covid pandemic year when College Football played in half-filled stadiums. We were successfully able to lobby the State of Texas to allow us to put on a “special event” that followed all Department of State Health Services guidelines. It was a VASTLY different type of event than our normal tailgate but it was successful and allowed me to pay staff when most of them were out of work and allowed us to put on a safe event that served the community at a time when everyone was used to being locked up or kept away from everyone. We added some normalcy and entertainment to people lives during a very difficult time.
We have helped raise tens-of-thousands of dollars for local charities over our 24 years. We don’t advertise this, but we do what we can to give back.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.hornballtailgaters.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hornballtailgaters/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@HornBallTailgaters
- Twitter: https://x.com/HornballTX
Image Credits:
Ryan Lepper
