ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Hundreds of football fans began setting up their tailgates early Monday morning in advance of the Falcons' first home game of the year. Some people were seen setting up 12 hours before the 8:30 a.m. kickoff.
"I normally get out here about 6 in the morning," said Melvin Davis of Atlanta, who says he began tailgating before Falcons games in 1971.
"I've been waiting all year just to do this," he added.
Also at the Georgia Dome Monday morning was a film crew, in the midst of a 17-week trip around the country to chronicle the tradition of American football tailgating.
Mike Trupiano said he and his brother John will visit every stadium during this season, filming "episodes" about every place they go. With two weeks of the NFL schedule in the books, the Georgia Dome is already the sixth stadium they've visited.
"I heard a great quote from a guy who's a professional tailgater himself," said Trupiano. "He says, 'tailgating is the last American neighborhood. It's a place for Sunday picnic, it's a place where people get together and share their stories.'"
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