Today we’d like to introduce you to Lee Thomas.
Hi Lee, 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?
My journey all started while sitting on the beach in Miami, Fl. I was a resident for four years and I always asked myself, why none of the locals ever went to the football games or tailgated with such beautiful weather all year long. One group of people on the beach said to me, “we have South Beach in our backyard bro, nobody really cares about football around here.” That blow my mind knowing the history of Miami Hurricanes and Dolphins football programs.
After that I told myself when I move back to Atlanta, I’m making it my duty to attend or tailgate every game. This was the summer of 2016. The Georgia Dome last year of operation and we are building a brand new home “Mercedes Benz Stadium”.
As the season kicked off I was excited to be back in Atlanta around all my Falcon fans and southern culture “tailgating” Sunday morning, with the smell of BBQ in the air and music blasting on ever corner, I knew i was back home for good.
I sent out a few text and made a few calls to my friends and family telling them to bring a chair, I’ll be setting up a small area to bbq and mingle with the locals come on out it’s free.
By mid season my crowd went from 10 to nearly 100 people with no marketing or promotion. Thanks to the Falcons or course for a success record at the time. Now we are reaching the end of the regular season and our numbers are in the hundreds. I had to start charging people to participate because my cost of hosting these tailgate events were getting expensive with food, beverage and parking.
Last game of the season we play our rivals the New Orleans Saints. I knew this was going to be a major game and big turn out so I hired some friends to help with setting up from, Cook, Severs, Dj and even a local Bartender. I purchased bigger TVs, sound system and even decorations to give it a more picture-friendly vibe for those who are on social media.
I got home that night and realized I made almost 10k in one day from just doing what I love and what I would’ve done for free anyway.
To make “Long-Long story” short , the Atlanta Falcons ended up making it to the Super Bowl, the next year I put together a flawless and damn near perfect business plan. Hosting all major NFL and Collegiate football games around the Southeast. That same year the Georgia Bulldogs make it to the National Championship and play Alabama in Mercedes Benz Stadium, the next year we host Super Bowl 53 here in Atlanta.
The very next year I would go back to my 2nd home. Miami. To host Super Bowl 54, who also hosted the College Football National Championship. The year after that we would go on to host Super Bowl 55 in Tampa, Fl. All of this happen within 5yrs of just doing something I would have done for free anyway, but I turned it into a business which is Tailgate Party Committee. Next stop Super Bowl 56 Los Angeles 2022
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The first few years were exciting and smooth only because the teams we were hosting these event for were winning. Years later I had to revise my business plan a little and travel outside my comfort zone to grow the business.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Well, I went to the University of Nebraska and got my Bachelors in Mass Comm. which I never used. I was working for the Sheraton hotel in my hometown Columbus, Ga for years and relocate to Birmingham, Al. Where I started a music career in producing music. I later moved to Atlanta in the summer of 06. Continued in hospitality in the hotel industry by day and music industry by night. So I had experience in both hospitality and entertainment way before starting (TPC) Tailgate Party Committee. I guess you can call it second natural.
What matters most to you? Why?
Good Service/Product. I always learned in the hospitality industry good service will keep your business running as long as you let it.
Customers, clients, guests will continue to support your business as long as you have good service.
Pricing:
- All of our events are very affordable prices range from $25 and up all-inclusive
Contact Info:
- Email: tailgatepartycommittee@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.tailgatepartycommittee.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/tailgatepartycommittee?utm_medium=copy_link
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TailgatePartyCommittee
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCMIFgViGpCvS6fGQf-9_I5g
