Air hockey, poker and football: Whatever friends enjoy doing together, go for it.
A group of Lake Stevens neighbors found a charitable way to extend the fun of Seattle Seahawks home games. They bought a $500 trailer, gutted it, decked it out and plan to tow it to games so they can eat hot dogs and drink soda at the Qwest Field parking lot.
Partner Justin Reid explained the deal: Two buddies found an old trailer and had a vision for greatness.
“Or at least a vision to have a little fun with it,” Reid said. “We all pitched in and purchased the trailer.”
Then they got busy. Excellent at marketing, they found sponsors to help with renovation of the 14-foot trailer and play host to game-day activities. They had the trailer professionally painted and tricked out the interior.
VTR in Everett provided dark window tint. Monster energy drink is sponsoring beverages and a huge ice barrel for every home game. Other sponsors are JR Steakhouse in Marysville, Tully’s Coffee in Seattle, Lake Stevens Chevron, Debbie Barger Smith from Windermere in Marysville, Barcode Resale in Mukilteo and Casey’s Body Shop in Marysville.
“The trailer was coming along, but it still did not fully encompass the Seattle Seahawks without graphics and tricked-out logos,” Reid said. “That is where Casey DuBeau came along.”
DuBeau has worked with a TV series called “Trick My Truck.” He painted the trailer with beautiful Seahawks logos.
By the first home game, the trailer’s roof will include a huge number 12, for the Seahawks’ 12th man theme that honors the fans.
They hope the number gets noticed by TV cameras mounted on helicopters.
Getting noticed is part of the plan. The friends aim to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis research before games. For information about fundraisers, e-mail trailer12man@hotmail.com.
Most of the Seahawks trailer gang lives in the same neighborhood, or nearby, including Art Miranda, Mike Dwyer, Armond Garcia, Solon Scott, Jeff Morris, Bob Eaton and Jim Brady.
I caught up to the party before Saturday’s cruddy game against the Dallas Cowboys. My husband, Chuck, was happy to be offered a cold beverage.
This was an organized group. The buffet was adorable, with hamburgers and hot dogs warming in chafing dishes, chips, salsa and salads galore, organized by Miranda, the food guy.
They said they plan to fancy things up later, with perhaps a seafood day, maybe lobster, ribs, tacos and chicken. Wives may end up sending along more salads, Miranda said. All but one of the eight is married, and most are dads.
Last year, their tailgate parties were under a canopy and featured cigar smoke. This year, there is a plasma TV on the trailer wall and a propane heater. The group also hopes to add an outside big screen connected to a satellite system by the first home game.
They should be there frying bacon by 7 a.m. on Sunday game days.
It costs $75 per game to park in their spot. Everyone piled into the same rig to tow the trailer down, waving at passersby who honked on the freeway.
It isn’t an unusual get-together for the group. They hang out in the neighborhood, house hopping. Mike Dwyer liked the ambiance of the neighborhood so much that when he wanted to upgrade houses he moved across the street.
Most of the 30-somethings have watched the Hawks since they were kids. Even though the trailer is a hoot, they’ll go inside the stadium by kickoff to sit in their season seats.
Plans also call for a urinal in the trailer closet, a handy accessory after all that pop.
Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.
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