The widening patio umbrella of tailgate and BBQ

For months, the industry has been anticipating a revamped (and expanded) Tailgate, Backyard & BBQ section at the 2016 National Hardware Show. But what does this renewed focus mean for the category as a whole?



Well, according to Randy Dye, who is closely involved in putting on the recreation area at the show, it’s a reflection of the widening scope of buyers who are coming to Las Vegas every year.



“You’ve got buyers from all over — from grocery to drug to online,” said Dye, publisher of a tailgate industry publication. “With online retail being what it is today, with more diverse products that are maybe not being looked at as just nails and boards, it’s a much bigger and broader setup. So the expanding awareness, bringing in the BBQ section, it’s all kind of tied together.”



 This year, the section is featuring more lawn, garden and outdoor living products (displayed outside, in their natural habitat), plus an NHS Chill Out Zone with an air-conditioned RV where attendees can sip on a refreshment and cool off. A Tailgate Happy Hour and Retailer Happy Hour draw additional attention to the area, as does an additional bus drop-off in the morning to allow visitors to tailgate first thing in the morning.



Out beyond the familiar terrain of the Las Vegas Convention Center, however, things are also growing very fast for the market as a whole.



“It’s not flipping hamburgers and hotdogs anymore,” said Dye. “With the type of products that are being produced, anybody can become an overnight chef just by watching a YouTube video. We’re seeing the backyard lifestyle becoming more and more technology-driven, with creative grills and outdoor kitchens and televisions. It’s a whole experience.”



With the rise of the outdoor kitchen and experiential recreation spaces, grills and cooking products have similarly evolved to embolden consumers to flex their creative muscles outside.



Homeowners are also more willing to invest in their backyards. At the high end, many consumers can spend anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 just to make their deck a comfortable place to cook and hang out.



“More people watch the Super Bowl at home than they do at the Super Bowl, and they act and dress up just like they’re at the Super Bowl,” he said. “The cost of going to an event has become astronomically out of whack, and most people don’t buy season tickets anymore. They take that investment and put it into their backyards and homes.”



Flat-screen televisions, for example, have become major commodities for outdoor living spaces.



Wireless technology is also a major driver behind the technological advances that are revolutionizing outdoor living. (Want to pop dessert into the oven but relax with friends outside? Your mobile phone can alert you when it’s time to check on that dish.)



Then again, a grill is still a grill in 2016, but many have evolved to eliminate the hassle from food preparation. Smokers, griddles, fryers — any combination of those things, really — are making it easier for people to explore their creative cooking abilities. What’s more, according to Dye, is that many homeowners now own anywhere from two to three grills to keep their options open.



“They’re doing things that they wouldn’t have thought about doing 10 to 15 years ago because it was just too much of a hassle,” he said.