Tailgating Goods for the Committed Partier

The start of football season means it's tailgating season. And for the 70 million Americans who consider themselves enthusiasts of this "party in the parking lot," it also means it's time to go shopping.

Tailgating items and accessories, from portable grills to gas-powered blenders, now constitute an industry all their own. Just this month, retail giant Wal-Mart transformed garden centers at 1,700 of its stores into "Game Time Headquarters," selling all manner of tailgating supplies. Online tailgate merchants abound as well, be they specialists (our favorite is The American Tailgater or major names (Amazon.com stocks everything from a tailgating "kit" with a table and cooking utensils to a tailgate-friendly "Freedom Grill" that affixes to your trailer hitch).

With that in mind, here are six new or noteworthy items that might be worth bringing along to your next tailgate. ...