REALTORS® Turn Game Day into Community Impact

 The Fourth Annual Downtown Tailgate brought together football fans, families, and local businesses for a day of fun, food, and philanthropy in the heart of Sioux City. 

Hosted by RE/MAX Experience and RE/MAX Lakes Realty, local brokerages committed to community impact, the event drew an estimated 750 attendees in 2025 and marked another milestone in the Tailgate’s growing legacy: surpassing their goal to raise $100,000 for community partners.

What started four years ago in downtown Sioux City has blossomed into a community tradition for REALTORS® and the community. The premise is simple: create an event where locals can gather in a family-friendly atmosphere, celebrate local businesses and culture, and support nonprofit organizations in the area.

“We came up with the downtown tailgate, where we could bring everyone together in a family-friendly environment,” said Jeff Carlson, Broker/Owner at RE/MAX Experience and RE/MAX Lakes Realty. “Where we could market our exceptional local brands and promote growth happening in Sioux City. Then through the event, we could impact our many nonprofits in Sioux City. Everyone wins.” 

The Downtown Tailgate is a full-on football experience. This year featured 105 feet of flat screens showing Iowa, ISU, Nebraska, and Morningside games, along with seating for nearly 400. Attendees enjoyed food trucks, local breweries, tailgate classics, bounce houses, face painting, and live music from bands across Iowa. Morningside College brought its pep band to add a true game-day atmosphere. 

The day is punctuated, not just by the pep band, but other local musicians, including Damon Dotson, and a competitive bags tournament. 

“We want people to know we live here and want to make our city better,” said Carlson, “This is about bringing people together, supporting local businesses, and using our success to benefit the community.”

And that’s exactly what the Downtown Tailgate has done for the past four years. 

The Tailgate has raised more than $100,000 cumulatively. Proceeds are split among local nonprofits, including the Hope Center, United Way, and Children’s Miracle Network at St. Luke’s.

The Hope Center, which combats hunger through programs like “Walk with Me,” has been a primary beneficiary. Donations from the Tailgate have helped the organization serve more than 107,000 meals to Siouxland families over the last three years. United Way supports mental health initiatives, and Children’s Miracle Network focuses on children’s health — covering a wide spectrum of community needs.

“Our brokerage is in the center of the action, but it's about bringing people together to have a great time in the community and help a great cause,” Carlson said. 

Volunteers from the benefiting organizations, local schools, and community groups are integral to the event’s success.

Kayla Kellen, current president-elect of the Junior League of Sioux City and office manager for RE/MAX Experience, helped staff the bar and coordinate volunteers. 

“Community involvement has always been important to me,” she said. “The Tailgate gives everyone a chance to align with like-minded people and make a difference.”

In addition to RE/MAX and community group support, Carlson notes that the event depends on the sponsorships of local businesses for its success. 

“A big chunk of this is thanks to sponsors,” Carlson said. “Food and drink vendors are asked to give back a percentage of sales. This year, it was cool, it took off a bit. We created a platform with a QR code that attendees could scan with their phone and whatever organization they wanted to support of the three participating, or they could split between all three, they could donate on-site and they get an email with tax deduction receipt.” 

The brokerage emphasizes that the Tailgate is just one way to give back. 

“Even if you impact just one person, that’s significant,” said Carlson. “So many times, right now, in the world, people talk about what they are against. We want to have a voice of what the brokerage and our REALTORS are FOR. We try to use this as an expression of that on steroids. We're for local businesses, we're for big and small businesses in Sioux City, we're for bringing the community together, for the people in our neighborhoods.”

In fact, Carlson, co-Broker/Owner - Aaron Jones, and the teams at RE/MAX Experience and RE/MAX Lakes Realty are already looking for more opportunities to make an impact on their communities by expanding the Downtown Tailgate to a second event in Okoboji with Tailgate in the Park coming this fall to Arnolds Park Amusement Park. 

“You don't have to scale an event of this size to make an impact in your community,” Carlson continued. “There are easy and simple ways to align yourself with a non-profit or initiative in your city to highlight that.”