America's Parking Lot

America's Parking Lot, released in 2012, directed by Jonny Mars and featuring Ken Belson, Chris Berman, and Cy Ditmore, is a resonant exploration of one of America's most adored cultural activities – tailgating at football games. It delves deeper into the phenomenon to reveal an intertwined story of camaraderie, family tradition, and football love, taking place at the parking lot of the iconic Texas Stadium.

Starting with a general view of tailgating, the film begins to unfurl the story through the lives of its protagonists: Ken Belson, Chris Berman, and Cy Ditmore. They are not your average tailgaters. They are die-hard Dallas Cowboys fans who have turned their love for the football team into a personal ritual. Their passion for the Cowboys far surpasses their Monday to Friday jobs. The film captures their journeys over the course of many seasons, their devotion to the team, and, more prominently, their massive tailgating parties in the parking lot, which evolved into a vibrant subculture and a large and supportive family.

The parking lot constitutes the film's central metaphor, serving as both a gathering spot and a living, breathing community where people from various walks of life share their camaraderie, enthusiasm, and emotion. Given this context, the parking lot - an unassuming stretch of asphalt - becomes an endearing symbol of the vitality of shared experiences and public spaces. A special bond emerges between people as they share one space, one team, and one spirit.

The film unfolds as fans of the Dallas Cowboys gather every game day in the early hours of the morning to set up their tailgate parties. The incredible fervor of these fans swiftly becomes clear as they make their pilgrimage to the stadium's parking lot. Grills are fired up, chairs are arranged in rows, team merchandise is worn, and the lot transforms into a bustling, vibrant oasis of blue and silver – the colors of the Cowboys.

However, beneath this picture of camaraderie and zeal, America's Parking Lot subtly unravels its core object of concern: the commercialization of sports. The film navigates the turbulence brought about by the Cowboys moving from the worn but beloved Texas Stadium to a new, high-tech arena, the AT&T Stadium, which came with a hefty price tag. This change brings with it sky-high ticket prices and a parking lot that's no longer affordable, threatening the age-old tradition of tailgating.

Mars’ film beautifully captures the concerns of the fans who fear what the new, commercialized era of sport might do to their beloved parking lot tradition. The film follows the fans as they struggle to adapt to the new change and fears of a close-knit community breaking down. While the topic may seem very specific to football fans, the broader implications of the commercialization of public spaces make it connect to a wider audience.

Besides Belson, Berman, and Ditmore, the film also gives voice to other loyal fans who take the audience on a vibrant, emotional, and surprising exploration of the ways in which public spaces like parking lots can cultivate a community spirit and engender unique cultural practices. Through these lived experiences, America's Parking Lot becomes more than just a documentary about tailgating or football fans; it reveals the fascinating dynamics of community formation, the potent fusion of sports and culture, and the tussles between tradition and commerce.

America's Parking Lot heavily relies on moving personal narratives and intimate perspectives to shed light on an undervalued aspect of American culture. Its compelling storytelling humanizes its characters which makes audiences appreciate the hearts and souls behind the blue and silver painted faces. While the obvious audience will be sports enthusiasts, particularly football and Cowboys fans, the underlying themes and the narrative drive will appeal to anyone interested in American culture, public space, and the links between commerce and tradition.

In summary, America's Parking Lot succeeds as an engaging, poignant, and insightful exploration into a classic American tradition of tailgating, a created community around a sports team, and the challenges that arise when commercial interests begin to overshadow tradition. It is a tribute to various cultural traditions and the bonds that get formed within shared public spaces. At the same time, it is a commentary on the increasingly capitalist nature of sports and the threat it presents to lifelong team supporters and their cherished rituals.