Tailgating started as a way to enjoy the atmosphere and a meal/refreshment prior to going to the game. I remember eating a homemade meal with my dad at our car before walking to Legion Field decades ago. Then it became a way to have a unique experience throughout the day as you waited for kick-off. Then it became a way to enjoy the atmosphere of being there without ever needing to go to the games at all. It was the affordable alternative to Tide Pride without sacrificing the enjoyment of Tuscaloosa on a game day. Then it became overcrowded because it anyone could do it...so everyone did. It was way too easy to monetize and it was just a matter of time.
Back in 2009-2010 it was like the wild west trying to get a tailgate spot. I remember taking off work on Fridays so I could drive down and claim our spot prior to drop-off opening up. Slowly, but surely the white reserved tents got bigger and bigger in number until there wasn't much real estate left for the rest of us. Then 2011 happened and my parents lost their house in Tuscaloosa to the tornado, and we lost our place to stay on home game weekends. That was the last year we tailgated because having to drive down, setup, tailgate all day, break down, pack-up, and drive 1-3 hours home depending on traffic was no longer worth the excitement. It was easier and cheaper to watch the game on TV or just walk around campus and go to the games than it was to formally tailgate.
It took me 9.5 years to get off the wait list for Tide Pride, so I pay my "donation" and buy my tickets even though we recently moved to GA. I probably won't go to any games this year since we're expecting our third child around Thanksgiving and my parents bought our tickets from us. They rebuilt in Tuscaloosa and can easily make it to the games. As long as they keep buying our tickets, I'll keep renewing them. But I can honestly say that if I wasn't able to sell them, I'd probably stop renewing because the cost outweighs the benefit for us personally. It's cheaper to buy tickets to 1-2 games than to buy the whole season and donation on top.
Add it to the list of first-world problems we have as Alabama fans.