The Super Bowl is the biggest game of the year in the National Football League, and with this year marking the 50th year of this tradition, it’s bound to be a great game between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos. Sure, it is exciting and lots of fun, but the pressure of the game is intense. Planning a Super Bowl party puts just as much pressure on you as a host. Here are some tips to plan the best party.
Decide who will host
If you are not going to a sports bar to watch the Super Bowl, then you and your friends must decide who will host. This must be done in advance so that the owner of the party venue can clean and prepare for the big day and so anyone attending knows where to go. Nobody wants to find out his or her friends are coming over for a party last minute, as it doesn’t leave much prep time. After all, it’s the Super Bowl; people will be loud, they will be rambunctious, they will want food, and they will most certainly want beer — if they’re 21 or older, of course.
Know what food and drinks you want to have
When it’s time to watch the Super Bowl, nobody wants to have a fancy, sit-down meal with forks, knives, suits and ties. For kickoff, you’re going to want to chow down on finger food that fills you up but still lets you jump up and down and yell at the ref’s calls on the screen. Some of the most delicious appetizers at a Super Bowl are chips with dip, nachos with cheese and party platters with assortments of veggies, fruits, cheeses and crackers. The most common entrees are wings, pizza, burgers, hot dogs and bratwursts. As for drinks, the most common are soda, water and, if you’re 21 or older, beer. With your group of friends, decide who will pay for what. The best way is to figure out how much all of the food and drinks will cost and have everyone chip in evenly. Another way to settle on the food costs is to host a pot luck where everyone brings something for the party.
If you are the host, make sure to clean and decorate your place
No one likes to be at a party where the house is dirty and stinks. The main places to clean are the living room, the kitchen and the bathrooms, as this is where your guests will spend the majority of their time. It is important to know how many people are coming to the party so you have enough seats for everyone. After cleaning, decorate the place with Super Bowl materials, such as Panthers and Broncos logos or balloons and tablecloths that are the competing teams’ colors: light blue and silver for the Panthers and blue and orange for the Broncos.
Plan games for people to play
No one wants to sit and just eat to wait for the Super Bowl to begin. After all, most of the excitement stems from the pre-game hype. People like to come early and tailgate for big games, so it is important to plan entertainment. Some of the most common games for tailgates are horseshoes and cornhole. You can also plan games for viewing the game, such as trivia, to keep things interesting for the sports fans in the room.
Have a back-up
In case nothing goes right, whether you have to change the location or the television is not working, make sure someone else can host the party. You don’t want Super Bowl Sunday to come around and not be able to watch the highly-anticipated end to the football season. If there’s not someone else who can host the party as a backup, make sure to scout out nearby sports bars that will be airing the game. Most of them will have specials for the game, and some will even be decorated.
The Super Bowl is basically the Oscars of the sports world, and just like the Oscars, you don’t want to trip while stepping up to claim your award. Take the time to plan out your evening of food, fun and football. And don’t forget to turn to the right channel: CBS on Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m.
