7 Sports Bars Marketing Tips to Keep in Your Lineup

By Michael Goorman, Contributor

Good food, drinks, and entertainment no doubt make for a busy sports bar. These three things should be your absolute priority – quality sells itself. But if you want a fully packed bar on more days than just game day, then you’ll have to get a little creative with your sports bar’s marketing.

Just like any other business, publicity is vital. Let people know how much fun they could have in your pub. A solid marketing campaign should appeal to as many audiences as possible, announce upcoming events, and create a “buzz” around your establishment. And using multiple techniques, media, and offers is a great way to cast a wide net and bring in the optimal amount of guests.

Here are seven marketing tips every sports bars should consider:

Sponsor a Local Sports Team

Show some love for your roots by sponsoring a local sports team. There’s nothing more appealing than a company that supports its neighborhood. Heads up, you’ll have to invest some capital here, but the return on investment (ROI) should pay for itself in no time.

Pick a sport/team that’s more likely to bring customers to your bar. For example, if basketball is a firm staple in your city, choose a club or association with the highest ROI potential. What does that mean? Well, suppose you must choose between a club of adults and a youth squad. Considering that a sports bar serves alcohol, the first option is by far the better one unless you’re also pushing a family-friendly atmosphere.

It is up to you to negotiate the terms with the club. Maybe your investment will consist of free meals and drinks instead of hard cash; this way, you’ll cut some costs. Don’t forget to show your new colors in your bar and social media after a done deal.

Host Special Guests & Pay-Per-Views

Significant championships, events, and pay-per-views (PPVs) are huge crowd drawers. Let folks know in advance that they can watch the show in the comfort of your bar. Highlight any features that will give you the extra edge over your competition — multiple TVs, high-definition screens, individual sound, or numerous events a night.

An event can also mean hosting a famous sports star, coach, team mascot, or sports announcer. Also, you could create a charitable event and invite local personalities, singers, or artists. Sometimes people are more interested in the overall experience than the special guest itself – in the absence of an opportunity, create one!

Cross-post on Social Media

Establish a deep-seated presence on all major social media platforms. Cross-posting — publishing your content on multiple social media websites — is a popular marketing technique to reach as many people as possible. But there are a few things to consider.

First, the main post can be the same across the platforms. That means the general message, image, links, offer can more or less be consistent across the board. However, you’ll still want tweak the content to fit the social platform. For instance, using hashtags on Facebook isn’t as useful as it’s on Twitter or Instagram. Also links don’t work on Instagram but are great for Facebook and Twitter, etc. You’ll also want to look into optimizing the image for each platform as size and quality can vary.

Live Stream Bar Competitions

Invent some cool bar competitions and live stream the fun. This way, you’ll show people what they’re missing out on. Additionally, get creative and set up mini-games for prizes, extra drinks, and discounts. Get used to live streaming as much as possible to establish a strong presence on social media. Even more, algorithms give priority to live streams and interactive competitions. This way, you’ll be making yourself some substantial publicity without spending a dime.

Here are some ideas:

• eSports tournaments
• Indoor cornhole
• Darts
• Live trivia night
• Mini hoop shots

Maybe you’re not the most social media savvy boss out there, and that’s OK. Find an employee who’s good at it and make them your cameraperson for the night. Do it regularly and follow a steady schedule, and your viewers will surely increase each time.

Incentivize Patrons to Follow & Subscribe

Create an official social media page and set up discounts/offers for being a follower. Give out small plates, appetizers, and discounts for subscriptions. If they’re already following your page, go to the next level and incentivize patrons to set “see first” options for your business. Having a substantial following will also help your social media ranking.

And don’t neglect your website’s ability to build a following, too. Not only should you have links to all your social media accounts easily found in the navbar or footer, but you should also look for ways to build your email list via your website. Examples are a sign-up page or a pop-up ad. Give your guests a discount for free app for signing up. While social media is a foundational part of modern restaurant marketing, operators will still get the most bang for their marketing buck by utilizing email marketing.

Set-up Limited Time Offers (LTOs)

People are naturally drawn to limited time offers. Classic LTOs involve unique dishes or drinks, but you can get inventive and offer fan gear, personalized sportswear, raffle tickets, and so on. The idea is to get people inside your bar. LTOs have a strong attachment to the phenomenon of fear of missing out (FOMO), and can be leveraged for getting people into your seats who might otherwise waited a few weeks before (re)visting.

Aim for a Broad Appeal

This last piece of advice may not apply to every sports bar, but, generally, you want a family-friendly establishment. Sure, men are usually the prime demographic for sports bars as sports and alcohol stereotypically appeal primarily to them. However, don’t ignore kids and women as potential patrons, too. If you have enough space in your establishment, consider reserving a quieter spot for children and families who want to leave the house to watch the game. Don’t forget to advertise such a feature.

Contrarily, perhaps your business model is geared towards men wanting a night out far from family responsibilities – that’s also an option. Just make sure you promote it, so people searching for a sports bar know what yours is all about.

About the Author
Michael Gorman is a knowledgeable freelance writer with excellent essay writing reviews. He’s also a proofreader from the UK who currently works with the best essay writers and assignment helpers out there. Michael specializes in articles, blog posts, and journalistic papers. When he’s not working with his team of essay writers and proofreaders, you can find him on the soccer field or lake fishing on Sundays.