The Super Bowl is the biggest sporting event in the US. From the pre-game celebrations to the half-time show to the commercials and the game itself, “The Big Game” is a big day for fans and businesses alike.

For sports-themed restaurants and bars, it’s a chance to rake in a ton of business and cement yourself as the sports HQ in the neighborhood. But operators do need to go beyond just putting the game on their screens and calling it a day.

Bars need to be an experience that matches the energy of the game itself. Here’s how.

Build An Easy, Game Day Menu

A football surrounded by an array of Super Bowl snacks

There’s a good chance your bar and restaurant is going to be packed full for Super Bowl Sunday. Not only will you need enough waitstaff and cooks, you’ll want to find ways of streamlining service as best you can, too.

Building a Super Bowl Menu can help with that.

This menu should be a streamline version of your regular menu with maybe a few specials added in. Everything should be easy and quick to make, so your kitchen staff can keep up without messing up orders.

A few ideas:

  • Chicken wings
  • Burgers, sliders and sandwiches
  • Fries and tots
  • Jalapeno poppers
  • Nachos

Have some tasty vegetarian/vegan options, too; ideally, something more creative than just a salad.

You and your team can have fun with it, naming sandwiches, combos or drinks after popular players competing in the Super Bowl. You could even have folks “vote” for the team they think is going to win by ordering wings named after their team.

You could also forgo the game day menu and instead opt for a Super Bowl Buffet. Charge guests by the plate or an all you can eat special.

And don’t forget drinks. Make sure you’re fully stocked on guests’ favorite beer, ciders, cocktail mixes, and non-alcoholic beverages. You don’t want to run out partway through the first quarter.

Host The Event

Sports fans celebrating at a US sports bar

Host the event and we mean really host the event. Make it a big deal.

Put up football and team-theme decorations and décor. Have the game audio pumping wide and loud. Have staff wear jerseys or “shirsies” of their favorite team, players, or even referee outfits.

Make the game a fun experience from pre-game to post-game. Some ideas:

Sell Squares

Sell Super Bowl “squares” to guests. If you’re unfamiliar with it, it’s a popular game where people buy squares that have a score for each team. You can let folks choose their squares on a first-come, first-serve basis or have them pull lots randomly out of a hat.

At the end of each quarter, the person whose lot reflects the score wins a prize – be it money, gift cards, or other.

If you can’t make your own, here’s a template you can print off.

Other Games

Consider other ways of engaging fans:

🧠 Prediction Contests. Let fans flex their football IQ and foresight by predicting the final score of the game and who’ll be named Super Bowl MVP. Give them a prize.

🤔 Trivia. You can run trivia during commercials breaks (assuming your guests don’t care about the commercials) or during the break before and after the half-time show.

🗳️ Vote Best Commercial. Super Bowl commercials are almost as exciting as the game itself (and sometimes, more). During half-time have guests vote for what they think the best commercial was.

Lean on your business partners for prizes, such as food and drink vendors and other local businesses. Make sure you give them a shoutout when winners are chosen.

Take Reservations and VIPs

Bar operators should also consider taking reservations ahead of time, giving guests a chance to score the best tables in the house. Also offer your regular guests’ early reservation/registration and preferred seating.

Offer A Game Day Tailgate Package

Football fans tailgating at their house before the Super Bowl

For better or worse, you can’t fit everyone into your bar. And not everyone wants to leave home to watch the game. But you can still make a big impact on the at-home viewing experience by offering fans a Super Bowl Tailgate Package. This is basically themed-catering for at-home guests.

Build an enticing meal and drink package so fans don’t have to brave supermarkets or cook at home. You can have tiers for that feed different number of people – 6 people, 10 people, 15 people, etc.

Celebrate All Day

The Super Bowl isn’t just the game. It’s also the pre-game show and entertainment. Make “The Big Game” a big day by doing the same and having as much pre-game content on your TVs for guests to enjoy.

Also find ways of engaging fans on your own during the pre-game with games, trivia, photo booths, and more.