Get Your Bar Game Ready For Football Season!

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It’s that time of year again! Time to load up on chips and dip, crack open a cold one and break out your comfiest sweats — football season is just around the corner. For diehard football fans, this means spending the next few months religiously reppin’  your lucky jersey and cheering on your team. For restaurant and bar owners, this means you have a season-long opportunity to cater to a unique crowd. Get your bar or restaurant game ready with these game time tricks. Ready… break!

Tailgating isn’t just for the stadium.

If you have the space for it outdoors, consider hosting a tailgate for customers before the game. This is a great way to catch the attention of passersby who may not be football fans, but will be drawn to the energy and excitement of your space.

Get creative with drink specials.

You can have a lot of fun creating themed cocktails for game day — perhaps using ingredient colors that rep your local team. Scope out your competitors and see what deals they’re offering so you can give your customers the best deal around.

Don’t forget the people watching at home.

If your business offers delivery/carry out on orders, think about how you can create special offers for those people, too. Offer discounts on deliveries during a certain time period on game days and think about how you can tie it back to game-watching parties at home.

Ditch the uniforms…

…and have some fun with with the dress code. Invite your staff to wear shirts and/or jerseys to support their favorite team. This is a great way for customers to relate to their servers and may help spark some interesting conversations (and boost tips!).

Remember, you don’t have to love football to have fun.

While it’s true that 111 million people watched the Super Bowl last year, not everyone is a football fan. If your business isn’t football-focused, ponder the idea of creating specials designed for those simply looking for something to do during the game. Something important to remember: women make up 45% of the National Football League fan base, so be wary of alienating your audience by implying that only men want to watch.

Throw a fantasy party.

Fantasy football, that is. As of 2017, there are 59.3 million people playing fantasy sports in the United States and Canada. Fantasy football has become almost as popular as the NFL. You can join a league with neighboring businesses or encourage your staff members to create a league as a way to bond.

Become THE watch spot.

If your restaurant or bar has a TV (or several) that people can watch the game on, you may want to advertise as a watch spot for a specific team. Offer special deals for these fans and encourage large groups to hold their watch parties in your space. They key here is to get people used to coming to you during the game, so they feel more inclined to come back – and bring friends!

Ilana Litvak
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