A good super bowl party is easy to put together – food and drinks and a TV. A great Super Bowl Party requires planning and forethought. Here are 5 Tips for throwing a great Super Bowl Party.
1. Don’t invite more people than you have seats.
I would add don’t invite more people than you have comfy seats but that is not always possible. It is painful to watch people play musical chairs, watch others come back and see someone else in their “place” etc. Making sure that every guest has a chair or stool to sit ensures comfort and a decrease in tensions. Rearrange your furniture if necessary.
2. Keep a “flow” going.
Place food and drinks in areas that allow some guests to stop and grab something while others are moving past them. You want your guests to feel good about moving around the space and not feel like they are blocking others view. A good flow ensures that the party doesn’t stop at any place.
3. Plan ahead if your are doing squares or prop bets during the game.
The first key is to let your guests know to bring cash and what the minimum by in is. Make sure you have a selection of small bills on hand to make change. Draw out the boards ahead of time and post the rules next to them. Then place someone in charge of helping you with these bets. You do not want be handling food and the bets at the same time.
4. Have kid friendly activities to keep them busy.
If you are inviting families over, having games set up for the younger ones helps the adults enjoy the game. Set up a movie a room just off the main party space and stock it with snacks and juice boxes.
5. Cater the food and drinks to the people you are inviting.
If you know a tray of wings, some chips and dip and some cold beers would be enjoyed by all (and who doesn’t like that?). Then keep it simple. If you are hosting this as a business mixer or asking people to pay to get into the party – then up your game. Take your vegetarian and gluten free guests into account as well. Make sure you have non-alcoholic drinks for those who are driving and/or who do not want to drink.
Do not forget to sit down and enjoy the party and the game yourself! Plan on food that can be made ahead and kept warm and drinks that do not require much human intervention so you can sit and watch the big game. Happy planning!