Let’s face it: Our hometown St. Louis Rams have not had the most incredible season. But that should not stop you from diving into the fall tradition of hosting close family and friends, eating high calorie food and drinking local beer. It is, indeed, football season. And we have a few tips to make sure football fans (and nonfans alike) enjoy the time spent in your home.
Tip 1: The food and the beer. Have plenty of it.
This is not a formal, sit-down dinner. It’s a football game. So keep the food simple and you can’t go wrong. Wings, barbeque and chili tend to be staples. And you’ll want to serve it buffet style so the guests can carry it around, mingle or gather near the television. In terms of timing, here is a general guideline: Pre-game: Appetizers. Right before kickoff: Main dishes. Half-time: Desserts.
If you would like more creative dishes and approaches, check out this blog on gameday munchies.
A word on beverages: beer. Have a lot of it or ask guests to bring their own. Sodas and water should be provided for non-drinking guests and coffee and tea in the second half is a great touch.
Tip 2: Don’t overdo the presentation.
This is football, not your kid’s birthday party. So the décor can be more utilitarian than fanciful. The flatware and other party goods can be disposable. Depending upon your guest list, you can choose to theme your home with the colors of your favorite team and display other sports-related memorabilia and jerseys. Football-related platters are easy to find. Also, a low-cost touch that people enjoy is using a helmet as a chip bowl.
Tip 3: Make space for everyone.
Often an avid sports fan will arrive with a younger child or a nonenthusiastic partner. However, you want to be inclusive with your get-together. Prepare an area of the home that is a designated football-free zone. If there is an area for kids to be kids without having to be silent, then that is a win for both the kids and the parents. Also, food and conversation is not a bad way to spend a Sunday, so allow for alternative areas where guests can enjoy snacks. For that area, you may consider rented movies or party games.
Tip 4: Have fun and make it a gameday.
While the football competition is the main attraction, you can amplify the enjoyment of the game with a few of these ideas.
- A video game match up. This is especially fun if you have two guests who are diehard fans of opposing teams. You can create a virtual video game match up. Just ask the guests to arrive early. Then, they can see if their Madden 25 results match the score of the outcome.
- Halftime outdoor football match. Physical activity is good for a few things. Not the least of which is burning off two helpings of chicken wings and several beers. A mid-game outdoor match is a great way to let off steam. A word of caution: You may want to create some ground rules and make it a two-hand touch games.
In reality, football and food are just excuses to show off your home. That new addition or that newly finished basement are equally as important to your talk to your guests about as the football.
