How to Host the Best Football Watching Party Ever

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! That’s right. It’s football season. If you’ve been dreaming of hosting the most talked about watch party of the year, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some tips to make your watch party one they’ll never forget.

Location Location Location

The first thing you will need to decide is where to have your party. Most people host this gathering in the living room if there is enough space. If seating is limited, throw some cushions on the floor and encourage your guests to make themselves comfortable wherever they like. 

If you want your party to stand out from the crowd, consider moving it outdoors. If you don’t own a projector or screen you can rent both from ABZ Rent-All. If you want to really go all out, don’t just set up folding chairs. Bring the couch outside as well. This is sure to make a lasting impression on your football fan friends. 

Keep it Clean

Now that you’ve decided on the location, make sure that you give it a good cleaning before your guests arrive. Sweep and mop the floors, plug in an air freshener, and tidy up the bathroom. The bathroom will get a lot of use during a typical watch party so don’t forget to spend a little extra time cleaning it. Football-shaped soaps or a hand towel with your team’s logo add a nice touch.

Sideline Snacks

Everyone’s favorite thing to do at a watch party, besides cheering on their team, is eating the snacks. The three key components of sideline snacks are taste, portability, and heartiness. If your party is indoors, tortilla chips with a variety of dips are the way to go. Some party favorites include rotel dip, guacamole, and buffalo chicken dip. 

If you are partying outdoors, fire up the grill. Hamburgers and hotdogs are staples of a good outdoor party. To mix it up a little, try adding bratwurst to the menu. Don’t forget your toppings bar.

Game Day Décor

Decorating for game day is simple. If all of your guests are rooting for the same team, choose that team’s colors as your color palette. You can get solid color paper products, table cloths, and balloons at Party On. 

If your guests are split on which team they are cheering on, get party supplies in each team’s colors and set up the table with one team on the left and the other on the right. Each guest can choose the plate, napkin, and cup that goes with their team.

For a fun DIY centerpiece, gather a terra-cotta flower pot, a football, some silver or white spray paint, a tube of E6000, and some artificial flowers in your team’s colors. Turn the flower pot upside down to use as a base for your centerpiece. Glue the football on top. Allow this to dry completely, then spray paint either metallic silver or white. Once the paint has dried, glue several artificial flowers to the top. If you want more flowers, glue small blooms around the base for a nice trim. 

Dress for the Occasion

Just because you didn’t make it to the big game, doesn’t mean you can’t dress like you did. Encourage guests to wear their team tees, jerseys, and even body paint. As the host, you can even dress as the referee. Any time a guest drops a chip or spills their drink, blow your whistle and proclaim a party foul. 

Build the Perfect Party Playlist

Chances are your guests will arrive well before the big game starts, so keep spirits high with a game day playlist. Favorites such as All I Do is Win by DJ Khaled, Yeah by Usher, We are the Champions by Queen, and Rock and Roll Part 2 by Gary Glitter are sure to have your guests pumped up for kickoff. Invite guests who cheer for opposing teams to compete in a dance-off. This is a great way to earn bragging rights even if their team loses.

Pics or it Didn’t Happen

You know a party this epic is going to result in a ton of pictures, so do your guests right by providing them with the perfect setting: a photo booth. To make your photo booth extra-special set up an affordable ring light and have an assortment of props to choose from. Some fun props include a football, feather boa in your team’s colors, pom-pom shakers, or you can order a premade pack of football party photo booth props. 

Party Favors

Once the game is over and the party is winding down, give your guests one last surprise. A thoughtful party favor is a great way to ensure your guests leave your party looking forward to the next time they get an invite from you. Party favors aren’t just for kids’ parties. You can find fun, grown-up party favors such as a customizable bottle opener that allows you to add your own text. You can even do football-themed goodie bags filled with pom-pom shakers, silicone football bracelets, and candy. It’s a special touch that shows you care about your football fan friends no matter which team they cheer on.

Send out the invitations, implement these tips, and prepare to have an amazing game day soiree. Have fun planning, but remember to relax and enjoy the game with your friends. Don’t be surprised when they start asking you to throw all of the parties.