| Issue #32, November 3, 2006 |
Are You Ready For Some Football?
Baseball may be the great American pastime, but football is the sport that encourages its fans to behave at their most fanatical. Football parties have become a fall ritual, regardless of whether it’s tailgating at the game or hosting some friends in front of the television and the bigger the screen, the better! Planning a home football party can be fairly simple, but there are several ideas you will want to incorporate to ensure your party is a success.
First, you will want to use a football yard sign to mark the party site. You can line your walkway with red shimmer stars, writing each team members’ name on a star. Tape the stars with masking or duct tape to the sidewalk, walkway, or exterior walls leading to your front door. The stars can also be used on the food table and as place cards. A good idea is to attach a bouquet of helium-filled balloons to a light post or mailbox so there will be no mistaking where the fun will be taking place.
Decorate your party room with team colors and encourage your guests to decorate themselves. You can provide face paint and make sure you have some pom-poms around for people to shake. Your table should set the mood. Use tableware and napkins with your team shop, have team logo napkins or you can put out a colorful all-NFL ensemble. NFL beverage napkins, paper plates and cups all add to the festivities. Mylar sports balloons add a colorful touch and you can use them indoors or out. You should also have a football centerpiece, such as a 13-inch inflatable football. Hanging some football lights around the table or around the television is a nice touch also. Stand life-sized stand ups of sports heroes around the table or giant number standees to represent players. Football banners make a powerful statement. A huge 5’ x 5’ or 5’ x 11’ mural can be hung up with ease and will look great.
You will want to make sure your party room has plenty of chairs available so everyone can see the television. Move the furniture back and set up chairs bleacher style so that plenty of people can watch the game comfortably. If your group consists of pretty serious fans, staying in one room works best. However, if some of the group is more interested in socializing, you might want to prepare a second room for them. If you have a television in the basement you might want to put any kids in there. Even kids that are great fans have trouble staying focused for four quarters, so it’s best to situate them where they won’t interrupt your view of the action.
As far as food goes, it’s best to set up your table in buffet style, since people will not want to sit for long in your dining room. Make sure you prepare all your food in advance, as you will not want to be stuck preparing food during the game or miss the last two minutes of the half. Potluck is always an acceptable way to go. Try a big pot of chili, some sausage and peppers, or maybe a pot of meatballs for sandwiches. Finger food is good as well as soup and sandwiches. Serving foods associated with a certain team’s location is a nice idea (clam chowder for the New England Patriots or Philly cheese steak for the Philadelphia Eagles). Once the food is out, leave it out for the rest of the game. If you have a big crowd, not everyone will get to the table in 15 minutes, and many will come back for a second helping. And be sure to have a cooler or two, filled with beer and soft drinks.
Win or lose, the post-game is a good time for a ceremonial smashing of a piñata. It’s a lot of fun if you have kids, and even more fun if a guest has had one too many libations. Smashing a football piñata is a great way to get rid of some frustration or to celebrate a victory. You could try filling the piñata with age appropriate items and treats. For adults, you may want to put in Maalox, Advil, etc. For kids, you could put in whistles, candy, football stickers, football trading cards, etc. There are also many football trivia games that can be played for the enjoyment of all. Just use your imagination and have fun!
–Frank McChristian
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