A Guide to Surviving a Super Bowl Party

Attending a Super Bowl party is a staple in modern day American society. Whether you’re a diehard fan of the sport, in it for the commercials, or just like free food, you’re bound to find yourself elbow deep in a platter of mini-sandwiches at a Super Bowl party. As we all know, parties can be the best of times or the worst of times. A Super Bowl party is no different. Although, it can’t be helped if your team loses or the halftime show doesn’t live up to the hype, there are a few things you can do to ensure a safe and pleasant Sunday evening.

Find your space.

If you’re a musician, I’d imagine it quite difficult to play a gig in a library. If you’re an English professor, I doubt you’d find much need to explore basic math with third graders. A caged bird won’t sing for a reason. Needless to say, not every environment is for everyone. It’s important that you find the best atmosphere for what you personally need from a Super Bowl celebration. If you want to watch the game, hear the commentary, and debate play calling, your best option may be a small gathering at a close friend’s house. If you’re in it for the more social aspect and could care less about either team, live it up and go big. Party with the casual fans, tweet about the commercials, and decide whether or not you liked the halftime show.

It does no one a service if you begrudgingly attend an event when you’re not on the same page as the host. Know what you’re signing up for. Ask a few questions. Know the person inviting you and how much of a fan they are. You should find yourself on the spectrum somewhere between reflecting on a good football season and relaxing with football in the ambiance. Be true to yourself and the people around you.

Get the worm.

I’m sure we’ve all heard the sayings, “Either you’re on time or you’re late,” and, “The early bird gets the worm.” They were drilled in my head as a kid but I never thought much about it until I got my first job. I learned very quickly the importance of showing up early and the consequences of sliding through late. This should apply to your Super Bowl party as well. You should always try to get to a Super Bowl party the moment it begins. I know it sounds crazy but there’s a method to this madness.

What do you stand to gain from being tardy to the party or fashionably late? Nothing. Coming late means missing commercials, first dibs on seats and snacks, and whatever may have happened in the game. When the Colts played the Bears in the Super Bowl, the opening kickoff was returned for a touchdown. It happened so quick and kept everyone on the edge of their seat as long as the game remained close. It drew even the most casual fan in because you could feel the magic and you knew from that moment on, anything could happen.

Aside from the game itself, you don’t want to find yourself stuck standing up hovering over someone else’s nachos which you can’t have because there’s no more chips. Dips and sauces should all be questioned if you don’t know how long they’ve been out or how many times people have double dipped. It’s still cold and flu season and you came for a good time, not an illness. Being a part of the initial wave also shows that you care about the host and allows you to spend some time with them before everyone else comes rushing in. Be a good friend and show up early.

Eat now, snack later.

They say you should never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. The thought is that when you’re hungry you run the risk of shopping for what you want instead of what you need. When you eat before you leave, you’re more likely to have a productive and successful shopping trip, and less likely to buy a giant candy bar or hot wings from the deli section. This logic can save you while attending your party as well.

Unless you have seen visual evidence of there being food and your host has invited your appetite as a plus one, plan on feeding yourself. I find it to be a safe way to take care of yourself, as well as assuring a full stomach throughout. A football game is typically about three hours. That’s a long time to go without eating. Things happen. People have kids and pets and responsibilities. Things burn, spoil, fall and spill everyday. You don’t want to be told there’s wings only to find out that a few of the guests decided to have a wing eating contest while you were looking for parking. Now you’re stuck making a meal out of whatever appetizers you can find.

On the flip side, it’s expected that there will be snacks. It’s more than reasonable and definitely American to nibble on something when you’re sitting around for that long. While everyone else is fighting over what’s left of any hot food or the more filling options, find your lane with the fruit and veggies, the hummus and whatever cheese and crackers there may be. You minimize the mess you make, the space you take up, and the amount of clean up. Everyone will appreciate you for this.

Hopefully, you have a blast come February and some of my ideas help you along the way. You should always remember to have fun and learn. Sports are amazing and you should enjoy them with amazing people. No one wants to share their space with negative energy or ungrateful friends. Appreciate your company and appreciate these athletes, but more than anything else, party on.