By:  Jeff Townsend
Super Sunday HQ
January 3, 2011

The Super Bowl is only a month away and it is time to begin thinking about how you can make your annual Super Bowl party one for the ages.  A Super Bowl party is a unique gathering.  You will have some real football fans but there will also probably be the partygoers who care more about the commercials than the actual game.  We here at Super Sunday HQ strive to be the ultimate resource for all things ‘party’ so here is our guide to the essentials of a good Super Bowl party. 

A party isn’t a party without the alcohol
Every party needs alcohol and a Super Bowl party is no different.  Be sure to have lots of beer on hand.  It is key to know your crowd and what they like to drink.  It is best to have a mix of domestic and imported beers.  If you are expecting a big crowd, you might want to consider a pony keg.  Beer is the typical alcoholic beverage consumed at football games so it will go great with your Super Bowl party.

Have a few bottles of liquor on hand for those drinkers who don’t drink beer.  You can’t go wrong with vodka, rum and whiskey.   Soda and juice will do double-duty as mixers for the booze along with providing something to drink for those who don’t want to drink alcohol.  You might also want to have a bottle of tequila on hand for any opportunities for tequila shots.  Throwing a Super Bowl party means showing your crew a good time and that means getting them in the mood for a fun day. 

Munchies, munchies, munchies…
Partygoers may be at your house for four to five hours so it is essential to provide them with some food.  The ultimate food for a Super Bowl party is pizza.  Pizza, beer and football is an American tradition and there is nothing more American than a Super Bowl party.  Since everyone else on the block will also be hosting Super Bowl parties, be sure to call your local pizza parlor way in advance.

It is extremely important to have munchies on hand.  This involves having chips and the like that partygoers can enjoy along with their drinks.  Suggested munchies include:  chips and salsa, hot wings, pretzels, onion rings and hot wings.  Your Super Bowl party is not an occasion to hold a formal dinner for your friends.  It is, after all, a party and munchies are an excellent compliment for drinks.

Drinking games
Question:  What is a Super Bowl party without drinking games?  Answer:  A party that is not living up to it’s potential.   Beer pong is the best game to put together for your guests.  It involves a bit of skill and provides a fun reason to drink.  The game itself might not be that exciting so you want something that will keep your guests entertained. 

Place your bets…..
Have some type of betting game that will cause your partygoers to care about the score during the game.  Create a grid with scores for each team at the end of each quarter.  Partygoers can pick a square for a set amount of money.   

Go home!!!
Your first partygoers for your Super Bowl party may arrive up to an hour before the game starts and no one will leave before it ends.  That means that your Super Bowl party will have been going for close to 5 hours by the time the game ends.  Once a winner has been declared, your Super Bowl party is over.  It is time to send everyone home or move on to the next location. 

One way to suggest to your partygoers that the party is over is to serve coffee.  It is a subtle hint that the event is over.  Another possibility is to organize everyone together to leave to a fun bar or restaurant so the party can continue. 

Enjoy your Super Bowl party but keep it safe for all. Be sure that no one drives home drunk or gets crazy at your house.  You really don’t want vomit on your living room floor, do you?

Cheers!