What is more All American than Super Bowl Sunday? A Super Bowl party! And since the entertainment is built right in, it’s super easy! Though some would argue that you need little more than a few six packs and a bag of chips for a successful event, adding a few new plays to your game plan will ensure that you’ll have fans long after the clock runs out!

Super Bowl Sunday is almost a national holiday. Last year a record 97.5 million people watched the super Bowl, making it the most watched event and second only to the last episode of M.A.S.H. Advertisers clamor to pay millions for each 30 second commercial spot and many famous entertainers perform pregame and at halftime. This year’s entertainment is no less than the Boss, Bruce Springsteen himself. Little surprise that Super Bowl Sunday is the 2nd largest U.S. food consumption day, following Thanksgiving

It’s interesting to note this national obsession has only been around for just over 40 years. At that time it was officially named the World Championship of Professional Football. The late Lamar Hunt, AFL founder and Kansas City Chiefs owner had jokingly referred to the championship as a “Super Bowl”, consistent with college football games which had long been known as bowl games. Event though it was meant to be temporary, the Super Bowl name stuck.

The first game was a championship game between the NFL and the younger rival American football League (AFL) and was played January 1967 between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Packers taught the Chiefs a painful lesson with a closing score of 35-10. Sixty two thousand fans attended that first game and millions watched at home. The audiences and hype have been growing every year. The two leagues later merged and the game has been played on a Sunday after the playoff games ever since. Click here to take our Super Bowl Trivia quiz!.

Tackling the Menu
Super Bowl food should be unpretentious and fun. You can keep it simple but still go beyond chips and beer! Chef Bud Andersen, Corporate Chef, Ben E. Keith Foods, West Texas Division, shared with us his favorite recipes for a Super Bowl crowd. If you don’t want to do all the work yourself, share the recipes and make it a team effort!

Never Benched Bacon Wrapped Scallops with Chile Mayo

First Down Tequila Chicken Quesadillas

Kickoff Beef Sliders with Chipotle Mayonnaise

Pass the Brownies

Steel Helmet Cocktail

Cardinal Rum Cocktail

Festivities
This is one party that sets the TV screen front and center. In fact, you don’t need much more than a big screen and a few chairs to keep the fans happy. But here are some ideas that are sure to score with your fans:

• Turn your table into a playing field. Set up on a rectangular table and cover it with a tablecloth of artificial turf. You can mark yard lines and goals with white tape. Goal posts can be found at party stores.
• Divide the room in half using masking tape. Mark sides from which your guests can watch and support their teams. Just make sure everyone has a good view.
• Provide “bad call” bricks for fans to throw at each other or the TV.
• Remember that music is a great contributor to atmosphere as well. Feel free to play the music of the pre game and half time entertainers in the background – just don’t forget the main focus is the TV!
• If kids are present, have face paint on hand in team colors and have the kids lead the cheering sections.
• To add more excitement, set up a betting pool to keep everyone interested in the game. The Super Bowl party is the best of American tradition– friends, family, food and fun.

The Super Bowl is approaching quickly, so get your game plan together to kickoff a great party!