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Essentials for hosting the best Sunday Night Football gathering
Hosting a party is hard work, but it’s worth it if everyone enjoys themselves. However,
if you want to host a Sunday Night Football gathering, there are a few essentials you’ll need to ensure that it’s a success.
Football has some of the most rabid fans in all sports, so it’s best to avoid upsetting them. Whether it’s Week 1 or the Super Bowl, the host must be well-prepared and determined to provide an unforgettable experience.
What do I need to host Sunday Night Football?
Food and drinks
Some people actually care more about the social aspects of a football gathering than the game itself, so it’s crucial to stock up on plenty of food and drinks for your guests. The most popular foods for football gatherings are often finger foods and appetizers such as buffalo wings, nachos, jalapeño poppers, mozzarella sticks, cocktail shrimp and vegetables and dip.
For drinks, you should have a few options for alcoholic beverages, and if you want to spice things up a bit, you can look into getting a bartender or cocktail mixing set. Also, it’s a good idea to have plenty of water and other non-alcoholic beverages for mixing or for guests who don’t drink alcohol.
Decorations
You don’t have to go overboard with the decorations, but showing your support for your favorite team is acceptable by having a banner or flag hanging around. You can also get general football-themed decorations such as football field tablecloths and yellow penalty flag napkins.
Big-screen TV
Once you’ve covered the food and drinks, you must ensure your guests will have an enjoyable viewing experience. That usually means having a large screen to watch the game. If you live in a small apartment, a TV in the 43- to 55-inch range will suffice. However, if you have the space, your guests might expect you to have a big-screen TV.
Big-screen TVs are usually 55 to 85 inches wide. An 85-inch TV might be overkill, not to mention expensive, so it’s best to go with one in the 55- to 75-inch range. Also, shop for value, as plenty of big-screen TVs are available at affordable prices.
Sound bar
A sound bar isn’t necessary for you and your guests to enjoy the game, but if you want to impress your guests and have the best experience possible, it goes a long way. Built-in TV speakers offer mediocre sound quality, and if you have a lot of guests in your house, it can be noisy, and it might be difficult to hear what’s going on in the game. A sound bar is excellent for ramping up the volume and lets viewers hear the TV more clearly.
12 must-haves for hosting a successful Sunday Night Football gathering
Food and drink essentials and decorations
NFL Football Mini Pennant Banner Flag Complete Set
Do you have a favorite NFL team? If you do, this set has a mini banner flag measuring 4 inches by 9 inches of every NFL team so that you can show your support on game day. Sold by Amazon
US Acrylic Avant Plastic 3-Section Stackable Serving Tray
This party tray measures 15 inches by 10 inches, and it is divided into three segments, making it perfect for serving appetizers, snacks and dips. It’s shatterproof, made with lightweight plastic and has a contemporary design. Sold by Amazon
JTWKING 24-Set Light Up Shot Glasses
If you’re one of those hosts who doesn’t get too immersed in the game, you can spice things up with a fun drinking game. These light-up shot glasses flash in various dazzling colors and have a long-lasting service life. Sold by Amazon
Island Genius Football-Themed Party Supplies and Decorations
This set has all the necessary decorations to give your Sunday Night Football gathering an appropriate theme. It comes with 24 yellow penalty flag napkins, a rectangular football field table cloth and disposable touchdown dinner plates and cups. Sold by Amazon
Cresimo Large Cocktail Shaker 12-Piece Set
Fix your guests a margarita or a martini with this premium shaker set. It has a high-quality bamboo stand and stainless steel tools for mixing the perfect cocktail. Plus, it’s dishwasher-safe and comes with a bonus recipe guide. Sold by Amazon
Miusco 12-Inch Chip and Dip Serving Set
This handcrafted, 12-inch plate with a sauce bowl in the center is excellent for chips and dip but also works great for buffalo wings, cocktail shrimp, nachos and vegetables. It’s made with natural acacia wood. Sold by Amazon
Big-screen TVs
Samsung 60-inch Class Crystal TU7000 Series 4K UHD Smart TV
This TV has an ultra-fast processor and HDR technology for reproducing impressive clarity and stunning visuals. The smart functions are powered by Tizen, which offers access to the best streaming apps and services. Sold by Amazon
Amazon Fire TV 65-inch Omni Series 4K UHD Smart TV
This TV has Dolby Vision and Dolby Digital Plus for an immersive viewing experience. It has HDR technology for improved clarity, brightness and contrast and built-in microphones so users can access Alexa hands-free. Sold by Amazon
TCL 65-inch Class 4-Series 4K UHD HDR Smart Roku TV
This TV is a great bargain pick and offers vivid colors and a lifelike picture. Users can access thousands of streaming channels and personalize the home screen with their favorite apps. Plus, it supports Google Assistant and Alexa. Sold by Amazon
LG 75-inch Class UQ9000 Series 4K Smart TV
This TV is loaded with premium features such as Active HDR and HDR Dynamic Tone Mapping for reproducing a crisp image. The Magic Remote lets users point and scroll to navigate the menus, and the Game Optimizer mode reduces input lag. Sold by Amazon
Sound bars
Crank up the sound during the game with this high-end voice-control sound bar. It has a sleek design, two upward-firing dipole speakers for rich sound, and it supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect for wireless streaming. Sold by Amazon
You don’t need to break the bank to get a sound upgrade for your TV. This affordable sound bar has a Bass Reflex speaker for deep sound, and setup is easy with HDMI ARC. Also, it has a voice enhancement feature for hearing dialogue more clearly. Sold by Amazon
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Kevin Luna writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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