It’s Game Time!

From the tailgate, to the final whistle, and everything in between. Put your game plan together for Football’s Favorite Sunday.

1. Rep The Teams

Get your guests pumped for the big game with fan gear for each team. Party supply stores carry beaded necklaces, balloons, tutus, pom-poms, temporary tattoos, face paint, feather boas, wigs, and even life-size cut-outs of the players! Don’t be afraid to go all out and have fun!

2. Photo Booth 

Carry on the costume fun with a photo station! There are tons of rental companies in DFW. You can even make a DIY setup with a ring light and an iPad. Add a football-themed backdrop, and you’re bound to be nominated MVP by your guests!

3. Gameday Eats 

Let’s be honest, the endless appetizers and finger food are what really steal the show. A classic arrangement of pigs-in-a-blanket, nachos, chili dogs, mac and cheese, wings, sliders, pizza, chips and salsa, and baked potatoes with all the fixings will surely keep everyone energized throughout the game.

4. Bring on the Drinks 

What’s an American sport without an American beverage? Grab a case (or two) of beers from the teams’ home cities, or make two cocktail options for each team based on their jersey colors. And for a non-alcoholic drink, Coca-Cola, of course!

5. Dessert-Game Strong 

Decorate a cake to resemble a football field! Bake a chocolate sheet cake. While you’re waiting, crush up some Oreos to sprinkle on top when the cake has finished baking. Wait for it to cool, then fill a pastry bag with green frosting, using a grass tip to replicate a turf field. Next, draw out the end lines and mark them with the appropriate numbers. Lastly, add any other football-themed decorations you want to it: mini field goals, footballs, football player figurines, and sprinkles for confetti!

6. Football Squares

Squares is a popular betting game that uses a grid scoring system that randomly assigns each corresponding columns and rows a numerical value of 1-9. It’s fun to keep everyone engaged and excited throughout the entire game!

How to play: 

1. Write one team’s name in the spaces on the X axis and the other on the Y axis. 

2. Invite your guests to enter the pool by paying an entrance fee*. Each player locks-in their bet(s) by marking a box of their choice with their initials**. 

3. Randomly assign each corresponding column and row a numerical value of 1-9. Start from left to right, using an online number picker to maintain fairness; then do the same from top to bottom. It’s important that all of this is completed BEFORE kickoff!

4. Now that your grid is complete, all you need to do is wait for the game to start! A winner will be determined by the score at the end of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Quarters, and at Final Game. Match the numbers on the grid with the last number (single digits) of each team’s score, and see which square is at the intersection of that row and column. For example, if the Red Team has a score of 23, the correct number you refer to is 3.

5. Winner payouts are typically 20% of the pot for Quarters 1-3 winners, and 40% for the Final Score Winner. Good luck, and may the best team win!

*Depending on the stakes, either charge per box or split the grid evenly among the group for a general fee. 

**Determine the order of picks with a random drawing, or on a first-come-first-served basis.