When you can’t make it to the big game, enjoy the next best thing by hosting a game-watching party with your closest friends. While it may not provide quite the same thrill as sitting on the 50-yard line, you’re still sure to have a great time. But how should you go about planning your soiree? By following just a few simple steps, you can plan a game-watching party that your guests won’t forget anytime soon.

Decorate Your Party Space

The easiest way to create a festive atmosphere is to decorate your party space with your team’s colors. Whether you’re cheering on the Bucs, the Rays, or the Lightning, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding party decorations in the appropriate colors. For instance, putting up some black and red streamers and using football-shaped serving trays and paper plates is an easy and effective way to let your guests know you’re hoping for a Bucs victory. Likewise, using black, white, and blue decorations is perfect for showing some Lightning team spirit while dark blue, light blue, and yellow provides a Rays-friendly atmosphere.

Plan the Perfect Menu

You have a few options when it comes to choosing your game-watching party’s menu. Your safest bet may be to serve recipes you’re already familiar with and that you know will be crowd pleasers. This might include a variety of appetizers and finger foods, like your world-famous deviled eggs, your mom’s scrumptious artichoke dip, and Susie’s out-of-this-world buffalo chicken dip. Or, you could serve a full-fledged meal, such as pizza, lasagna, chili, or hotdogs and hamburgers. Remember that if you feel overwhelmed thinking about making food for a large group of people, you could always ask your guests to bring their favorite dishes to share.

Quench Your Guests’ Thirst

First and foremost, you need to decide whether or not your party will be alcohol-free. If you’d rather your guests not imbibe at your gathering, be sure to convey that ahead of time. Otherwise, you need to decide whether you’ll be providing your guests with beverages or you’d like your event to be BYOB (bring your own beer). Most guests won’t take any issue to bringing their own beverages, so there’s certainly no need for you to feel obligated to provide a keg or a full bar. Whatever you do, make sure your guests drink responsibly, and don’t let any of them drive home if you feel they’ve had too much to drink. In fact, it might not be a bad idea to offer up your couch and a few sleeping bags ahead of time, so your inebriated friends won’t have to feel funny about asking if they can stay the night.

Assemble Your Guest List

Depending on your personality (and your particular group of friends), you may want to limit your guest list to friends who will be cheering on your favorite team right along with you. Or, if you aren’t too worried about any arguments breaking out, you can extend an invitation to those who you know will be rooting for the opposing team. Just do what you think will provide the most jovial atmosphere for you and your guests. Since your game-watching party is likely to be a casual affair, there’s no need to send out formal invitations. To get the word out, simply call up some friends, send out a few texts, or create an event on Facebook.

Planning your very own game-watching party really can be this easy. You and your guests are sure to have a blast cheering on your favorite Tampa sports team, whether it’s the Bucs, the Rays, or the Lightning.

Taylor Thomas is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Thomas is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to sports and entertainment.

Taylor Thomas is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Thomas is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to sports and entertainment. http://www.tampabayproam.com/red-stag.php

Author Bio: Taylor Thomas is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Thomas is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to sports and entertainment.

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