Sporting events have always been a big draw for restaurants and bars. The college football bowl season stretches from the middle of December through the first week in January. Almost every night there is college football action that you can take advantage of to draw in customers. Here we’ve outline 5 ways you can gain an edge on your competition this bowl season.

Upgrade The Viewing Experience

Successful bars and restaurants invest in big screen TV’s and projectors. Having enough sets to show each game on multiple screens is a sure way to bring in fans of all teams. Fans tend to scatter across the country. While you’ll want to have a focus on the local fan base, catering to out of town transplants is well worth the investment. When it comes to the playoffs and national championship game, consider taking it a step further with an outdoor projection screen. These can be purchased or rented and can provide a unique viewing experience for your customers. The ability to watch the biggest games on a movie theater sized screen is an enormous draw.

Regional Recipes

Just about anyone would agree that while watching a football game it’s important to have the proper culinary indulgences. Traditional foods such as chicken wings, nachos, peanuts and pretzels have become synonymous with watching football. Aside from these items, including food favorites  local to the teams playing can make your game day experience unique. These appetizers can also provide a platform to introduce new flavors and menu items to your loyal following.

Outdoor Accessories

Many people prefer to watch the games outside as it provides an experience that is closer to actually being at the game. Comfort is of the utmost importance for your outdoor patrons. Since football season can come along with cold weather having outdoor space heaters are a must. These can be somewhat expensive but are also very efficient and durable. Proper seating is also important. While it can be expensive to provide comfortable outdoor furniture, it’s important to realize people will be watching for at least 3 hours to take in a game. The longer you can get them to stay, the more money they’ll spend.

Menu Specials

The lure of discounted appetizers and happy hour are a surefire way to draw in new customers. Specials such as buy one get one free appetizers and discounted beer can be more than enough to keep your patrons happy. You will want to weigh the numbers and ensure you’re still taking in a profit, but the volume of sales should more than make up for the discount. Some places take it as far as having a free buffet during the local games while channeling much of their profits from alcohol sales.

Marketing Campaigns

Once you’ve decided to go all out to attract fans it’s time to get the word out. Utilizing your company website, social pages and other more traditional outlets to advertise your offerings is perhaps the most important step in obtaining a profitable game day experience. Hiring an individual or an agency to handle your marketing efforts will take some of the strain off of you as the owner and provide you with results that only an experience professional can provide.

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