Americans love football. In fact, “37% say football is their favorite sport to watch, by far the most for any sport”. Restaurants that cater to football fans can see a significant boost in revenue during the fall, but simply putting the local game on your 25-year-old, 13 inch black and white television is not enough. Creating a world-class game day experience can set your restaurant and bar apart from the competition. Here’s how to get started.
Viewing Experience
Successful bars and restaurants invest in big screen televisions and projectors. Having enough sets to show each game on multiple screens is a sure way to bring in fans of all teams, Although, catering to a specific fan base has its advantages too. You’ll want to strongly consider a subscription TV service that allows you to show more than just the local games. 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 playoffs, bowl games and the Super Bowl you may want to 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 big game on a theater-sized screen is an enormous draw. Another unique idea would be to transform your bar area into a giant living room including comfortable couches and coffee tables. This will help you to build a family atmosphere and encourage your patrons to engage with each other. This type of camaraderie can help to build customer loyalty.
Game Day Menus
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 local fare to your appetizer menu 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.
Take It Outside
Many people prefer to watch the game 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 heaters is 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.
Promotional Ideas
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. Giving away small local team items such as key chains, beer koozies and pint glasses will make for a more memorable experience. It’s also a great opportunity to give away company branded items to expand your advertising reach.
Marketing Tactics
Once you’ve decided to go all out to attract fans it’s time to get the word out. Using your company website, social media and pay per click advertising can bring a serious boost to your brand. You’ll still want to employ traditional promotional tactics including flyers and print advertising. There are some steps you can take on your own to ramp up your marketing efforts, however, hiring an individual or an agency to handle the task will take some of the strain off of you as the owner.
Enhancing your restaurant’s ability to draw in football fans may require significant upfront costs but can result in increased revenue even during the off season. Gearing up early and starting your promotions during the summer will help you get off to a roaring start. If cash flow is an issue, click below to apply for a restaurant cash advance.
