Itโs football season, which means itโs time to don our best team-branded hoodies and fall fashion, bust out the slow cooker and gather the fellow fans. In order to have the very best game day experienceโone where youโre comfortable, warm and well-fed well into the fourth quarterโyou may want to do a little pre-game prep. It may not increase your teamโs odds of securing the W, but it definitely will help ensure that you enjoy every minute of the game!
- Design Your Most Spirited EnsembleโIs it just us or is there something really fun about putting together game-day outfits? Itโs one of those things you donโt get to do every day and, if you like a good challenge, it can be really exciting. The key to dressing for the big game is to blend creativity with comfort, warmth and team spirit, but when you get the formula right, youโll feel like you deserve your own trophy. Here are a few tips for how to master it!
- Donโt be afraid to be subtle. With the right foundational items, such as solid-colored tees and casual dresses done in your teamโs colors, you can easily capture team spirit in a more sophisticated way.
- Donโt be afraid to be flashy, either! This is one of those rare times in your life where dressing in an over-the-top manner is encouraged, so pile on the rhinestones, sparkles and temp tats as you see fit.
- Layer up. Being cold can ruin an otherwise enjoyable afternoon of football, so pack a jacket, pullover or wrap to toss on when it gets chilly.
- Wear comfy socks. Your feet can get tired from all those hours of tailgating and trips to the concession stand, so get yourself a pair of The Most Comfortable Socks on Earth.
- Plan a Tailgate-Ready MenuโPicking out game-day food is almost as exciting to us as planning our game-day attire, and with all the wings, bacon, snacks and beer, can you even blame us? Whether youโre throwing a party at home or prepping for the parking lot tailgate, youโre going to want to make sure youโve got plenty of tasty, tailgate-friendly treats to keep you going into overtime.
- Bring enough to share. Game day is about community and coming together, so make sure you can offer something to fellow fans.
- Handheld is best. Nobody wants to pack up a ton of wasteful single-use cutlery or silverware to haul to the tailgate! Stick to clean finger foods, like hot dogs, sliders, pinwheels, kebobs and dry-rub wings.
- Get friendly with the slow cooker. Fall, in general, is slow cooker season, but this gadget really comes in handy when youโre cooking for a crowd.
- Keep it healthy. Pepper in some veggies and plenty of protein to ensure that you donโt feel sluggish or sick in the first quarter.
- Bone Up on Your StatsโItโs just a fact: being clued in to what youโre about to see makes everything a lot more enjoyable, whether itโs a musical, a movie or the big game. Weโre not saying you have to take a deep dive into the ESPN archives, but it helps if you know a couple of important facts before heading to the stadium. This one is extra important if itโs the first game of the season or if thereโs been a recent trade. If youโre just going for the food, fun and comradery and donโt care about the actual game, thatโs great, too! You can skip this step.
- Get to know the starting lineup. Find out whoโs poised to be the seasonโs star(s) so you can keep an eye on them during the game.
- Know where your team stands. Will the outcome of this game affect the entire season? Does your team have a chance to make the playoffs?
- Learn about the coaches. The staff may change regularly, and staffing shifts are often big news, so stay abreast on this one.
- Know your teamโs history. How many championshipsโif anyโhave they won? How long has it been since they made a playoffs appearance?
- Focus on Making it to the EndโProfessional football games only have an hour of actual game time, but the average time between the coin toss and the final buzzer is usually more than three hours, so you definitely want to make sure youโre awake, alert and having fun even if things are dragging into overtime. This can be a big challenge when youโre drinking and eating heavy foods all day, but there are definitely some things you can do to stave off the dreaded game-day fatigue.
- Drink lots of water. This one is vital if you plan to be drinking and donโt want to wake up in the morning with a hangover.
- Pace yourself. Eating, drinking, rooting at the top of your lungsโall of these things can take it out of you, so try your best to ramp up slowly.
- Get a good nightโs rest. We know youโre excited, but nothing ruins a day of football quite like nodding off in the stands, so make sure you get a full nightโs sleep the night before.
- Skip the bad foods. Steer clear of anything that may cause you to crash or make you feel sluggish, like energy drinks and fried food.
Most Importantly: Have Fun
Football games are an awesome excuse to get everybody together, whether youโre rooting along with your college roommates or taking your little one to his or her very first NFL game. As long as you keep the above tips in mind as you prep for the big matchup, you can bet this will be one to remember no matter if your team wins or loses!
