3 Great Plays for a Winning Game-Day Celebration

Huddle up! It’s almost time for The Big Game, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, February 9, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, where Philly and Kansas City will face off once again in the game of games.

Rounding out the show in this showdown, singer-songwriter Jon Batiste will perform the national anthem; rapper Kendrick Lamar will headline the halftime performance; and blockbuster commercials from big brands—from Anheuser-Busch, Bosch, and Taco Bell, to DoorDash, Dove, and Duracell, and slews more—will up the ante—at some $7 million for a 30-second spot—on the game’s entertainment factor. (After all, this may be the only day of the year that people actually look forward to watching commercials.) 

If you’re planning to tune in to FOX to watch The Big Game on TV or stream it on the FOX Sports app, FOX.com, Tubi, or another platform—while saving an average of $7,000 to $9,000-plus for a game-day ticket—here are three great plays for a winning celebration.

1. Serve up touchdown-worthy fare

Nearly 1.5 billion—yes, billion—pounds. That’s how much weight in chicken wings football fans typically consume during The Big Game, according to the National Chicken Council’s 2024 Wing Report (of course there’s such a report). Hands down, fingers licked, appetite satisfied, wings are the most popular game-time food.

While our friends in Buffalo didn’t advance to The Big Game, there’s no denying that Buffalo lays claim to the winningest wings in the world. John Young of the now-long-shuttered John Young’s Wings n’ Things deserves credit for helming the first spot in Buffalo, back in the 1960s, to pair a tomato-based sauce with fried wings (served whole), but it’s the Anchor Bar on Main Street that’s widely recognized as the birthplace of Buffalo wings. (Also interestingly, we’ve been told that in Buffalo, you don’t order “Buffalo wings” because saying those two words together is…well, redundant. And, no, Buffalo wings are not made of buffalo.)

The story of Buffalo wings goes something like this: It was a Friday night in 1964 when a group of Dominic Bellissimo’s friends visited the Anchor Bar for a late-night bite. Dominic, who was tending bar and whose family owned the bar, asked Teressa Bellissimo, his mother and the resident chef, to whip up something good. As any great chef would do, she improvised by repurposing some leftover chicken that was initially destined for the stockpot. She deep-fried the wings and then slathered them with a special sauce. And voilà! The Buffalo wing was born.

So, what’s the second-most-consumed food during The Big Game? Perhaps not surprisingly, pizza. An estimated 12.5 million pies will be sold on game day, according to the American Pizza Community. That’s the second-busiest day of the year for pizza orders, just behind Halloween. Following wings and pizza, other foods in the top 10 game-day snacks, according to sports digital media publication GiveMeSport, rank as follows: nachos, sliders, deviled eggs, veggie trays, pigs in a blanket, meatballs, spinach artichoke dip, and chili.

If you’re looking to put a little spin on your game-day fare, check out these 12 tasty field-goal-worthy food ideas—complete with easy-to-make recipes.

2. Avoid fumbling the food

Nothing says getting fired up for The Big Game quite like grilling good food. But for a scoring strategy, it’s important to tackle grill safety first. Whether grilling with gas or coals, avoid causing a fire by maintaining at least a three-foot safe zone around your grill, cleaning the grease from your grill after each use, and never leaving your grill unattended, cautions the US Fire Administration.

When cooking with gas, check your grill and tank for any gas leaks, and open your gas grill before lighting it to prevent gas buildup that could result in an explosion. When using charcoal, make sure coals are completely cooled before disposing of them, and when doing so, put them in a metal can with a lid. Your grilling game plan should also include keeping a fire extinguisher close at hand—and know how to use it in an emergency.

Also, before you rush to pull those burgers and ribs from the flames, check that they’re cooked to the proper internal temperatures. To guard against bacteria, the safe minimal internal temperature is 160 degrees Fahrenheit for ground meats; 145 degrees for beef, pork, veal and lamb; and 165 degrees for poultry, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Also be sure to wash foods properly before cooking, and keep raw meat stored separately from other foods, advises the USDA.

When handling food, wash your hands, and clean surfaces. Also, keep perishable cold foods cold in the fridge or in coolers and warm foods warm in chafing dishes or on a warm area of the grill. And when it comes to leftovers that have been left out for more than an hour or two at room temperature, remember the saying: When in doubt, toss it out.

3. Earn extra points with mocktails

While football, beer, and other boozy beverages can often go hand in hand, make sure that responsible driving is your first line of defense. The safe and only play: Do not drink and drive. Period.

Here’s the sobering reality: One person is killed every 39 minutes, on average, in a drunk-driving crash, taking the lives of more than 13,000 people every year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If you’ll be on the roads, don’t punt driving safety. Volunteer to be a designated driver by pledging not to partake in any alcoholic offerings (or any other drugs). Or if you do plan to imbibe, be sure to arrange for a sober ride in advance. If you’re hosting a watch party, ensure that everyone has a sober ride home. You also can thank your guests who are designated drivers by providing nonalcoholic drink choices.

Need nonalcoholic cocktail, aka mocktail, ideas? Check out these 13 marvelous mocktail recipes that are as simple to mix up as they are enjoyable to sip down.

Also, staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water is always a smart play.

After all, only when your game-day celebration scores big on both fun and safety is it a win-win no matter who hoists that shiny trophy at the end of The Big Game.