How to Turn NFL Sundays Into Your Bar's Biggest Revenue Day
Want bigger crowds and higher sales every NFL Sunday? Learn proven strategies to maximize football season with game-day promotions, interactive entertainment, food and drink specials, and customer engagement ideas that keep fans coming back.
Football season is one of the busiest and most profitable times of the year for sports bars. Every Sunday, fans gather to watch their favorite teams, enjoy great food and drinks, and experience the excitement of game day with friends.
With the right atmosphere, promotions, and entertainment, your venue can become every fan’s go-to destination throughout the season.
Here’s how to make the most of football season.
1. Open Early and Promote It
Many fans want to catch every kickoff.
Promote your opening time well in advance and remind customers that they’ll never miss a game.
Use:
- Facebook Events
- Instagram Stories
- Email newsletters
- Google Business Profile
- Digital signage
Make it clear that your bar is ready before the first whistle.
2. Create Game-Day Food Specials
Football and food go together.
Offer easy-to-share items like:
- Wings
- Nachos
- Sliders
- Loaded fries
- BBQ platters
- Sampler baskets
Package meals for groups to increase average ticket sizes while making ordering simple.
3. Offer Drink Specials All Day
Customers often stay for several games.
Encourage repeat purchases with:
- Beer buckets
- Pitcher specials
- Craft beer flights
- Signature cocktails
- Happy hour pricing during select games
Simple promotions are often the most effective.
4. Turn Every Game Into an Interactive Experience
Watching football is entertaining.
Playing along makes it unforgettable.
Interactive games encourage customers to stay engaged throughout the day.
Ideas include:
- QB1 prediction contests
- Football pick’em games
- Live trivia during halftime
- Sports prediction challenges
- Weekly competitions
Fans who participate are more likely to stay longer and order another round.
5. Promote Your Viewing Experience
Your TV setup can be a competitive advantage.
Tell customers about:
- Multiple large-screen TVs
- Every NFL game available
- Premium sound
- Comfortable seating
- Great sightlines
Don’t assume people know your setup—show it off.
6. Reward Repeat Football Fans
Turn one-time visitors into weekly regulars.
Offer:
- Loyalty punch cards
- Season-long prediction contests
- Weekly giveaways
- Team merchandise
- VIP seating rewards
When every Sunday counts toward a bigger prize, customers have another reason to return.
7. Keep Fans Entertained During Halftime
Halftime shouldn’t be downtime.
Use the break to keep energy high with:
- Football trivia
- Prize drawings
- QB1 challenges
- Quick games
- Social media contests
A busy halftime helps prevent customers from leaving before the next game begins.
8. Encourage Groups
Football is a social experience.
Promote your bar as the perfect place for:
- Fantasy football leagues
- Office outings
- Family gatherings
- Birthday celebrations
- Alumni groups
Large parties often generate higher food and beverage sales than individual guests.
9. Capture Customer Information
Don’t let game-day guests disappear after football season.
Encourage visitors to join:
- Email newsletters
- Loyalty programs
- VIP clubs
- Event reminder lists
This allows you to promote future events long after the NFL season ends.
10. Keep the Party Going After the Final Game
Don’t let the fun end with the final whistle.
Keep guests in your venue by offering:
- Live Trivia
- Network Trivia
- Bingo
- Poker
- Buzztime Bets
- Predict the Pulse
Customers who stay for entertainment are more likely to order another drink, dessert, or late-night snack.
How Buzztime Helps You Win Every NFL Sunday
Buzztime helps transform NFL Sundays into interactive events that keep customers engaged before kickoff, during halftime, and after the final game.
With Buzztime, your venue can offer:
You’ll also receive:
- Live leaderboards
- Smartphone gameplay
- TV integration
- Professionally created game content
- Automatic scoring
- Interactive entertainment throughout the week
Game Room