Football season is here, which means it’s time to get your restaurant ready for the game-day rush. Don’t fumble your way through the fall; instead, stack your menu with recipes football fans love to eat during the big game.

Updating your menu with football favorites can boost your restaurant’s bottom line. During last year’s NFL championship, fans spent $17.3 billion. And of that amount, 80% went toward food and beverages. That includes restaurant delivery orders — in fact, this night is one of the biggest days for off-premises ordering. If you’re prepared with tasty game-day recipes, football season can be extremely lucrative for your restaurant business.

5 game-day menu ideas

Whether you’re creating an exclusive menu for game day or revamping your current menu to appeal to football fans, the right recipes are a must. Football is closely associated with foods that are savory and celebratory, which means hearty party snacks are popular on game day.

Give your customers something to cheer about with these delicious and classic recipes:

• Chicken wings. Nothing says game day like chicken wings. These tiny, tasty treats can be coated in a wide range of sauces to switch up the flavor profile. Go with classic choices such as garlic, BBQ, lemon pepper, or habanero, or let your chefs create their own signature recipe. This is a great opportunity to feature local ingredients or come up with creative combinations that make the chicken pop.
• BBQ ribs. Your customers will love the opportunity to watch the big game while digging into a plate of impossibly tender, slow-cooked ribs. Top them off with your restaurant’s house BBQ sauce recipe and you have a dish that will score big.
• Chili. A hearty bowl of chili hits the spot on a cool, crisp game day. Pair each serving with cornbread, tortilla chips for dipping, and a generous handful of cheese. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new variations that suit your restaurant’s clientele. Swap ground turkey for the beef in your favorite recipe, for example, or try a white chicken chili recipe topped with avocado and crushed tortilla chips.
• Hot dogs. The humble hot dog is widely loved, and with a few creative toppings, you can turn this simple meat into a gourmet game-day snack. If your customers love classic recipes, add chili and cheese for a filling meal. You can also offer grilled peppers and onions, chopped jalapenos and onions, sour cream and bacon, or freshly made pico de gallo. For a more adventurous crowd, experiment with pickled peppers, mango salsa, kimchi, or even elote.
• Spinach artichoke dip. It’s impossible to picture football season without a few delicious dips. When the weather is cool, a dish of hot, creamy spinach artichoke dip is the perfect option. Top the dish with an extra handful of cheese, bake until golden, and serve with tortilla chips, crackers, or garlic-bread crostini.

As you choose each dish, determine how to package it for takeout and delivery. Many customers like to place online orders on game day to take food to a watch party or to enjoy at home. Sturdy, insulated to-go containers help ensure each recipe arrives safely.

8 tips to win new customers this football season

If your restaurant wants to be a key player in customers’ game-day celebrations, it’s important to have a plan. Create a solid game-day strategy that caters specifically to football fans and you can bring in a rush of new business this football season.

1. Create a winning menu

Whether they’re watching the game at home or in your restaurant, customers spend hours looking at the TV on game day. Your menu should contain foods that are delicious but easy to eat — that way, guests can watch the game rather than their plates.

Focus on foods diners can eat with their hands, such as cheese pizza, soft pretzels with cheese, and burgers with fries. Add in a few lighter dishes to appeal to your health-conscious diners; chicken salad, baked chicken tenders, or a crudité platter with hummus are all great options. If local and state law allow, create an alcohol delivery menu that allows customers to get drinks delivered right to their home.

2. Score specials

Rise above the competition on game day by offering specials football fans can’t resist:

• Discounted party platters. Create snack platters just for game day — they’re a great way to appeal to people who are hosting watch parties at home. You can create an appetizer sampler that includes chicken wings, fried mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers with cheese, chips, and a selection of dips. Alternatively, stock the platter with chicken wings in multiple flavors, small sandwich cuts, or meat, cheese, and crackers.
• Advance-order deals. Encourage guests to plan ahead by offering deals for people who place orders before game day. This strategy streamlines the kitchen workflow and helps prevent your team from getting overwhelmed.
• Game-day perks. Design special promotions just for game days. You could offer a free dessert with orders over $50 or provide priority delivery to customers who order more than $100 worth of food and drink.

3. Go mobile

Game days often come with an increase in delivery orders. If your restaurant is relying on a phone or web-ordering system, it’s time to go mobile. Partner with a third-party delivery service or build your own app and customers can place orders right from their phones.

Grubhub makes it easy to implement mobile ordering. Our trusted, reliable platform creates a seamless experience for your customers, so they can place orders quickly and get back to the football game. We also offer professional drivers on demand, so your restaurant can take advantage of delivery opportunities without hiring extra employees.

4. Host viewing parties

Give customers a fun place to watch the big game by hosting a viewing party at your restaurant. The social atmosphere adds an extra element of fun, so fans can immerse themselves fully in the excitement of the day.

Use these tips for a successful viewing party:

• Position tables so each seat has a view of a television.
• Turn up the volume on the game.
• Create a discounted drink menu.
• Encourage friendly fan rivalry.
• Decorate the restaurant in team colors.

To encourage people to stick around after the game, follow the broadcast with live music, trivia, or karaoke. A lively event keeps the festive feeling going, so customers are more likely to continue ordering drinks and snacks.

5. Leverage social media

Football is often a trending topic during game days, and platforms like Facebook and TikTok come to life with fans posting about the action. As a restaurant owner, you can use this extra attention to your benefit and leverage social media to boost business.

Before the big day, create a series of posts about your game-day food specials, alcohol delivery, or popular football foods. Schedule them to run before and during the game, and include a link to your online ordering website. Here’s the key: Use trending football hashtags to help your posts show up in more peoples’ feeds. If a hungry fan comes across a mouthwatering photo of your signature chicken wings while scrolling through Instagram, they can place an order with a few taps.

6. Partner with local sports teams

Does your city have local sports teams with a large or passionate fan base? Work with them to create specials just for game day. You might host a party for fans during away games, for example, or set up a deal for players and their families after the final touchdown. Alternatively, try offering a 10% discount to everyone who brings in their game ticket after the team wins.

In return for your support, the team may be more likely to promote your restaurant in its marketing materials, programs, or media interviews.

7. Offer tailgate packages

For some fans, tailgating is just as exciting as the football game itself. Cater to this group of people by offering tailgating packages. Put together kits that include everything fans need to enjoy a hearty meal at home or in the parking lot of the football field. Focus on finger foods, and ensure the packages have everything diners need:

• Serving containers with lids
• Napkins
• Plastic utensils
• Drinks
• Cups with lids

Tailgate kits provide customers with a convenient way to celebrate without the need for planning and preparation.

8. Launch a game-day promotion on Grubhub

Grubhub partners can launch a game-day promo to boost more orders during football season. By participating in Grubhub’s Football Season Deals your business can gain extra exposure through in-app placements and limited-time offers.

Here’s how to set up a promotion:

1. Log into your Grubhub for Restaurants admin account 
2. Navigate to your the “Promotions” dashboard 
3. Select “Football Season Deals” as your goal type 
4. Launch your offers and watch orders roll in

Tap into our free social media templates to let your customers know they can order from your business on Grubhub.

Go long: Feed hungry fans with Grubhub Delivery

Football season is an exciting time of the year for fans; it’s also a profitable opportunity for your restaurant. With a tasty game-day menu and a plan to handle the rush of delivery orders, you can increase revenue and keep hungry customers happy. Whether your restaurant is hosting a game event or delivering orders for at-home watch parties, Grubhub can help you get the word out. To reach new customers, plan promotions for game day, and expand your business this football season, sign up for Grubhub today.