Football season is here, and that’s great for restaurants. Sports bring people together, but sports bars can’t rely on the game alone to draw patrons. So many restaurants have televisions and cater to the sports fanatic, which means fans have options. The restaurants that win patrons on game day will be the restaurants that step up their menu game.
It's Time For Some Football
Restaurants and sports bars thrive if they can entice groups of repeat customers looking for somewhere to gather for regular season games, playoff games, college bowl games, and The Big Game.
However, attracting sports fans is not as easy as even a few years ago. Dining trends are evolving. Football food traditionally consisted of nachos, buffalo wings, mozzarella sticks, and fries. Nowadays, the palette of would-be sports bar patrons is also shifting to include more upscale and nutritious options.
Football fans flock to establishments that offer new and exciting menu choices. Beyond the basics they can get anywhere, patrons love options like new sauces and unique takes on familiar classics. Women and families have been left out of sports bar marketing plans in the past. Offering menu items to appeal to a broader customer base is great business.
What's On The Menu?
Guests want a chef-driven menu. Think about the popularity of the "gastropub." Delicious food is crucial for winning repeat customers, and restaurants need to go beyond the basics and provide guests with the staple cravings they associate with football.
In the 1960s, restaurants in Buffalo, NY, were known for their fried chicken wings served with various sauces. Then in the 1980s, when the Buffalo Bills went to the Super Bowl four times in a row, the country at large began hearing all about the region’s beloved “buffalo wings.” Ever since, buffalo wings have been the official food of football. They're easily prepared in a Pitco Fryer to keep up with demand.
Fried food, in general, is another game day mainstay. And despite the moniker, French fries are as American as football itself. Consider investing in a Perfect Fry ventless fryer for an easy way to turn your countertop into a point of profit, and for items that require roasting, grilling, baking, and reheating, CTX by Middleby Marshall is a great choice.
Pizza is another menu item people love on game day. Proper pizza equipment is a wise investment for a sports bar to make.
Don't Forget the Drinks!
It’s no secret that football fans love beer. And 55% of brewpub visitors cite a wide variety of beer to order from as a critical reason to visit an establishment. So, sports bars and restaurants that want to beat the competition should cultivate a considerable and high-quality beer menu. Establishments that brew their own really have an edge.
Liquor sales are big during games as well. Restaurants should have a variety of liquor available to keep up with demand. An easy, efficient way for restaurants and bars to save money on liquor costs is to monitor pours and inventory via the Skyflow by L2F. Able to be programmed for exact pours, the L2F keeps liquor inventory under control, helping increase profits.
Soft drinks are a must for sports enthusiasts as well. Ice-cold, refreshing sodas should always be in stock to keep restaurant patrons happy. All the better if they are served on tap.
And while not necessarily considered a game-day drink, coffee will never go out of popularity. An espresso machine will stay in use all days of the week, especially for trending coffee-based adult drinks like espresso martinis.
Get ready for football season and the crowds it'll bring to your bar or restaurant by scheduling an equipment assessment with our expert team.
