Are you a sports fanatic and love to tailgate or have friends over for a sports event? If so, then there’s no better way to celebrate than with a Sports Game Day party. Here you’ll find ideas and recommendations from invitations to party games and even food & beverage trays. You can also use these ideas and recommendations for a child’s birthday party with a sports theme – it’ll make all of your child’s pals feel like MVPs!
In this page, you will find ideas for:
- Party invitations
- Games
- Food bar
- Food & beverage trays
- Cups/plates/napkins
- Sports team clothing/decorations
Party Invitations:
To start off the party right, you must send out party invitations to let your guests know when and where you are having the party. There are essentially two ways to send out invitations: online or physical mail. Here are the best invitations we have found whether you prefer sending out online or by physical mail.
- Online invitation: with today’s social media world, people communicate through online channels or electronic devices. Sending invitations online has grown increasingly popular over the past few years because you can access it anywhere, don’t have to hassle with buying stamps and sending through the post office and the online system organizes the guest list automatically of whose coming or not. The best social-planning websites for creating, sending and managing online invitations are: Evite, Punchbowl, and PaperlessPost. The best part is that all three social-planning websites are free to use. You just sign up so that the site knows who the host/hostess is, find and personalize the right invitation that suits you and provide the guest list email addresses. Your guests will then get an email with a link to the invitation and they can respond of their attendance and how many people in their party are going. The websites will then manage the rest for you, including reminders a couple days before the party and storing pictures of the party for all to view. It’s that simple!
- Paper invitation: Evite, Punchbowl, and PaperlessPost also has paper invitations that you can physically mail out. The service to use the sites are still free. However, you do have to pay for the paper invitations (since it will be printed out) and if you want the website to physically mail the invitations to your guests for you there is also a fee for that. But the beauty of going through these websites is that it’s easy to do because all you need to do is pick out the invitation, personalize it and provide the guest list home addresses and the website will take care of the rest for you. You can do all this at the comfort of your own home or anywhere you may be so this hassle-free process maybe worth your money.
Party Games:
Here are the top 5 popular games played at sporting events / sports parties. Whether it’s a college team or professional team, there are many options to choose from to show your team’s spirit.
SyncroReview's Choice | Best Bang for Your $ | Buying Options | |
Cornhole (College Teams); Cornhole (Professional Teams) | Proline 2' x 4' NCAA or NFL Cornhole Board Set: Over 246 college teams and 22 pro teams available; vintage tournament approved design; furniture quality solid wood & hardware; NCAA official license; 8 tournament regulation size 6" x 6" oz. double stitched bean bags with all-weather resistant fillers; leg assembly has been tested by CPSC for strength & safety. | Wild Sport 2' x 3' NCAA or NFL Cornhole Bag Toss Game: Over 59 college teams and 25 pro teams available; MDF wood construction; officially licensed with NCAA; eight 12 oz. football pattern bean bags with all-weather resistant fillers; velcro boards and includes carrying handle for easy transportation; 28 lbs.in weight; instructions included. | Proline 2' x 4' NCAA Cornhole Board Set; Proline 2' x 4' NFL Cornhole Board Set; Wild Sports 2' x 3' NCAA Cornhole Bag Toss; Wild Sports 2' x 3' NFL Cornhole Bag Toss |
Ring Toss | Elite Sportz Equipment Ring Toss Set: Set includes base, 5 durable 42cm x 5cm x 1.8cm rope rings and 10 bonus plastic rings; sturdy solid wood construction; point marking on the pegs for easy scoring; convenient carrying bag included; can be played indoors or outdoors. | Champion Sports Wooden Ring Toss Set: Set includes base, 5 pegs and 5 beaded rope rings; classic long-lasting solid wood construction; colorful, light-weight rope rings are easy on floors for indoors/outdoor play; pegs are clearly labeled for easy score-keeping; quick & easy set-up; carry case included. | Elite Sportz Equipment Ring Toss Set; Champion Sports Wooden Ring Toss Set |
Ladderball | GoSports Premium Metal Ladder Toss Set: Set includes 2 steel targets, 6 bolos, premium carrying case and GoSports warranty; long-lasting solid steel construction; soft rubber bolos and thick string prevents tangles and safe for indoor/outdoor play. | AmazonBasics Ladder Toss Set: Set includes 2 upright ladder-shaped targets, 3 red bolos & 3 blue bolos and carrying case; PVC pipe target framework which measures 40" x 24" each; simple to assemble and light weight (2.17 lbs.). | GoSports Premium Metal Ladder Toss Set; AmazonBasics Ladder Toss Set |
Horseshoe | St. Pierre Professional Series Horshoe Set: Set includes 4 horshoes, two 24" stakes, official rulebook and black plastic tote; durable solid steel construction for stakes and horshoes; toe calk horshoe design improves control when throwing; made in the USA and designed by World Champ Horshoe pitcher; 60-day warranty. | Champion Sports Rubber Horshoe Set: Set includes 4 horshoes, 2 rubber mats with center pegs and 2 red plastic dowels; light-weight quality rubber construction makes it safe for indoor/outdoor play; bright, vibrant horshoes color makes them more visible when throwing; quick, easy set-up. | St. Pierre Professional Series Horshoe Set; Champion Sports Rubber Horshoe Set |
Washers | GoSports Premium Washer Toss Set: Set includes 2 targets & 8 plastic coated steel washers already fully assembled; premium birch wood construction with mitered corner joints; targets are regulation size amd latch together for portability. | Miranda Enterprises Perfect Pitch Washers: Set includes 2 targets, 8 washers and carrying bag; tarets are made with high quality, durable polypropylene that can be filled with sand or water; washers have steel interiors & heavy duty plastic exteriors; easy set-up & very portable. | GoSports Premium Washer Toss Set; Miranda Enterprises Perfect Pitch Washers |
Food Bar:
What’s a party without any food? Food is one of the essential items to a party and depends on your and your guests’ preferences as to what food should be served. For ideas, here are the top most served food and beverages at tailgates and other sports parties.
Tailgating food: since there will be no kitchen (for cooking or refrigeration) at tailgating parties, you want to make something that will be easy to carry, portable and food & beverages that won’t spoil fast.
- Hot wings
- Sausage meatballs
- Super nachos
- Sliders or hamburgers (if you bring a portable grill, you can grill at the party).
- Hot dogs (if you bring a portable grill, you can grill at the party).
- Chips & dips
- Marshmallow crispy treats
- Brownies
- Beer, beer, beer
Oher sports party food: along with the items listed in the tailgating food section, here are other top food served at sports party that has a kitchen:
- Mozzarella sticks
- Deviled eggs
- Taco bar (people can make their own tacos)
- Fajita bar (people can make their own fajitas)
- Quesadillas
- Homemade salsa or other dips such as fondue
- Cake or cupcakes
- Cocktail, fruity drinks or wine
For recipes and cooking instructions, check out Foodnetwork.
Food and Beverage Trays:
Food and beverage trays come in all sorts of sizes and shapes. Once you’ve determined the food and beverages you’ll be serving, consider these trays to store and present your items to your guests. When choosing a tray equipment, keep in mind there are 2 important factors to consider:
- Dimensions that will fit the amount of food you’ll have and the space/location of where your food/beverages will be served
- Material of the tray(s) as you want it to be of good quality to be able to hold your food/beverage without spilling or leaking.
PLAN - PRICE
Description
Sterno 24 Piece Disposable Party Set
Includes 3 wire racks, 3 water pans, 6 food pans, 6 cans of Sterno Green Canned Heat, 3 serving spoons and 3 serving forks; all pieces can be disposed of when done; made in the USA.
Sorbus Inflatable Serving Bar and Tent
Includes 1 inflatable serving bar (that can be used for keeping food or drinks cold), 3 food cover umbrellas/tents; serving bar has a drain plug and can inflate/deflate and measures 49" L x 23.75" W x 4" H; food cover has a string to collapse for easy storage and measures 16.25" L x 16.25" W x 11.50" H; resuable, portable and foldable design.
WinCraft Snack Helmet
Pick from a variety of NFL and NCAA teams; 2 compartment trays in the facemask and 1 large bowl in the helmet - all are removable; great for chips, dips, candy and ice bucket with condments; microwavable; dishwasher safe; made in the USA
Logo Brands Multi Function Pop-Up Barrel
29 NFL teams to choose from; multi-purpose - can be used as trash can, cooler or hamper; PVC leak proof liner; screenprint logo on front; stands 19" tall and 16.5" in diameter; collapsable and folds flat with strap buckles; carrying handles for easy transport.
Cups/Plates/Napkins:
So, you’ve got the food, beverages and trays, now what? The next step is to prepare yourself with supplies. You’ll want to get paper or plastic cups, plates, bowls and napkins. You do not want to use your fine china or other breakables at a sports party because it will get dropped. Go for plastic when purchasing knives, forks and spoons so that you can recycle them at the end of the party. Here are some recommendations for you to consider:
PLAN - PRICE
Description
Duck House Disposable Party Pack
Pick from a variety of NFL and NCAA teams; includes 20 plates, 20 cups, 20 forks and 20 napkins; measures 10" plates, 16 oz. cups and 6.5" paper napkins; disposable and safe to use - BPA free, lead free.
Southern Champion Paperboard Food Tray
Pick from a variety of NCAA teams; pack of 100; measures 7.2"L x 5"W x 2"H; microwavable, grease and leak resistant; can hold up to 3 lbs. worth of food; not recommended for liquid food such as soup; made in the USA.
US Acrylic 4-Compartment Plastic Tray
Set of 12 in 4 assorted colors; made of restaurant quality BPA-free material; top rack dishwasher safe; measures 12.1" L x 9.5" W x 0.8" H; trays weigh 0.29 lbs. each; made in the USA.
Juvale Party Drink Sticker Labels
Comes in a pack of 500 labels with the words "this drink belongs to:" written on each label; made of high quality paper; each label measures 2" in diameter; stickers are not removable, use only on disposable plastic or paper cups.
Sports Team Clothing / Decorations:
Support your favorite team or athlete by wearing their jersey and putting up sports decorations. Here are some recommendations on where to buy sports clothing that you can personalize with your name and trending sports decorations that’ll spice up your game day.
- Personalized Clothing: the best online retailer of sportswear that we have found and used is FansEdge, Inc.. The company offers NFL, NCAA, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, Soccer, Golf, Lacrosse, UFC Fighting, Kentucky Derby and Olympics apparel and merchandise. From clothing to blankets to kitchen products, FansEdge, Inc. has it all and can be personalized with your name. The company also offers memorabilia that has been signed by specific athletes and flags of every country. The products they offer are all licensed and certified.
- Sports Decoration: you are finally at the last step in planning your party! Consider these decorating items to complete your sports look.
PLAN - PRICE
Description
Milliken NFL Area Rugs & Runners
Choose from 38 NFL teams and 7 styles; all rugs are officially licensed; made with premium StainMaster nylon fiber that is fade resistant, durable and easy to care; Endura-Loc performance backing helps ensure rugs always lies flat; made in the USA with 50% renewable energy; 2 year manufacturing warranty.
Creative Converting Table Covers
Choose from a variety of NFL and NCAA teams; officially licensed, plastic 54"W x 102"L table cover; fits standard banquet tables up to 8 feet in length; disposable light-medium weight plastic.
Rico Industries Wall & Auto Decales
Choose from a variety of college and professional sports team; officially licensed; 2 sizes to choose from 3.5" x 4.5" or 5" x 5"; decorated with bold team colors; made of weather resistant materials easily adheres to any vehicles, wall or other hard surfaces.
The Northwest Company Sports Blanket
Choose from a variety of college and professional sports team; officially licensed; measures 60"W x 80"L; 100% polyester wtih rich colors that will not fade; machine wash and dry.