Cash in on the season’s biggest sporting events
SUMMARY: Boost traffic and sales with fun shareables, inventive plating and game‑day deals that bring fans in or keep take home orders coming.
Getting creative to win on gameday
Televised ballgames call for crispy finger foods. Operators can drive sales by offering shareable appetizers and tailored promotional deals. A little creativity can go a long way.
Social shareables and samplers
Most people prefer to watch sports with their buddies — it just adds to the fun. Shareable appetizers are a sure way to boost the bottom line.
Plating is also a big part of creating that fan‑friendly vibe. Sampler platters, for example, are trending hard as diners look for fun ways to sample a little bit of everything. Big chains are jumping in, too, with more “build your own” appetizer platters showing up on menus. Searches for “food flights” have climbed 300% in the last five years, which shows just how much guests love playful, shareable options.1
Offer customizable portions and formats with appetizer platters so diners can order for one or for a crowd, and focus on popular appetizers that consumers are most likely to order. Fries and appetizers easily take the top spot as the most‑shared menu items during the game.2
It’s also fun to experiment. Surprise guests with new or unique flavor combinations or spicy offerings. Or go for different textures and shapes, like our Cheesy Triple Play. It’s a platter loaded with Anchor® Cheesy Dippers, Anchor® Battered Mac & Cheese WedgesTM and Anchor® PoppersTM Original Cream Cheese Breaded Stuffed Jalapeños. These are paired with a trio of bold dips — smoky BBQ sauce, zesty chipotle mayo and spicy pepper jelly for dipping.
Imagine loading up fries with pulled chicken and Buffalo sauce—a terrific alternative to chicken wings. Or, instead of pairing French fries with traditional ketchup, why not serve them up with a spicy Sriracha mayo or a jalapeño honey mustard?
Finally, get creative with presentation. Ditch the plate and showcase appetizers in cool cups, cones and baskets. Guests will appreciate the presentation, and portions can be controlled more easily, too.
Cater to the fans at home
Not everyone wants to go somewhere to watch the game. In fact, a cozy couch can be a restaurant’s worst enemy. And when it’s cold or rainy outside, fans may be even less likely to drive to a restaurant to watch the game. By offering takeout and delivery options, restaurants can keep pace with their sales goals without stressing about getting people in the door. Operators can put together packages that include game-day favorites such as chicken wings, fries, burger sliders and mozzarella sticks, creating a veritable “Party in a Box” that lets people tailgate at home. Bundle in drinks and desserts for an easy upsell.
Introduce sports-specific promos
Everyone likes a deal, and sports-minded guests are no exception. Offering promos is another great way to bring people through the door. Take to social media to communicate the message by offering special gameday-only apps that cater to the city’s preferences or sports teams; for instance, in Philadelphia, offer mini-Philly cheesesteaks, or in Chicago, offer deep dish pizza bites.
Happy-hour discounts and offering smaller portions work, too. Shareable plates for happy hours that include smaller versions of popular entrees or other menu favorites are a surefire way to draw people to the bar. If a hangar steak is a top seller, offer a small portion or pre-slice it for easy sharing, or offer a choice of fries to accompany it to create a dish that’s easy to share with the table.
Football and basketball seasons will fly by in no time, so make sure to grab the glory now.
SOURCES
1Yelp; Yelp’s 2025 Food & Drink Trends.
2Bottleneck Management; Most popular bar menu items.
3Technomic; Ignite Consumer Q2 2024 – Q4 2024.
