Super Bowl Sunday is one of the busiest days for restaurants and bars, as fans gather to enjoy the game, food, and drinks with friends and family. If you’re looking to make the most of this high-energy day, here are 8 restaurant promotion ideas to help you stand out and drive sales.
1. Design Team-Inspired Menus
Add some fun to your menu by creating special dishes or drinks that represent each of the competing teams. You could also make a third option based on the halftime performer! At the end of the day, share the results both in-house and on social media to let everyone know which team’s dish was the most popular, just like the real game. Use your POS system to track sales and determine the winning team’s dish.
2. Halftime Happy Hour
As the game continues, traffic often slows down, but you can keep momentum going with a special happy hour during halftime. Offer discounts on popular drinks like beer pitchers, or introduce a limited-time cocktail only available during the halftime break. This can encourage current customers to stay longer and also attract new ones looking to hop between bars and restaurants during the break.
3. Takeout Specials
Super Bowl Sunday is a peak day for takeout orders, so be sure to offer a dedicated takeout menu for those who prefer to enjoy the game at home. Provide family-sized or catering platters that combine classic favorites like pizza, wings, and nachos. By using an Online Ordering platform, you can streamline orders, avoid third-party commissions, and handle more orders efficiently.
4. Run a Fun Contest
Get your customers engaged with a Super Bowl-themed contest. Here are a few ideas:
- Biggest Fan Contest: Ask customers to submit photos of themselves in team gear for a chance to win a prize.
- Eating Contest: Challenge customers to see who can eat the most wings in the shortest amount of time.
- Social Media Contest: Have followers vote for their favorite team or dish on your social media and reward a winner with a prize.
Gift cards are a great prize option, as they encourage repeat business. Digital gift cards are particularly handy, as winners can claim them instantly.
5. Super Bowl Buffet
An all-you-can-eat buffet is a fantastic way to simplify your Super Bowl offerings while ensuring diners get their fill. Include classic game-day favorites, and feature your most popular and profitable items. Check your sales data to figure out what dishes will be the best sellers.
6. Host a Watch Party
Turn your restaurant into the ultimate Super Bowl viewing spot by hosting a watch party. To secure a steady revenue stream, consider selling non-refundable tickets. You can enhance the event with features like team-themed dishes, contests, drink specials, and more. This guarantees that you’ll fill seats and can plan accordingly for a busy day.
7. Offer Pre-Order Discounts
Take the stress out of game day by allowing customers to pre-order their meals. Since Super Bowl Sunday is one of the busiest delivery days, customers will appreciate the option to order in advance. You can offer a small discount for pre-orders, which can be advertised through social media, email, and in-store promotions to get customers excited ahead of time.
8. Collaborate with Beverage Brands for Free Samples
Given that alcohol is a staple of Super Bowl celebrations, why not partner with a beverage distributor to offer free samples on game day? This will help boost your alcohol sales and attract customers who may decide to stick around for a full-size drink. Beverage brands will benefit from the exposure, and you’ll increase foot traffic and sales.
Bonus Idea: Super Bowl Bingo
Add a second layer of excitement to your Super Bowl event by running a bingo game. Create bingo cards with fun predictions for what might happen during the game, such as “Team X leads by 10 points at halftime” or “A commercial features a viral meme.” Charge a small entry fee for each card, and offer gift cards as prizes for the first three players to hit bingo.
Preparing Your Restaurant for Super Bowl Sunday
To ensure everything runs smoothly on game day, here are some tips for preparation:
1. Staff Up
Based on historical data from previous Super Bowl Sundays, plan your staffing levels accordingly. A tool like 7shifts can help forecast how many employees you’ll need to handle both in-house diners and takeout orders.
2. Preview Your Super Bowl Menu
Release your game day menu a few weeks ahead of time to create buzz. Let customers know what to expect and encourage them to make reservations or pre-order food. A sneak peek can help your restaurant stand out before the competition gets too fierce.
3. Stock Up
Make sure you’re stocked up on high-demand party foods like wings, nachos, dips, and other shareable snacks. Review both industry trends and your restaurant’s past data to predict which dishes will be most popular. Your POS system can help you track inventory and flag low-stock items.
4. Market Early
The earlier you begin promoting your Super Bowl specials, the more likely customers will plan to spend the day with you. Use social media, email, and SMS to advertise your menu, watch parties, and pre-order options. Even before the teams are announced, start creating anticipation for your event.
5. Encourage Reservations
If you’re hosting a watch party or offering limited seating, encourage reservations to secure a place. Consider requiring a deposit or charging a cancellation fee to prevent no-shows. Offering prepaid tickets is another option to guarantee attendance.
With the right promotions, your restaurant can capitalize on the Super Bowl’s massive popularity, increase sales, and keep fans coming back for more.
