Sports

Super Bowl Sunday 101: Local Spots to Watch, Party Tips and More

We've got all you need to know from the game, parties and food to where to watch.

It’s one of the most popular party days of the year. People gather in bars, basements and even around the television in their own home to watch and celebrate the biggest sporting event in the world: the Super Bowl.

Some who gather are certified sports nuts, while others know little about the teams or the game and find more joy in the commercials than any play on the field. 

Wherever you fall in the spectrum of Super Bowl fan, we can help fill the gap in every area - and that’s what we’re aiming to do with our guide to Super Bowl Sunday.

Find out what's happening in Birminghamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

See, there’s a little something for everybody in what we like to call “Patch’s Guide to a Super Super Bowl Sunday.”

The game

  • Official title: Super Bowl XLVI (46, for those who aren’t fluent in Roman Numerals)
  • Where: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
  • Who: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots.
  • Who’s favored? New England is a 3 point favorite as of Tuesday afternoon.
  • When: Sunday, Feb. 5. Kick-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on NBC. Pre-game starts at 2 p.m.
  • Halftime show: Madonna

It’s your party

So, you want throw a party for Super Bowl Sunday? Don’t sweat it. Here are a few tidbits that might just make you, or your party, a total hit.

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“The key to a great Super Bowl Party is to keep it simple,” said Molly Hawkins, events manager at Special D Events Inc. in Royal Oak. “Keep the food simple especially. It’s such an important part of the party. Remember, this might be something that sits out all day. You have to keep it simple.”

Having a dynamite Super Bowl Party is easy as long as you remember what the event is all about, Hawkins said. “It’s really about food, fun and the game,” she said. “Plan food that you can make in a Crock Pot, or something you can prepare ahead of time.”

Hawkins also suggested bringing out new dishes at halftime to keep the food choices fresh and interesting.

“And fun is a big part of the party, too,” Hawkins said. “Maybe have a friendly game of touch football before, or come up with some game dealing with the commercials. These things keep the fun going and can really make your party stand out.”

Of course, there’s the star of the evening: the game.

“Invite people who are fans of both teams,” Hawkins said. “That really can add to the fun and excitement of the game. And, make sure to have a seat for everyone.”

Food is king

The food is among the most important elements of Super Bowl Sunday.

“It’s bigger than New Year’s for us,” said George Najor, manager of Value Center Market on 14 Mile in Madison Heights. “It really is. It’s mostly snacks and finger-foods, but it’s a lot of both.”

Najor said chips, dips and salsa are right at the top of the list, along with beer and soda, but also added that vegetable trays, shrimp platters and cheese and meat trays are also popular items around Super Bowl Sunday.

Clawson resident Louis Manggioli, 67, said his favorite Super Bowl dish is without a doubt homemade potato skins with cheddar cheese and bacon bits.

“We get them all made up the morning of the game,” Manggioli said. “Then we pop them in the oven when the game starts. They’re ready in 10 minutes and we eat them all night.”

Let someone else clean up

If you’re the going-out type, then there are plenty of options for you too. Many bars and eateries run specials for the game, and have enough televisions on the walls to be certain that no one misses a single play.

Here's a few of the Super Bowl specials happening around Birmingham:

  • — Take a bite out of Townhouse's Super Bowl party box, featuring 10 sliders and fries for $25. Available for one day only.
  • — Tailgating begins on the South patio at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, followed by a hot appetizer buffet during the game and capped off by cookies and brownies at 10 p.m. To buy tickets for this special party, visit neptix.com.

Remember to stay safe

You may be having fun, but always remember to stay safe during Super Bowl Sunday, no matter if you're coming home from the bar or a friend's home.

Stay this year with these tips from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission:

  • Have designated drivers and plan to have sober drivers at your party who can escort folks home.
  • Plan ahead to get keys. Prepare a basket or bowl where all of your guests can leave their keys.
  • Have a cab fare fund. Having available cash to pay cab fare for your guests if they need it.
  • Have a phone number for a cab company handy. Print the name of a local cab company on your invitation and ask your guests to program it into their mobile phones.
  • Purchase non-alcoholic beverages. Always have soft drinks, juices and other non-alcoholic beverages available for those guests who are driving or choose not to drink.
  • Plan to be sober and be a responsible host. Limiting your own alcohol intake will allow you to better determine if a guest is sober enough to drive at the end of the night.
  • Don’t serve alcohol to minors. The legal drinking age is 21 and, as a host, it is your responsibility to make sure minors aren’t drinking.
  • Don’t force drinks on your guests. Also, don’t rush to refill their glasses when empty.  Be a smart host; push the food, not the alcohol on your guests.
  • Food is the key. Always serve food with alcohol.  It is proven that food can help counter the effects of alcohol.
  • Stop serving alcohol one hour before the party ends. Serve only coffee, tea and non-alcoholic beverages as the party comes to a close.


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