Now is the time in football season when every lover of the game begins putting together his or her picks for the infamous Super Bowl matchup. Will it be the New England Patriots and the Dallas Cowboys? Or maybe the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers? Or how about the Denver Broncos and the Minnesota Vikings? Whoever you are rooting for – in the NFC or the AFC – you are going to want to watch the game. Why? Because even if you don’t like the winning teams, it’s still football! And – let’s not forget the commercials and halftime show!
The real question, then, is where are you going to watch it? You could always watch it on your mom’s couch. Or your best friend’s house – with his wife and six daughters. Since watching by yourself isn’t an option, the best thing to do would be to throw a super bowl party at your place!
With a little time and planning, you can create the ultimate man cave for you and all your buddies to watch the big game. Here are a just a few of the essentials:
Rent a Tent for the Ultimate Man Cave
Decide where you are going to create your ultimate man cave. Do you have an empty room in your house? Can you transform your living room? The size of the space you need will be dependent on the number of guests you have at your Super Bowl party, especially since all of your guy friends will not want to be bumping into one another or watching the game in oddly, squished positions.
If you decide to use a space you already have in use, make sure you clear it out to make room for the transformation. You may find it easier to use an empty space or, if you have a large enough outdoor space, you may want to consider renting a tent. This will give you a clean, empty slate to decorate and convert into your ultimate man cave. And, who cares if Super Bowl falls during some of the coldest months of the year? You can totally customize your tent – including floors, side walls, and climate control! Correct – you and your dudes will stay warm and cozy.
Choose Seating
When you think of sitting in a man-cave, what do you imagine? Recliners, of course! Every man loves a recliner. While this may not be the easiest choice to pull off, make sure you have enough seating for everyone and make sure it is comfortable! Once the game starts there is too much to see on the TV to get up and move around, so those seats will be well-used.
Make sure the furniture is accident proof – so much drinking, eating, hootin’, hollerin’, and jumping during touchdowns could get a bit messy.
Build, Buy or Rent a Bar
No man cave will be complete without a refrigerator and a bar. Keeping drinks and snacks handy so you don’t have to use much effort to get them is what a man cave is all about. No more leaving the TV to walk through the house and into the kitchen to crack open that next beer. Create your man cave and keep the drinks and snacks nearby.
You can build, buy, or rent a bar. Or, you can just use a table near an ice cooler. Make sure you have a selection of beverages for your guests – including some non-alcoholic drinks for those sober folks.
Stock up on snacks. Salty snacks such as popcorn, peanuts, chips, and pretzels – with various dips. Or you can get creative and cook for your guests –hot dips, gourmet pizzas, chicken wings, etc. You can do a search online and see what matches your taste buds.
Here is the most important part: do not place any food or beverage outside of the TV viewing area!! Keep everything in reach and keep it stocked. No one – let’s repeat – no one wants to be that guy who had to leave the man cave during the game to get more beer.
Set Up the Television
There is nothing worse than having a whole crew of people over to watch the Super Bowl game and either your TV doesn’t work properly, is too small to make out who the players are, or your cable is questionable. And no, booting up your old laptop for everyone to huddle around is not a good idea.
Whether you choose to use a television or a wall projector, make sure it can be seen from all areas in the room. In fact, adding a sound bar or two for the full effect of truly being at the game would be very welcomed.
Keep in mind that if you do decide to rent a tent, you want to make sure you have adequate electricity to run all the appliances – most importantly the TV.
Things to Do
It is likely that most guests will arrive prior to the game and many may linger for a bit afterwards – you know, to discuss the terrible calls of the officials or the remarkable, game-winning interception. That means you must have activities to pass the time.
A few ideas:
- Cornhole
- Dart board
- Pool table
- Footballs to toss
- Playing cards
- Video games
Guys like to stay busy and keep moving. You do not need any coordinated team games, just something for the guys to do as they chug their beer and talk about guy stuff.
All Things Football
Decorate your space to match the event. Add football memorabilia and decorations. Surround yourself with the team colors. You are taking the time to create your own Super Bowl man cave, you may as well make sure you immerse yourself in the event!
In short, only you can design the ultimate man cave that meets your likings and vision. The key is to stick to the essentials and make sure it is a place for you and your bros to feel comfortable, to be able to kick your shoes off and put your feet up – and not ever want to leave.