5 Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Football Season

The preseason is already underway with the Hall of Fame game and the first regular season kickoff is scheduled for September 4th in Seattle. These facts mean that you have less than four weeks to get your house in order for the upcoming 2014 National Football League season. Here are a few suggestions for how to get it done.

Optimize the Seating Arrangement
While many of your guests will not mind standing for a part of the game, most will eventually want to settle in to watch the end of the fourth quarter. Having your regular furniture positioned so that everyone has a good view as well as adding some temporary seating will keep everyone happy and engaged.

Also, consider adding a second television set in the kitchen or bedroom to accommodate extra visitors or those doing the all-important snack preparation. With the right wireless cable provider, this should be as simple as moving your second monitor into the next room. This is also a good time to consider the cable TV deals and options available in your area to ensure you get one that meets your football viewing needs.

Stock the Pantry
Speaking of snacks, you’ll want to have a wide variety of mixers, sodas and snacks on hand to quaff the thirsty and hungry bunch that is about to arrive at your home. In addition to the usual chips and dips, add some hot dishes to the menu of gameday snacks like pizza rolls, mozzarella sticks and buffalo wings.

More mature palates will also appreciate some fruits and cheeses to go along with the other more traditional snacks. If you are in a cooking frame of mind, try adding sliders, pigs in a blanket and the ever-popular empanadas. All of these snacks are easy to make and can be served with just a napkin.

Set Up an Outdoor Area
By setting up an outdoor area, you add further seating for your guests and accommodate more needs. This also keeps some of the mess from inside of your house, easing the inevitable cleanup process.

Show the Team Colors
Adding some decorations for the first game of the season is probably worthwhile but doing it week after week is a thankless task with little reward. Instead, invest in some team hats, shirts and other memorabilia that will help kick start each week.

Your regulars won’t really notice as they will bring their own gear but new fans will appreciate the effort to include them more in the festivities. Also, don’t forget the opposing side. There’s nothing like a little friendly competition to make a party more exciting.

Make Sure Everyone Gets Home Safe
Understand that this topic is the elephant in the room but this advice bears repeating – your party isn’t really over until all your guests are safely home.

This fact means that you must have a way to get even mildly inebriated guests to their home unharmed. Have the number of a taxi service available or ferry them home yourself. Either way, you and your guests will have a safer and far more enjoyable football season experience.

Following these tips will have your home geared up for the gridiron kickoff!

Written by Danny