Good things come to those who wait. Yes, they do. After waiting 50 years, we’re starring in the Big Game Sunday!
As the city has turned a beautiful shade of red, fans are showing their support in so many ways. Even those Kansas Citians who don’t walk and talk, live and breathe Chiefs football are pulling on KC hoodies and hanging arrowhead flags on their front porches. For those of us who remember that amazing year when the Royals made their run to become World Series Champions, we know there is so much more happening here than football or baseball.
There is a unity that comes to our city, people begin to feel like they know the players and there is a great deal of pride in this great group of young men who are so beautifully representing each of us on a grand stage.
As a die-hard fan, watching football is one of my favorite pastimes! I love every part of the game, but what I love most is that in our family, game time has always been family time. As much fun as it is to just hunker down with my immediate family, there is also something great about the camaraderie that comes with yelling at the TV with a like-minded group of friends.
As the Chiefs take the field to secure their title as national champions, we will be hosting a party with great friends, lots of food and TVs strategically positioned throughout the house. But there will be two things missing. With our daughter, Kate, living in DC and our son, Ryan, living in Manhattan they won’t be standing around our family room cheering the highlights and bemoaning the calls we know were wrong.
There is nothing I would love more than having both of them here for the party, but that isn’t feasible. That doesn’t prevent us from sharing this amazing event, but it does require us to be a little more creative about it.
At this point, I’m going to let you in on a little secret… this started out as a blog about how to host a great party. And I will share some of my favorite party tips, but as the excitement about this game grows and I begin to plan a party I find myself thinking about the fact that my kids will be watching somewhere else.
So, let’s start with those tips to have a football party that makes everyone feel like a champion.
Go big! This is the THE game, so go all in! Paint your front door red, use artificial grass as a table cover, get those red and yellow paper goods, provide pom poms and foam No. 1 fingers, the sky is the limit!
Think about your guest list. A party is a lot more fun if the guests have a similar level of interest in the game. Trying to really watch the game while a guest is trying to switch the channel to Cupcake Wars is not fun for anyone.
Have multiple TVs showing the game, if possible, setting up viewing areas around a large main area allows everyone be together, but still have a front row seat for all the action.
Spread out your snacks. While it’s great to have a huge table full of game day treats, look around your space and see if you can spread your grazing stations throughout your viewing area. This makes it easy for your guests to munch and mingle without missing a single play!
Prepare for the fumbles. Drinks will get spilled, the toilet will clog… you can’t change what happens but you can control your response.
While our family can lock down and watch football for a lot longer than I want to admit, not everyone has our laser focus. Keep everyone happy with a little pregame planning. If there are young kids attending, it might be a good idea to hire a couple of babysitters to hangout, play games, and keep the littles entertained.
While these tips can help you host a party that scores big, the real win is spending time with people you love. Analyzing the play calling, the high five after a first down, a hug after a touchdown; these moments help build connections with friends and family.
But what about those loved ones who are doing their touchdown dance in another city. How do you share the moments? Keep in touch during the game – FaceTime, text or call. And do a little post game group call to recap the good, the bad and the unbelievable moments.
As one season ends, we look ahead to the next season, often without taking time to truly celebrate the people who make up our team. So as you celebrate this amazing season of Chiefs football, take a minute to celebrate this season of your life.
Go ahead, plan that party and celebrate the win, because there is no greater victory formation than standing with your family cheering for your favorite team even if there are a few thousand miles between you.
