Pro football playoffs aren’t a one-off event—they’re a multi-week ordering cycle, with fans eating later, ordering in groups, and coming back again as the field narrows.
With Championship Weekend on January 25, followed by the Big Game on February 8, now is the time to lock in menus, operations, and promotions that carry you through every round.
Here’s how smart operators prepare to win from kickoff to the final whistle.
Build a Playoff-Ready Menu
Playoff orders are about sharing, speed, and repeatability.
What performs best
- Bundles beat à la carte: wing packs, slider boxes, nacho trays, party meals
- Fast execution wins: trim slow movers; spotlight items you can fire quickly
- Flexible heat levels: mild-to-wild keep every group happy
Top 10 Watch Party Delivery Items
When demand spikes, customers don’t experiment—they reorder what they trust. These items consistently outperform during playoff weekends because they travel well, serve groups, and fit game-day behavior.
Delivery MVPs
- Chicken wings (bone-in, boneless, or mixed packs)
- Pizza (whole pies, half-and-half, party-sized)
- Sliders and mini sandwiches
- Nachos (loaded, shareable trays)
- Mozzarella sticks and fried appetizers
- Dips (queso, buffalo chicken dip, guacamole, spinach artichoke)
- Flatbreads (pizza-adjacent, faster cook times)
- Fries and tots (especially loaded)
- Chicken tenders (crowd-friendly, kid-approved)
- Party platters (mixed apps, wings + sides, sampler boxes)
The common thread isn’t indulgence—it’s shareability, speed, and familiarity. If an item slows the kitchen, doesn’t hold up in transit, or requires utensils, it’s less likely to win on game day.
Quick gut check for your menu
- Can it be shared by 3–5 people?
- Can it be fired fast during a surge?
- Does it travel without losing quality?
If the answer isn’t yes across the board, it may not belong in your playoff lineup.
Cater to How Fans Actually Order
Game-day demand skews heavily off-premises, with orders peaking before kickoff and tapering as the game progresses. That makes delivery and takeout your primary channel, not an add-on.
What customers gravitate toward
- Chicken wings and shareable proteins
- Pizza and flatbreads
- Dips, sauces, and snackable sides
- Comfort food with simple customization
Health-conscious options still matter. Lighter bowls, plant-forward sides, and low-carb swaps help capture more households without slowing the line.
Get Ahead With Catering and Pre-Orders
One of the easiest ways to smooth out playoff chaos is pre-ordering.
- Add game-day catering packages directly to your delivery menu
- Encourage advance orders with small discounts or bonus sides
- Clearly communicate cut-off times so kitchens can prep confidently
This reduces phone bottlenecks, improves inventory planning, and keeps prep predictable during peak hours.
Offer Experience-Driven Menu Options
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DIY Kits
DIY meal kits—especially pizza kits—continue to perform well during playoff weekends. They’re easy upsells, high perceived value, and perfect for halftime.
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Team- & Location-Inspired Items
Fans respond to limited-time menu names tied to the moment:
- Regional sliders, burgers, or bowls
- Playful, Vegas-inspired items that nod to the host city
- Familiar food with smart naming—not novelty that slows execution
Use Smart, Timely Pricing
Playoff pricing works best when it feels intentional, not gimmicky.
- Number-based pricing tied to the season or teams
- Limited-time bundle discounts
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Halftime flash deals to capture late-game orders
Clear, simple offers outperform complicated promos every time.
Lock In Game-Day Operations
Treat playoff Sundays like holidays.
Prep for the surge
- Staff is heavier from late afternoon through halftime
- Pre-portion sauces and sides
- Par-cook proteins where possible
- Stage packaging before the rush
Reduce friction
- Limit modifiers during peak windows
- Standardize sides and sauces
- Prioritize speed and accuracy over customization
Go Delivery-First
Most fans aren’t leaving the couch.
- Update prep times before kickoff and again at halftime
- Use vented packaging for wings and secure lids for dips
- Make re-ordering easy so customers return for the next round
Consistency week over week drives repeat playoff behavior.
Promote Like an Operator
Effective playoff promotion is timely and specific.
What works
- Early-week tease: “Playoff bundles drop Thursday.”
- Morning-of reminder
- Email or SMS 2–3 hours before kickoff
- Halftime flash offers
*Important: Avoid using the trademarked game name in marketing. Stick with Game Day, Championship Weekend, or The Big Game.
Plan for the Full Playoff Run
The biggest opportunity isn’t one night—it’s repeat orders across multiple weeks.
- Track what sells.
- Optimize menus quickly.
- Rotate one new item per week to keep interest high.
- Reward repeat customers with bounce-back offers.
Take Away
Playoff success comes down to speed, simplicity, and delivery-first thinking.
Operators who prepare early—and plan for the full playoff stretch—turn every Sunday into a reliable sales win.
Championship Weekend: January 25
The Big Game: February 8
By Eileen Strauss
