7 Tips to Throw a Cheap Football House Party

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Football season is here and that means it’s time to throw a cheap football house party. 


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There’s something about watching sports with friends and family in a comfortable setting that makes it even more enjoyable.

You have the opportunity to cheer for your favorite team and hang out with your friends and family, all at the same time.

However, if you’ve ever thrown a football house party, you know how costly it can be.

football house party pin


There’s cleaning, prep work, cooking, drinks…and all while trying to stay within a football party budget.

But if you follow these 7 tips on how to host an amazing budget-friendly football house party, the stress will be minimal, and you won’t leave any of your guests wanting more.

At my house, football is a staple. I love spending the afternoon and evening watching hours and hours of football.

However, it’s always so much better when we host friends and family to watch the games at our house. 

After quite a few football house parties, I’ve created 7 tips for throwing a fabulous football house party on a budget.



1. Start with a Clean and Organized House

The first step to throwing a fabulous football house party is making sure your home is clean and organized.

Be sure to grab tons of budget-friendly stuff to clean and organize your home.

Cleaning for Football House Party


Focus on cleaning the food service area as well as the bathroom. To make sure your home sparkles stock up on the following:

While you’re shopping pick up the following for the guest bathroom:



2. Add Football Theme Decorations



Who wants to come to a dull, boring party? No one! Make sure your football house party is fully decorated with all the fan favorites.

There are several ideas to decorate your home for the football party like:

  • Decorate with your favorite football team’s logo, memorabilia, and collectibles. You could also take themed decorations from both teams and create a half-and-half party …one side of the party is one team’s decorations while the competing team is the other. 

(My family hosts Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns parties and it’s fun to decorate with both to represent each team equally.)

  • Stick with a football theme – not a team theme. This means, using the football field itself as the inspiration and creating the decor around the field, football, and a football stadium.

Some football theme party decor ideas:



    3. Load Up on Lots of Snack Stations

    Make sure to load up on tons of football snacks. Nothing says football like tons of snacks. Use fun and football-themed containers for added fun!

    Football Party Apps


    Also, make sure to place a variety of snacks all around the house. Wherever your guests are enjoying the game, make sure the snacks are within reach. 


    RELATED POST: Check out some more fun football treat ideas here.




    4. DIY Drink Stations

    Don’t let your friends and family stay thirsty long at your football house party.

    Grab lots of soda, beer, tea, and coffee. Make sure a cooler or refrigerator is easy for your guests to locate and serve themselves. 


    However, if you want the football house party to stand apart from all the other parties….add a DIY cocktail bar.

    Your guests can make their favorite football-themed cocktail. 

    Drink station idea for football party


    Stock the DIY drink station with:



    5. Go Heavy on the Apps

    A football house party is never complete without fun appetizers. The sky is the limit when it comes to fun football-themed appetizers. Grab fun containers and go all out with great appetizers.

    Football party food

    Some football fan favorites include:

    • Smoked Sausage Cubes
    • Sliced Turkey
    • Pork
    • Pepperoni Bread
    • Cheesy Pull-Apart Bread
    • Artichoke Spinach Dip
    • Hot Corn and Cheese Dip
    • Loaded Baked Potato Dip
    • Buffalo Chicken Dip

    For more fun dip ideas and some of these recipes check out Pinterest and make sure to grab all your budget-friendly.



    6. Don’t Skimp on the Tunes

    Although the big game is the focus of the event, make sure to have music going on in the other rooms of the home such as the food service area.

    This will create a fun, party vibe throughout the house.


    RELATED POST: Check out this related post, Man Cave Home Bar on a Budget for more great man cave ideas.




    7. Serve Fun Football Theme Food

    Although your football party guests might be full of snacks and appetizers – tell them to save room for the main event. 

    Football Fun Food Ideas


    Although wings and pizza often steal the show, these football-themed ideas are winners, too. Check out Southside Market & Barbeque for fresh from the pit BBQ right to your door.

    Check these out for winning football party food:

    southside market meat

    To grab recipes and more football party food inspiration visit Pinterest.


    Want more everything home tips and DIY ideas? Be sure to follow us on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, and Twitter for the latest posts, tips, and ideas.



    Final Thoughts

    I am beyond excited that football season has arrived. I can’t wait to welcome friends and family to my home to watch all the football.

    Your turn!

    What is your favorite football party tradition? Are you hosting a party this year? What is your favorite budget-friendly football party tip? Let me know in the comments!

    79 thoughts on “7 Tips to Throw a Cheap Football House Party”

    1. I’ll be forwarding this to my brother. He’s gonna love these ideas. Thank you for this post.

      1. Hi Akansha!

        Thank you for checking out the football house party ideas. I hope your brother enjoys the post!

        Thank you for reading!

    2. Great tips! I bet you throw some awesome parties.

      1. Hi Liv!

        I love throwing football house parties for sure! I’m glad you found the tips helpful!

        Thank you for reading!

    3. Just in time for the upcoming parties….seems my house is always selected for football gatherings. Some great tips to keep from going broke.

      1. Hi Stephanie!

        I hope you enjoy the upcoming season and found some ideas for throwing a cheap football house party.

        Thank you for reading!

        1. Such great tips! I love football season, and going to football parties. Going to need to host one now! Thanks for sharing.

          1. Hi Ashley!

            I love football season, too! Such a fun time for football house parties! I hope you get to host one soon!

            Thank you for reading!

    4. Great tips for a football party that can be applied to any other party too!!

      1. Hi Michelle!

        So true these ideas are great not just for football house parties, but any party.

        Thank you for reading!

    5. Kirsten Smith

      Yum! I can’t wait to try some of these.

      1. Hi Kirsten!

        I’m glad you found some yummy ideas for your football house parties!

        Thanks for reading!

    6. Buffalo chicken dip is my fav! I love football season. Great post. Thanks for the ideas.

      1. Hi Carla!

        I totally agree! I love buffalo chicken dip all the time, especially during a football house party!

        Thank you for reading!

    7. Football season is here! Love to hang out with friends and watch the games. You shared some excellent football house party ideas. Definitely can have football without food and liquor; I love the shot glasses.

      1. Hi Kevin!

        Football house parties are the best! I’m excited you found some ideas! Enjoy the games!

        Thanks for reading!

      1. Hi Christina!

        I love football house parties, too! I’m excited you liked the ideas! Enjoy the football season!

        Thanks for reading!

      1. Hi Trista!

        I love football house parties, too! I’m hoping to have one soon as well! Enjoy the football season!

        Thanks for reading!

      1. Hi Eva!

        I’m so excited you found the ideas easy and straight forward for cheap football house parties!

        Thank you for reading!

    8. Great ideas! I just had a football themed birthday party and I could have used some of these recipes!

      1. Hi Jennifer!

        A football-themed birthday party sounds like so much fun! I hope it was a great time!

        Thanks for reading!

      1. Hi Tianna!

        I’m excited you loved all the football house party ideas on a budget.

        Thank you for reading!

    9. Lindsey

      Love this! All about the snack stations!

      1. Hi Lindsey!

        I am all about snacks at every football house party, too!

        Thank you for reading!

      1. Hi Deanna!

        I’m excited you like the drink station idea – football house parties are so fun!

        Thanks for reading!

    10. Great post, no excuses for not having a party at home with our best friends and for little money. Thanks for sharing.

      1. Hi Bruno!

        I’m glad you found some ideas for hosting a football house party with your friends. Enjoy the football season!

        Thanks for reading!

    11. These are all such great ideas! I’ve been dipping my foot back into home entertainment and we love, love, love our football! Hopefully many, many parties to come!

      1. Hi Rena!

        I love football, too! I hope you are able to host many football house parties soon!

        Thank you for reading!

    12. You have really given some great ideas ~ especially for those of us who are uncomfortable throwing a party!

      1. Hi Mary Ann!

        I’m excited you found some great ideas for hosting football house parties! I hope you are able to host a party soon!

        Thank you for reading!

    13. You seem like a super organised person and I would love an invitation to your parties!

      1. Hi Hilda!

        I try to stay organized and enjoy throwing football house parties! I hope you are able to enjoy some fun parties!

        Thank you for reading!

    14. Hosting “football parties” is totally foreign to me lol, although my husband has been invited once or twice to watch the Rugby final with mates when the All Blacks were playing. I can imagine it must be lots of fun cheering along with friends and having a party while watching your fav team!

      1. Hi Cat!

        Although I’ve never watched rugby, I would bet a fun Rugby party could be similar to a football house party. It’s always a fun time to watch football with family and friends. Hopefully you can watch a football game soon!

        Thanks for reading!

    15. Rosemary Davis

      Thanks for sharing your fantastic football party tips! Living in a major university town, the University of Florida, football parties are a part of life every fall.

      Rosemary

      1. Hi Rosemary!

        I bet you have hosted your fair share of football house parties in Florida! Hopefully, you got a few tips for this fall football season hosting, too!

        Thank you for reading!

    16. Throwing a cheap football house party is easy with Dollar Tree! I appreciate the inspiration. Thank you for all of the great hosting ideas.

      1. Hi Lisa!

        I love The Dollar Tree and it’s my go-to for cheap football house party planning. I’m excited you found inspiration from the post and hope you get to enjoy some football parties this season.

        Thank you for reading!

    17. Pingback: Great Holiday Wine Party Ideas

    18. Debbie, I’m originally from Cleveland. Funny thing is, my husband’s father used to take his kids from western NY state to Cleveland to see the Browns all the time! Thanks for a great post on how to host a football party!

      1. Hi Julie!

        I’m not too far from Cleveland and we have lots of Browns fans in our family as well! Glad you liked the cheap football house party tips post!

        Thank you for reading!

      1. Hi Christine!

        I love to throw a great and cheap football house party and really find football theme decorations add something extra to the party!

        Thank you for reading!

    19. Abby

      mmmm those are some yummy food suggestions there!

      1. Hi Abby!

        I’m excited you like the food suggestions for a cheap football house party!

        Thank you for reading!

    20. Seem fun and great ideas to do. Music makes it more fun and entertaining. I will keep this in mind because we might do one next weekend.

      1. Hi Fransic!

        Great music is the key to every party – even when the focus is on a football house party – tunes make the event fun!

        Thank you for reading!

    21. I love the idea of snack and drink “stations”. It’s all about the food for me anyway, so having it conveniently located wherever you are is a win!

      1. Hi Carrie!

        I love a great food and drink party and enjoy adding the mix to a football house party, too.

        Thank you for reading!

    22. Dana

      I love this cheap football house party idea list! My husband is a huge football fan, and I’ll use these ideas for a football party. This is great for Super Bowl is coming up!

    23. I think the best football parties are those with lots of appetizers. Can’t wait for the super bowl this year!

    24. Love the blowup goal! Will be buying this for drinks for our next game day! Thanks for the awesome ideas!

    25. Thanks for the tips. Too bad that World Cup ended before I read this 🙂 Good quality ingredients are crucial, like quality (if possible crafts) beer and appetizers. Not too many of these of course…

      1. Rob

        This will be great for the upcoming playoff season!

    26. Whitney Stewart

      I’ve never thought about what all goes into a really good football watch party. Aside from the best food of course, lol! Anyway, this was all really good advice, especially about the decorations and self serving bar. This’ll one in handy if I ever need a reference on it! Thanks for sharing this with us!

    27. Steph G.

      We love football at my house – almost as much as we love saving money! Thanks for the great tips. I needed to be more creative in my decor.

    28. I don’t really like football but this is a great post for throwing any party really. Thank you

    29. Melanie

      Such great ideas for partying on a budget! Can’t wait to use these

    30. Football season is my favorite! I am huge Eagles fan and every game is like super bowl! Great article

    31. I’m hungry now looking at all these yummy foods and recipes that you show for a cheap football house party! I’m saving this so I can be ready for my next football themed party!

    32. Valery

      Great tips! I love the idea of having multiple snack stations around the house and will for sure be using it for our Super Bowl get together!

    33. This is a perfect article just in time for the SuperBowl! Can’t wait to try some of these ideas!!

    34. Pingback: Great Football Food Ideas

    35. Whitney Stewart

      Had to come back for a second read, there was a lot to remember! I can see how expensive football watch parties could get; especially when it comes to the food. This’ll will definitely help in that department. Thanks again for sharing this!

    36. I’m loving all the lists for shopping!! Makes it so much easier to know what to get when we have company over watching football or any sport really!

    37. I love this! The snack and drink stations are such a great idea!

    38. Having good tunes is so important for a party! Thanks for sharing this – great for college when you want a fun but money-sensitive event.

    39. Sooo many ideas. Love that you have paid so much attention in detailing every little aspect of a superbowl/football party

    40. I *love* dips – and football parties are the most wonderful excuse to make and serve them without judgement!!

      Awesome ideas here. Thanks for sharing!

    41. bright loveland snow

      that is a great and easy way to engage your friends with football party at home this summer. thanks for such ideas.

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