A Super Bowl Party for People Who Don’t Care About Football
You would think that growing up in Orchard Park, home of the Buffalo Bills, I would be a crazy football fan. But I’ve actually never been to a pro football game, even though I lived just three miles from Rich Stadium (now Highmark Stadium).
Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the Bills. You can’t grow up in Buffalo without that being true. Go Bills. But my interest in the team has always been more about the people and the culture than the actual game.
I lived in the same apartment building as Joe Ferguson (Quarterback 1973-1984) when I was five and would draw pictures of him and drop them off on his doorstep daily. Thurman Thomas (Running Back 1988-1999) shopped at Saville’s, the local farmer’s market where I worked, and we were buddies. My friends and I went trick-or-treating at Jim Kelly’s house – hoping for full-size candy bars and instead getting an autographed photo of the celebrated quarterback (1986-1996).
Point being, football has always been a part of my life – especially during high school, when the Bills were in the middle of their infamous four-Super-Bowl losing streak.
Bills culture might be ingrained in me, but to this day, I still don’t know what a blitz is. It’s to the point where my husband won’t watch games with me because I ask too many questions. (Sorry babe!)
What I did develop an interest in, as I started going to Super Bowl parties in my 20s and 30s, was the overall entertainment surrounding the game. So I went on FOX 5’s Good Night New York to explain how you can throw a great Super Bowl party, even if you’re not particularly interested in football.
And, most importantly, how to pull it off in a 500-square-foot New York City apartment.
The Setup: How to Host a Super Bowl Party in A Small Apartment
As always, layout comes first. What is the focal point? What else will happen during the party? And how will the layout support the flow?
Focal point for Super Bowl: the TV. Even if you aren’t watching the game, you want to see and hear the commercials and the halftime show. So plan seating so that you have clear sightlines from every seat in the house – whether that’s on a couch, floor or well-posiitoned fire escape – and don’t be afraid to rearrange for the occasion. It MAKES the party – I promise.
What else will happen? Food, beverage, and games! Be sure your guests can make your way to the food, bev, games (and bathroom!) without undue climbing, tripping and hopping. A little schooching is all they should have to do.
Games – can they be passed around (our idea can) or do they need a focus, tabletop or other support system?
I rearrange my apartment to watch the Super Bowl — Madden style!
The Best Themed Super Bowl Party Cocktails & Mocktails
The Super Bowl gives you PLENTY of room to play with drink themes. At a minimum, you have the teams, the halftime performer, and whatever pre-game chatter surrounds one of the biggest pop culture events of the year.
For the 2026 Super Bowl signature sip, I called on mixologist and restaurateur Marcio Ramos from Hello, Hello Bar, Honeywell and other hot spots around New York City. I explained that we were looking for something that was simple to pre-batch, complemented chip-and-dip fare, and could be just as delicious whether it’s served with or without alcohol.
His solution?
A Bad Bunny-inspired masterpiece called the London Coin Flip Benito. Mango, lemonade, mint and club soda form the base – spiked with gin for a little kick.
And with that, I had my signature cocktail/mocktail. (It’s important to have both options!) And the best part? It’s super easy to make with simple ingredients and a standard cocktail shaker…but it tastes like a pro made it!
Ingredients
1.5oz lemonade
.75oz mango puree
1oz gin
Club soda
Mint sprigs
Shake & Serve
Shake lemonade, mango puree & gin (optional)
Strain over rocks
Top with a splash of club soda
Garnish with mint
Note: For this party, we were not concerned with any spills caused by a little lemon and mango, but when hosting in the home and brainstorming your theme - consider the color of the beverage. 😉
The Squares: A Super Bowl Party Game for Non-Football Fans
While commercials, halftime, and general gossip could easily keep a non-football-fan crowd chatting all night, we wanted to keep guests invested in the actual event. So we did a little riff on traditional Super Bowl Squares.
Instead of tracking the score, you're tracking the moments everyone actually remembers.
Guests pick one or two squares when they arrive. Each square predicts something that might happen during the broadcast, like a former halftime performer joining the show (I was pulling for my girl Janet Jackson), a commercial featuring a horse (there are a lot of 'em!), or a Gatorade shower gone wrong.
Which square would you choose?!
If your moment happens, you win! Bragging rights, control of the playlist, whatever prize suits your crowd.
It’s the kind of game that speaks to viewers like me who care less about the playbook and more about the pop culture.
And with that, I guess there’s only one thing left to say…
Go Bills!
Carrie