How to Make the Most of a Super Bowl Party If You Don't Care About the Game

At most Super Bowl parties, the food is the star of the show. So if nothing else, you can count on some good eating. And if you’re asked to bring a dish, you know you’ll at least like one thing. If you need a little inspiration, check out our list of party-perfect recipes from Black chefs.

And if you’re really not into the game, just post up by the food table and get first dibs on every fresh batch of wings that comes out.

There’s something about a good drink that makes watching sports so much more enjoyable. So get your drink on (responsibly, of course). Who knows? After a few cocktails, you may find that you really are a football fan.

Even if you aren’t into the game, you can still try to look the part. A Super Bowl party is the perfect excuse to buy a new outfit. And if jerseys aren’t your thing, you can put together a casually cute look from a Black-owned activewear or streetwear line like Supervsn or Lovello Elizabeth. And you can always pay homage to Rihanna by wearing Savage X Fenty.

Advertisers bring out their best for Super Bowl, from the hottest celebrities to the most adorable animals. Who can forget the Old Spice guy and the Budweiser frogs from Super Bowls past? So this is one time when you’re actually going to want to watch the commercials.

Even the biggest football fans can’t deny that the highlight of the night will be RiRi’s halftime performance. She teased us with her Savage X Fenty fashion show. But fans have been salivating for years for her to give a full-on performance – granted, she’s been a little busy with motherhood lately. So if you’re really struggling, use a free Rihanna concert as motivation to get you through the first half of the game.

If there was ever a year to watch the big game, this is it. Because no matter which team wins, a Black quarterback will have bragging rights. Thirty-five years after Doug Williams became the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl, only two other quarterbacks have joined the elite club, including Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes in 2020. Will he add another to his resume this year, or will Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles join their ranks? Either way, Black folks will have a reason to celebrate.

Nothing gets the party started like good music. So if you’re not into the game, put yourself in charge of the music. Just make sure it’s an upbeat playlist that will keep the party going.

If you think you’ll have trouble getting into the action, you can always propose a drinking game to make things more interesting. Have the guests take a drink or shot for every field goal, celebrity appearance, or quarterback sack.

If drinking isn’t your thing, maybe betting is. We’re not suggesting you put your rent money on the line or anything, but a few dollars could make things more interesting and let you leave with a few extra coins in your pocket (if you’re lucky). Make a list of prop bets and start a pool with the other guests. You can include things like the first song Rihanna will sing, if the coin toss will be heads or tails, and whether or not someone will score in the first 5 minutes of the game. The person with the most number of correct answers gets to take home the pot.

You probably won’t be the only person at the party who doesn’t care about the game. So find those folks and hang out with them. Like you, they probably just came for the wings and drinks.

Ok, I confess. I don’t like football because I don’t know what the hell is going on. But if you can find someone who’s willing (and patient) to school you on the rules of the game, it might be worth watching – or at least a little more interesting. No promises!

There’s no law that says you have to pay attention to the game at a Super Bowl party (please don’t kill me, football fans). So if you really get bored, find another television and watch something else. Or get with your anti-football friends and get a spades game going.