Whether you’re in it for the teams, for the Rihanna concert or the commercials, the Big Game is Sunday Feb. 12. And the costs of ordering food in or throwing a viewing party can add up. To get a read on how much Americans are spending this year, we performed a survey of U.S. adults to find out their top spending categories and viewing plans.
Americans Will Spend $100+, But Are Making Cuts Due to Inflation
Roughly one-third of Americans say they’ll make some purchases for the Big Game this year, spending an average of $124. The biggest spending this year will be on food and non-alcoholic beverages — 81% of those spending money on the Big Game will make a purchase in that category. Meanwhile, 53% say they’ll buy alcoholic beverages, and 46% say they’ll spend on food takeout and delivery. Here’s how that $124 average budget breaks down:
- Food and alcohol: $74.
- Team merchandise and accessories: $24
- Other: $26.
Clearly, food is a priority. Even so, 28% of those making purchases related to the Big Game say they’re dialing back and spending less this year, due to inflation. Even with the rate of inflation slowing, the past year has been hard on shoppers, who are now well versed in cutting back on discretionary spending.
Big Game Favorite Foods, Viewing Plans
Most viewers (65%) say they’ll be watching the game from home or hosting a party. Meanwhile, 23% will attend a viewing party or will watch at someone’s house and just 4% will watch at a bar or restaurant. As for what’s on the menu, the most popular foods Americans plan to eat and serve during the game this year are:
- Wings (27%).
- Pizza (22%).
- Nachos (20%).
- Dip (13%).
- BBQ (9%).
- Other (5%).
- Chili (3%).
Even with all that delicious food, the game is still the big draw of the evening, with 46% of those planning to watch saying it’s the part of the evening they’re most interested in. Commercials (23%) are in second place, followed by the halftime show (14%).
Source: Ziff Media Group Shopping Survey. Data collected between Feb. 1 and 6, 2023.
Savings Tips for the Big Game
Whether you’re ordering in or prepping a feast for your guests, there are ways to save on the big game and still have a great viewing experience.
- Take advantage of Big Game TV sales. IF you’re in the market for a new television, early February is a good time to upgrade. Retailers know shoppers might be considering upgrading for the biggest sporting event of the year, and therefore make the deals extra tempting. Check out the best TV sales this year.
- Look for food delivery deals. If you’re one of the 46% planning to order food delivery this year, good news — plenty of restaurants and pizza joints are running specials.
- Shop for groceries strategically. Be sure to check out your grocery store’s weekly ad. You’ll find discounts and BOGO offers on many of the snacks and drinks you’ll need. Big box stores are also a treasure trove of Big Game grocery deals, too. Check out Target, in particular, which (through Saturday Feb. 11) is offering BOGO deals on select meat, discounts on beverages, two-for-$5 pricing on snacks and more in its weekly ad. Meanwhile, Walmart is offering deals on game time snacks. Plus, use our offer to get $10 off your first $50 Walmart grocery offer.
The post The Big Game By the Numbers: Staying Home and Eating Wings? You’re Not Alone appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
