Spring and summer sporting events have begun, and they are a great way for restaurants to encourage group visits, promote themed LTOs, and drive regular, repeat traffic. Highlighting sporting events at your restaurant can help you connect with patrons, celebrate important sports moments, and foster a community for your guests – not to mention boosting your bottom line.
Making your restaurant a go-to for sporting events means creating compelling reasons for guests to visit again and again. From game-day promos to live events, here are some of the ways your restaurant can maximize your margins around sporting events this season:
- Create a high-energy atmosphere with watch parties, feature themed menus, or include live interaction with trivia or games. You could also include live promos that offer guests rewards as the event is happening. Think free app for a home run or BOGO beer for a team’s loss.
- Add décor, extra TVs, speakers, and anything else that can help enhance the experience for your guests.
- Plan seating to ensure that there’s no bad seat in the house and watch the weather for updates to plan your staff and seating accordingly.
- Don’t forget your customers who are watching at home. Create takeout meals, snack boxes, or themed off-premise menus to cater to those guests, too.
- As the weather gets warmer, use your outdoor spaces, too. From patios to parking lots, people want to enjoy the nice weather as they celebrate their favourite sporting moments.
- Consider adding a community vibe by sponsoring local teams, hosting post-game celebrations, or inviting them to celebrate special games at your restaurant.
- Make marketing a priority to create excitement and get attention for your event. Use popular hashtags, tag the teams, and engage with fans online to encourage conversation and drive attendance. Promote the celebrations on your website and social media channels, sharing live posts from the event to help generate excitement for the next one.
Sporting events can attract large crowds, and hosting events like these allows operators can grow their brand, drive traffic and revenues, and encourage repeat visits throughout the season.
