Valentine’s Day will be here quicker than you can say “Blue 42! Blue 42! Hut, hut, hike!” but before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s consider the other celebration that brings men and women together in a frenzy of passion: the Super Bowl. This weekend, the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos will be getting cosy at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. and if your partner is at all football-savvy, then you’ll know that, honey, this Sunday it ain’t about you.
However, that’s not to say you can’t turn Super Bowl XLVIII (48—I looked it up) into a dating opportunity, maybe even a relationship #win. You’ve just started seeing each other? Head to his for a Super Bowl party and find out what he’s like around the boys (or vice versa). This is an unintimidating way to break the ice with his friends. The game will provide an instant talking point and any awkwardness will be drowned out by the buzz. You might even discover that he makes a mean 7-layer dip.
If you’ve been together for at least a few Super Bowls, then host the party together this time. No need to stress over details as when entertaining in-laws, so you’ll be able to fully appreciate what it means to be on the same team. One person sends the invites (i.e. mass text message) and the other buys the beer. Domestic bliss.
Either way, here’s the game plan for making the most of your Super Bowl date:
Pick a team.
Team colours are orange and blue for the Broncos and green, blue and silver for the Seahawks, if that helps. Which it probably doesn’t because who picks their favourite team based on a colour scheme? Not me. No way. As if.
The more analytically-minded might look to the economy for hints. Which team’s win predicts a more significant rise in the S&P 500? Bespoke Investment Group, for one, is going Broncos.
Brush up on the rules of engagement.
Perhaps you have more football trivia up your sleeve than Justin Bieber has Americans wanting to kick him out of the country. Perhaps you just figured out that a down is—what’s a down? Not an up…It turns out that the basics are really quite basic. Give them a gander.
Prepare your offering.
Along with highly-anticipated commercials, halftime wardrobe malfunctions and, well, football, the Super Bowl is all about indulgence. So you’ve been sticking to your New Year’s diet thus far? Scrap it, at least for the day, and give in to the jalapeno poppers. The Huffington Post has put together a delectable lineup of game day appies including my personal favourite: fried mozzarella sticks.
Perfect your victory dance.
Supermodels get lots of attention when they shimmy in the end zone. See if it works for you.
Know your alternatives.
If you somehow manage to claim TV rights, or work in a compromise with your football-breathing date, then check out these other bowls that will be airing Sunday: Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl and Hallmark’s Kitten Bowl. The expectation is that both will be adorable.
And finally, GO SEAHAWKS!
