Game day. It’s not just about the action on the field—it’s a chance for bars, restaurants, and other venues to draw in the crowd, keep them engaged, and boost sales. Whether it’s the upcoming big game, regular Sunday football, March Madness, or the Stanley Cup finals, the right atmosphere can turn casual customers into loyal regulars.
Digital signage plays a huge role in making that happen. Done right, it can elevate the energy, promote your best deals, and drive those all-important upsells. Here’s how to make your digital signage a game day MVP.
Table of Contents
Building Hype Leading Up to the Big Game
The countdown to the big game is just as important as game day itself. Use your digital signage in the weeks leading up to the event to generate excitement and ensure you’re top of mind when fans are deciding where to watch.
- Create a Countdown: Build anticipation with a live countdown clock on your signage. “Only 5 days until the Big Game—Reserve Your Spot Today!” encourages early planning and bookings.
- Advertise Exclusive Game-Day Offers: Tease special deals or packages to get fans excited, such as “Game Day Platter for 4—Pre-order now for $50!” or “Reserve a table and get a free appetizer on game day!”
- Showcase Team Highlights: Run highlight reels, stats, or player profiles on your screens. It’s a great way to create buzz, especially if a local team is involved.
- Promote Pre-Game Events: Build excitement with related activities like trivia nights, jersey giveaways, or drink specials during playoff games. These smaller events keep your venue packed and reinforce it as the game-day destination.
- Encourage Social Media Engagement: Use your signage to promote hashtags and contests, like “Post your game-day prediction with #YourVenueBigGame and win a $25 gift card!”
By using digital signage to generate buzz in the weeks leading up to the big event, you’ll not only fill seats on game day but also create a sense of community and excitement that keeps fans coming back.
Get in the Zone: Tailor Your Messaging
Think of your digital signage as your team’s playbook. The content should match the vibe of the event. On game day, it’s all about excitement and energy.
- Lean Into Local: Support the hometown team with visuals like logos, slogans, or local references. “Cheer for the Lions here!” adds a personalized touch.
- Tailored Content: Use bold fonts, team colors, and motion graphics to grab attention. For non-team-specific events, lean on high-energy designs and general sports themes.
Promote Your MVP Deals
Everyone loves a good deal, especially when it comes with burgers, wings and beer. Use your signage to highlight game-day specials. Think “2-for-1 apps during halftime” or “Buckets of beer starting at $20.”
Make it clear, make it tempting, and keep it timely. Flash promotions that coincide with big moments (like a free taco for every touchdown) can make customers feel like they’re winning, too.
Pro tip: Highlight deals that encourage group orders—like shareable platters or buckets of beer—to increase spend per table.
Highlight Premium Options
Upselling doesn’t have to be pushy. It’s about offering value. Use your signage to showcase premium items like craft beer flights, shareable platters, or signature cocktails. Show close-up images of frosty pints or cheesy nachos—a little visual FOMO can go a long way.
Engage Fans with Interactive Content
Why not make your signage part of the action? Display live social media feeds where fans can post their predictions or cheer on their team. Include a hashtag for your venue to keep the conversation going – Best response wins a free appetizer. You can even run a QR code poll asking “Who’s going to win tonight?”
Interactive signage not only boosts engagement but also keeps people hanging out longer (and ordering more).
Keep the Energy Up with Music Videos
When the game pauses, your atmosphere shouldn’t. Use music videos to maintain the excitement during halftime or pre-game moments. If you’re prepping for the big game, consider featuring Kendrick Lamar, the half time performer this year, or music from artists in the past.
Showcase Upcoming Events
Game day isn’t just about today—it’s a chance to market for tomorrow. Use your signage to:
- Create urgency with limited-time offers: “Join us next Sunday for $5 margaritas during the game!”
- Advertise upcoming sports events or themed nights.
- Promote experiences like trivia or karaoke nights.
Check the Tech
Nothing kills the mood like a glitchy screen or outdated content. Make sure your signage is running smoothly and your content is up-to-date. Control Play’s platform makes it easy to schedule and automate your game-day content so you can focus on the crowd.
Winning with Digital Signage
Game day is your time to shine. With well-optimized digital signage, you can set the tone, drive engagement, and score big with upsells. By tailoring your messaging, promoting the right deals, and keeping fans entertained, you’ll create an atmosphere they’ll want to come back to—again and again.
Want to elevate your game-day atmosphere? Control Play offers the tools, expertise, and support to turn your venue into the ultimate game-day destination. Let’s make it happen!
