The Big Game brings packed houses, energy, and booming sales—but what happens when the final whistle blows? Too often, the rush fades, and business slows. The trick isn’t just winning game night, it’s keeping the momentum going. With the right moves, you can turn those one-night fans into loyal customers who keep coming back long after the last touchdown. The key is to act fast, stay relevant, and give them a reason to return.
Table of Contents
Instant Follow-Ups – Lock in Repeat Customers Before They Forget
Don’t let the energy of football season fade, reach out to customers while the excitement is still fresh:
- Next-Day Thank You Emails & Texts – Send a personalized message thanking customers for coming, offering a small incentive for their next visit.
- Big Game Receipt Rewards – Offer discounts to customers who bring back their receipt from game day within a week.
Turn Game Day Customers into Long-Term Regulars
The Big Game proves you can handle a big crowd—now turn those one-time visitors into lifelong fans by making your venue their home base for sports year-round: build an identity for your venue as the ultimate sports bar that customers feel connected to.
- Football Alumni Club – Create an exclusive list of attendees from The Big Game and give them early access to special game nights, discount perks, and “secret” menu items throughout the year.
- “Your Table, Your Team” Reservations – Let repeat customers claim a dedicated table for their favorite team’s games, making them feel like VIPs when they walk in.
- Give out “Come Back & Score” Coupons valid for special deals throughout the next month. Or Hand out “Game Day Replay” coupons valid for the next week, offering a discount or a free appetizer if they come back.
- NFL Draft Watch & Play – Turn the draft into a participatory event, where customers guess team picks and win prizes for correct predictions.
- For next season feature a “Fan of the Week” Contests – Reward regulars who keep coming back with discounts, free drinks, or bragging rights on your social media.
- Make Your Venue the Go-To for Sports Fans – Keep the excitement alive by promoting upcoming events like March Madness, the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, UFC fights, and F1 races.
Use Digital Signage to Keep Fans Engaged
Your digital screens aren’t just for game highlights—turn them into a marketing powerhouse:
- Promote Upcoming Events – We just talked about making your venue the spot for all sports, feature countdowns to upcoming events.
- Highlight Customer Testimonials – Display social media posts and reviews.
- Dynamic Specials Board – Use digital signage to update drink and food specials in real-time to keep customers interested.
Use Smart Data to Keep Fans Coming Back
The Big Game isn’t just a big night—it’s a goldmine of customer data. Use what you learned to craft targeted, effective strategies that bring fans back. A few examples of how data can help drive repeat business and customer loyalty:
- Heatmap Your Best-Selling Items – Use POS data to see which food and drinks were the biggest hits and promote them in future marketing campaigns. Example: “Our top-selling Big Game wings are now $2 off every Thursday!”
- Identify Your VIP Customers – Track repeat visitors from the football season and offer personalized deals (e.g., “Hey Alex, your crew loved the nachos—come back this weekend and get 10% off!”).
- Segment Your Email & SMS Marketing – If someone only ordered beer, send them an invite to a craft beer tasting night. If they ordered cocktails, promote your upcoming mixology night.
- Geo-Targeted Social Ads – Run ads specifically for people who were at your venue at the big game, reminding them of upcoming sports events.
- Late-Night Traffic Boosters – Use check-in data to see when people tend to leave. If the crowd drops at 10 PM, launch a “Fourth Quarter Special” where the last hour of the night offers special discounts.
Keep Fans Hooked Year-Round
The Big Game brings the crowds, but it’s what you do after that builds long-term loyalty. By using instant follow-ups, digital signage, and data-driven insights, you can turn first-time these visitors into regular customers.
Want to make your venue a year-round destination? Contact Control Play today to craft the perfect game plan!
