The Super Bowl is a dream come true for advertisers, but retailers must gear up weeks in advance too. Hundreds of millions of viewers tune into America’s most anticipated sporting event every year, and never without friends, snacks, and the best technology. Here are ten must-buy gadgets for anybody hosting a Super Bowl party this Sunday!
1. Samsung 65-inch 4K Television
Forget about the snacks and socializing—the entertainment driving a Super Bowl party is football and commercials, both of which are displayed on a television. Super Bowl Sunday is a popular time for Americans to hit their local electronics store and purchase a big screen television, but what television is best for the big event.
3D televisions were a fad, but the future of television is the 4K television, named for its 4000 pixel resolution. While it is a much pricier option than the typical 1080p resolution television, the Super Bowl is the perfect reason to pull the trigger (especially when playing host).
There is no shortage of 4K television manufacturers, but I recommend the Samsung product due to its Smart TV online system. While critics argue that there is little 4K content available, the upcoming Winter Olympics and FIFA World Cup are further incentive to splurge on a top-of-the-line product for a great year in sports.
2. Brookstone Pocket Projector Pro
Not everyone can afford a four-figure television, but a 32-incher just won’t suffice for a quality Super Bowl party. A projector is a great alternative to show the game to a large audience in a big room. The Brookstone Pocket Projector Pro is a cheap option that projects images up to 100 inches diagonally—just find a large white wall and adjust furniture accordingly. Be sure to buy an adapter to connect the projector to the device streaming the game though!
3. Slingbox
Party guests will watch kickoff from the family room, but expect wandering once snacks and beer are on display. A trip to the john or the kitchen is inevitable, but nobody wants to miss the game; or worse, the commercial of the year. Enter the Slingbox—compatible with tablets, laptops, and mobile devices, party hosts can set up a device in the kitchen and bathroom to ensure that their guests don’t miss a second of the action.
Forgot that one crucial ingredient right before kickoff? Fear not, the Slingbox allows users to watch the first quarter from their mobile device as they rush to the nearest grocery store. Grilling steaks during halftime? Don’t miss the highly anticipated performance by Bruno Mars. The Slingbox is the best way to keep everyone at a Super Bowl party tuned in from any area of the house.
4. Monitor Audio MASS System
Super Bowl parties are noisy. Cheering is loud, chatter is constant, and chips are crunchy. In order to throw the best Super Bowl party, it is essential to have a better plan than turning the volume up to “99.” The answer lies with surround sound speakers, the best way to enhance audio for everyone in attendance. There are several quality systems, but the Monitor Audio MASS Speaker System is powerful, compact, and perfect for a home cinema. A central speaker, four satellite speakers, and a subwoofer compose a quality surround sound system that intensifies the action from every corner of the room.
5. FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer
I will start by saying that potluck style is always the way to go for a Super Bowl party. But for the overachieving super-hosts, a vacuum sealer is a great way to plan ahead and manage fridge space when the crowd arrives. The FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer works with almost any Super Bowl snack or spread, from steaks to ribs and even pre-made dips. This enables a host to do all the prep work in advance, and avoid balancing seven different recipes three hours before guests arrive.
Additionally, it makes for a spacious fridge for all the BYOBers. Hosts can slap ribs on the grill and dips in the bowl as needed, and keep what goes unused fresh for the next social gathering whether it is days, weeks, or months in advance.
6. The Remote Controlled Rolling Beverage Cooler
Some Super Bowl parties are rowdy and some are kid-friendly, but every (real) Super Bowl party involves beer. In the likely scenario of BYOB, guests would prefer to get their brews on ice as soon as possible. But with the kitchen fridge packed and the “secondary fridge” a proverbial mile away in the basement, a cooler is ideal. Any old cooler would do, but the Remote Controlled Rolling Beverage Cooler is a certain hit for any Super Bowl party.
This compact cooler rolls on four wheels across a patio, rug, or kitchen floor to deliver an ice cold beer to any guest who just went empty. Although it’s limited to holding just six beers, it is a humorous option sure to bring laughs and cold beers to the feet of any thirsty guest.
7. Vitamix 5200 Blender
Just like the fridge and garbage cans, the dishwasher will fill up quickly for any Super Bowl party host. The Vitamix 5200 is a great piece of kitchenware for nearly any snack, side, or beverage. Specializing in icy drinks, this blender will whip up a fine cocktail for the adult guests or a smoothie for the youngsters. But even more impressive is its ability to prepare hot soups and dips. This all-in-one tool supports a 64-ounce container suitable for serving several guests at once, and makes for a quick rinse, wash, and repeat before firing up the next recipe on the list.
8. Triple Dipper Crock Pot
Guacamole and salsa are absolute musts, but the best Super Bowl parties incorporate a hot dip. A warm artichoke dip or creamy crab dip are great options, but after just one offensive series, these hot dips are crusted over and lukewarm at best. The Crock Pot Triple Dipper Food Warmer is the only way for Super Bowl party hosts to break the constant trip from the couch back to the microwave every 15 minutes.
Featuring three one-quart capacity warming bowls with individual temperate controls, guests are spoiled with the best dips for any appetizer imaginable. It even contains additional compartments to store chips and veggies. To top it off, this gadget has a built-in lazy susan. Consider me sold.
9. Moneual Rydis H68 Pro Vac
Any decent host tidies up before hosting a party, but this robot vacuum will be even more useful to clean up the aftermath. We all know how it goes—Dorito crumbs under the couch, muddy tracks through the foyer, and a beer stain on the carpet. And what could be worse than cleaning after hours of preparing for what is now over.
This Moneual product is a multi-purpose cleaner, combining a dry mop, wet mop, and vacuum. Smart Vision Mapping technology allows this handy device to find the mess itself, covering the room horizontally and vertically before retracing its path once more. Doing dishes and emptying garbage cans are enough of a headache, whether your team wins or loses. Let this Pro Vac do the rest of the cleaning.
10. FitBit Force
Now that the festivities are over, time to get back to that New Year’s resolution. There’s no hiding the empty calories you indulged on Sunday night, so get back to the gym on Monday morning with one of the best biometric bands on the market. The FitBit Force tracks all sorts of physical activity from steps taken to calories burned, and sends all information to mobile devices wirelessly. It also features that same information on the band itself, offering real time information in a simpler and more concise form. Biometric bands are the best way to track and reach fitness goals, and a Super Bowl party is the perfect guilt trip to get back into workout routines.