All eyes will be on the Super Bowl LI this Sunday between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots. Because we are located in Atlanta, we had to share some love for our home team the Falcons!  We’ve compiled a few essential etiquette tips to keep in mind no matter if you’re cheering for the underdogs or the frontrunner!

If you are attending a Party . . . .

• Offer to Bring Something or Ask What you Can Bring
• Greet You Host Upon Arrival
• Be Mindful: Watch Your Outbursts, Language and Alcohol Consumption
• When Eating:
  • Use a plate
  • If a utensil is necessary make sure you grab one
  • Always have a napkin ready
  • Do not double-dip
  • If you touch a food item, then you need to put it on your plate
  • Finger foods such as sliders, chips, dips, skewered appetizers, anything on a cracker or with a bone in it - eat them as neatly as you can
  • If an item is large, cut it in half or quarter it
• Clean Up After Yourself
• Say Thank You Before Leaving

If you are hosting . . .

As a host, your guests may be super focused on the game and not so much about the surroundings.  You don’t need to go overboard with “theming” out the place, but do prepare for spills and quick clean-up of cutlery and dinnerware.

We have listed our top tips for all those hosting Game Day this Sunday.

• Keep your guests informed.Let them know what to expect and what food and drinks will be available.
• Greet every guest upon arrival and direct them towards the food, drinks and screen.
• Don’t forget the napkins! Most likely finger foods will be abundant so having a copious amount of napkins is a necessity.
• Call a cab: Keep the phone numbers of a taxi service, Uber or Lyft handy for anyone who needs a ride home. 

113 Million people will be watching the game this Sunday.  Some will be watching purely for the halftime performance with Lady Gaga. Many prefer the game, and others just watch for the commercials. No matter what your viewing preference is the number one rule to keep in mind is that if a person is watching the screen, try not to distract them.

Have a great Super Bowl Sunday and may the best team win!

GO FALCONS!

Fall season means sports season. As a fan, there are certain etiquette standards that every spectator should abide by. No matter what type of event you are at whether it be a high school game or professional match, always ensure a positive time for yourself and others. Here are a few tips to help you stay game day savy.

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• Be a Good Sport- When you go to a sporting event, you are there to cheer on a certain team. Cheering against the other team happens, but make sure to always be respectful to those around you. Do not taunt opposing fans and players, you could end up in a regrettable situation. No matter if you are at a high school event or a professional event, always mind your manners.
• Watch What You Say . . . Watch your language. You and your friends may think it is perfectly acceptable to throw curses at the opposing team and fans, but the family with small children sitting behind you probably disagrees.
• Keep Drinking to a Minimum- We all know that tailgating is half the fun of attending sporting events, however it is always important to be aware of your alcohol intake. Too much alcohol mixed with sports can be a recipe for disaster.
• Personal Space- Be aware of your surroundings. Do not spread out over an entire bench. You get one seat and that’s all. If you stand up, be sure you are not blocking the people behind you. As you enter and exit the row to get back to your seat make sure to always say excuse me. Remember that every seat has a paid ticket for it, just because someone is not at their seat at the beginning of the game, does not mean that it is yours to put stuff in.
• Be extra-nice to your waiters and waitresses.  Over-crowded working conditions put a lot of stress on them.  If there was ever a time to be a big tipper, this is it!  Bonus:  You are more likely to be remembered next time and will be well taken care of.
• Be Gracious- If you attend a party or tailgate for a sporting event, it is always polite to send a thank you note after the event. After all, this person did spend time on planning and preparing for hosting the event.

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Ensure you are on the winning team by keeping these pointers in mind. Have fun and as they say, ”play ball!”

March winds bring . . . March Madness!  Yes, once again crowds gather in living rooms and sports bars to see their favorite teams battle it out for a title. 

As we know, crowds and alcoholic beverages are a breeding ground for rude behavior.  Perhaps some tips can help your gathering keep a perfect score!

• Try to keep drinking to a minimum.  We are completely aware that this goes against the mindset of most sports fans, but you have to agree that it is usually the cause of most bar brawls. 
• Cheer for your team while being courteous to the other team.  No team is perfect, so there is no reason to be overly critical – or just plain mean – when talking about the one that just shot a 3-pointer and is now leading.
• Be extra-nice to your waiters and waitresses.  Over-crowded working conditions put a lot of stress on them.  If there was ever a time to be a big tipper, this is it!  Bonus:  You are more likely to be remembered next time and will be well taken care of.
• Thank your host!  If someone else took care of your bar tab or had you over to their home to watch the game, send them a thank-you note.

Keep madness at bay this March, but have fun and enjoy the games.  May the best team win!

Do you have any other tips that may help fellow sports fans?  Tell us about them here.