You ready for some football?  Fan or not, the energy of a football game can make for some serious fun.  I grew up going to football games, especially the bigger ones.  From my experience, there is nothing better than hanging out with your spouse when they are all spruced up in their favorite team gear on a beautiful fall day.  Admit it, the idea of a date night where you can wear jeans, eat junk food, and shout when you feel like it sounds like a ton of fun.  Interested?

Getting Practical

It is important to remember, that the success of a marriage is often tied to the level of fun a couple has in their marriage.  And guess what, a tailgate date night is one great way to have fun with your spouse.  If you are the guy who can’t imagine going to a game without your “guy” friends, it’s time to expand your thinking; your spouse is a far more important priority.

With that said, if I’ve tweaked your interest, and you are open to try a tailgate date night, here are a few practical suggestions.  Your date can be as chilled out or over-the-top as you would want it to be.  Wear team jerseys and face paint and come ready to rumble, or put on your comfy sweats or flannels and be totally lazy.  Some vital supplies could include camping chairs, a drink cooler, and possibly a portable grill.  There are a million ideas out there for fun mixed drinks if you’re in to that type of thing – but don’t drink and drive.  As far as the meal is concerned, keep it simple.  Stadium style snacks are total comfort food– think meatballs, buffalo wings, nachos, and s’mores…grownup ones, with the really good chocolate!  You can make a big recipe of buffalo chicken in your slow cooker or pressure cooker and nosh on it all night.  The important point is to keep it stress-free!

Plan Ahead

When I started to plan to attend a University of Michigan football game in October, I was surprised that most of the tickets had already been sold.  Come to find out it was their homecoming game, so this made perfect sense, but I was stuck with having to look at another weekend.  So what I am saying is start planning now, especially if you want to attend a big game.  But a great date night (or day) doesn’t have to be a “big game.”  A local high school team may be the perfect fit.   The key here is that it is that the two of you are doing something fun together.

Location Doesn’t Necessarily Matter

Don’t feel like you have to be in a stadium parking lot to pull off a great date night. Consider making your home your tailgating party!  Let’s be honest: a lot of us field distractions when we’re trying to watch football– things like bedtimes or diaper changes get in the way.  Find someone to watch the kids!  Pay a babysitter to take them somewhere fun, or swap childcare with friends.  That way you and your spouse can snack, trash talk, and just generally binge to your hearts’ content.

Mix it Up

Sometimes we’re both die-hard fans of the same team, which is great! But (to mix metaphors) if you don’t have a horse in this race and you’re the kind of couple that truly enjoys a little friendly competition, you can spice things up by rooting for opposing teams.  Make a friendly wager…the winner gets a special treat, like a back rub or dessert out at their favorite restaurant.  That way, no matter what the outcome of the game might be, the result will be another fun way for the two of you to spend some quality time together.

I’d like to circle back around to a point I try to make often — dates are all about being intentional about spending time together.  They don’t have to be fancy or involve a ton of planning.  So for something a little different, plan a tailgating date night, and enjoy having fun together.  Just be careful not to yell too much– you wouldn’t want you to lose your voice for work on Monday morning J

Your Virtual Life Mentor,

Doug