Game Day Party Food Cost and Spending Trends
The average U.S. consumer spent an estimated 82 dollars on game day food and beverages in 2024, according to the National Retail Federation's annual holiday and event spending survey, which tracks Super Bowl and major sports event spending patterns. This represents a steady increase from the previous year, driven by higher protein and snack prices. The Super Bowl remains the single largest food consumption event in the United States, with total retail spending on game day groceries exceeding 16 billion dollars annually. Forbes reported that the Super Bowl economy drives significant demand for party food retailers and caterers, with wings, chips, and dips accounting for the largest share of basket growth.
Food price inflation for party staples remained elevated in 2024, with wing prices rising approximately 6 percent year over year and cheese and dairy costs increasing by 3 to 4 percent, as tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for food at home. The average price of a pound of chicken wings reached 3.49 dollars in late 2024, according to market data from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Forbes Advisor's Super Bowl food cost calculator shows that hosting a party for 10 guests now costs an average of 85 to 120 dollars, depending on protein choices and beverage selections.
Most Popular Game Day Party Food Items and Rankings
Top Selling Game Day Snacks and Appetizers
Chicken wings ranked as the most popular game day party food item in 2024, with an estimated 1.4 billion wings consumed during Super Bowl weekend, according to the National Chicken Council's annual Super Bowl survey. Pizza remained the second most ordered game day food, with Domino's reporting a 30 percent increase in online orders on Super Bowl Sunday compared to a typical Sunday. Forbes noted that pizza chains and wing restaurants generate a disproportionate share of their weekly revenue on game day, making them the primary beneficiaries of the event.
Dips, Chips, and Beverages
Guacamole and salsa ranked as the top two dip categories by dollar sales in 2024, with avocado-based dips growing 12 percent in retail volume compared to the prior year, per IRI retail data. Potato chips and pretzels remained the leading snack categories, with Frito-Lay holding the largest market share at approximately 24 percent of the salty snack segment. IRI data shows that game day party food sales peak in the three days leading up to the Super Bowl, with dips and chips representing the fastest-growing category in grocery store impulse aisles.
Game Day Party Food Catering and Delivery Trends
Growth in Catered Game Day Orders
Online food delivery platforms reported a 22 percent increase in game day party food orders in 2024 compared to a typical weekend, with Uber Eats and DoorDash noting that party platters and appetizer boxes were the fastest-growing order category. Catering companies that specialize in sports event packages saw double-digit revenue growth, with average party platter prices ranging from 45 to 150 dollars depending on size and protein mix.