The recipe for throwing the perfect Super Bowl party is simple – at least according to Sonny Fodale, who throws an annual “bowl bash” with his wife, Jazz.

“(All you need is) meat. And plenty of it,” he said.

More than 168 million Americans will tune in to CBS on Sunday to watch the New Orleans Saints take on the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV at the Sun Life Stadium in Florida. Nearly 32 million of those individuals will host a Super Bowl party; 59 million will attend one.

“You have to have popcorn, nachos, some type of meat and other eats, plenty to drink and lots of friends, even if they don’t like football,” Kenny Sullivan said. “You hope that half of the friends like one team and the other half like the other. This keeps it interesting for everyone, and at least someone is going home happy.”

A big screen and good sound system are essential to throwing the perfect party, said Mark Gunn.

“You also need plenty of alcohol, a points pool where you predict the score at the end of each quarter. ... Make your party a real party by having lots to do before the game, during halftime and after the game,” he said.

And don’t forget: “Take plenty of photos,” Gunn said. “You may want to blackmail your friends later.”
It’s all about the food and keeping guests entertained, said Brian DaSilva.

“Most people don’t care about the game, they just care about getting together and having fun.” Ultimately, he added, “The Super Bowl is just an excuse to throw a party.”

Actually, it’s a  little more than that.

Although the commercials and halftime performances often seem to overshadow the game, nearly half of the millions of people (47.8 percent) who tune in say the game – not the festivities – is the most important part, according to the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association. About one-quarter (24.3 percent) of viewers watch just to check out the commercials; 20.1 percent enjoy getting together with family and friends; and 7.8 percent prefer the halftime performances to every other aspect of the festivities.

“I only sit and watch the halftime show,” said Danielle Snyder. “I am not a fan of sports and being from Michigan, football only leads to frustration. Go Lions.”

David Carlisle Rasner equips his home with extra seats and a television in every room in the house, but the garage is the place to be.
“Big screen, draft beer and plenty of opportunities to make a friendly wager with jackpots during halftime,” he said. “It’s all friends and family and neighbors and anyone else who loves America! By the way, good chili is a must.”

Super Bowl Sunday is the No. 2 food-consumption day of the year, second only to Thanksgiving. More than $55 million will be spent on game day eats this weekend, and some 10 million man-hours will be spent on Super Bowl food preparation.

“I’m pretty certain that 7-layer dip is the MVP for the perfect Super Bowl party,” said Michael Tierney.

Sean O’Connell is fan of a dip of another kind: “Queso with a full block of Velveeta, half a block of Philadelphia Cream Cheese and a jar of your favorite salsa. ... Oh so good.”

Still, despite the appeal of the Super Bowl, two-thirds of Americans are like Ron and Mel Fisher, who won’t be tuning in.

“We’ll check out the commercials and big plays on the Internet the next morning,” Ron Fisher said.

By The Numbers
• $8.9 billion: Total amount expected to be spent on the Super Bowl.
• $55 million: Approximate amount Americans will spend on food they’ll eat during the Super Bowl.
• 168 million: Estimated number of people who will tune in to watch the game.
• 47.8: Percent of people who say the game, not the festivities or commercials, is why they tune in to the Super Bowl.
• 3.6 million: Number of people who take advantage of retailers’ Super Bowl-related promotions and purchase a new TV.
• $3 million: Price tag to air a 30-second commercial during the Super Bowl.

Source: Retail Advertising and Marketing Association