With both the AFL and NRL finals series around the corner, now is the time to optimise your venue’s sports-viewing offer with the help of the Footy Finals Checklist and Suppliers Guide.
It’s been a tough couple of years for in-venue sports-viewing, so it’s incumbent upon pub operators to make the most of this year’s footy finals by getting as many bums on seats and increasing the spend per head. The AFL Finals series gets underway from 2 September with the NRL finals series following on a week after. While that might seem like a while away, now is the time to get your venue prepared to ensure you are making the most of the opportunity presented by these matches.
“Once you’ve decided what you’ll be offering on the day, preparation is key. Decide what you’re going to do in your venue well ahead of time. Source the equipment and stock you’ll need. Get advice from suppliers,” suggests Paul Wootton, managing director of Food & Beverage Media.
The Finals Footy Checklist not only offers you an idea of the kind of offers you can provide, but it’s another tool to help you keep all the various facets of event planning in mind.
Getting all of the facets of your finals offer right – from promotions to F&B to AV – is key to making your pub stand out against other venues, and will even convince some patrons to leave the comfort of their homes to enjoy your pub’s atmosphere.
There’s plenty of tips in the Checklist for all the different streams of operation you need to consider during this busy time. When planning for a large crowd, make sure you’re running the optimal POS system for your venue, like QR ordering systems and loyalty apps with push notifications of promotions, as set out by Bepoz.
Of course, quality audio-visual equipment is essential when hosting hundreds of sports fans, so make sure you have the best hardware on hand by companies like Jands. And while screens and sound equipment may be top of mind, don’t forget that lighting is key too!
Food and beverage is also a huge consideration, so get your menu right for the day. Consider a pared-back menu to ease the pressure on the kitchen during what’s likely to be a very busy time. Fewer menu choices doesn’t have to mean a poorer quality food offering though. In fact, your customers may thank you for a concise match-day menu. They want to make a quick decision when ordering, so they can get back to watching the game. And in a time of staff shortages, RDM Pizza explains why pizzas are a labour-friendly and crowd-pleasing option.