HOST A SLAM DUNK WITH THIS
B-BALL BASH
by
Phyllis Cambria and Patty Sachs
The following plans are arranged into categories to help those hosts who are
arranging either a last-minute gathering or who have weeks or months to plan the
party.
Pick and choose elements from any of the plans to customize a party which best
suits your style, budget and timeframe to create a singularly spectacular
special event.
Follow the suggestions in these party plans and your gathering's success will be
a slam dunk.
IMPROMPTU PARTY
When the big game is going to be held that week and you
want to host a last-minute gathering to cheer on the home team, here are some
quick ways to make your spontaneous celebration even more fun and festive.
INVITATIONS:
Phone or e-mail guests to watch the game at your "arena."
SPORTS SETTING:
Decorate your space with all forms of basketball regalia hang jerseys,
hoops, posters, and pennants, and make displays of basketballs, basketball shoes
and other equipment to add to your arena atmosphere.
FAN FUN:
When there are several games going on at the same time or there are a lot of
guests, you won't want to provide them with binoculars to see the game. It's
better to rent or borrow extra television sets for easy viewing. Your star
guests can then bounce along at your sports bar soiree.
Rent a few basketball-related movies (White Men Can't Jump, One on One,
Hoosiers or That Championship Season) and set up a club lounge area for those
folks who aren't that interested in the game but still want to shoot and score
at your party.
CONCESSION STAND SETTING:
Cover your buffet with a cloth that matches the home team's colors.
Pick up a pack of basketball-themed paper party goods or choose the home
team's colors.
FAN FAVORS:
Take instant photos of your guests as they're cheering their team on and give
them as a lasting reminder of your winning event.
A WEEK AWAY
If you have a week or more to plan your party, here are
some ideas to add to the "Impromptu Party Plan" above to make the day even more
special.
INVITATIONS:
Phone or send a formal basketball party invitation via an e-mail card service.
Make a save this date call or e-mail to your guests. Then use your computer
to make up invitations in the form of a ticket to the game complete with all of
your party information and basketball clip-art or stickers. Send them promptly
by snail mail to get the party off to a jumpstart.
SPORTS SETTING:
Liven up your space with a collection of basketball-themed balloons.
Cover chair backs with team shirts and jackets to further set the scene.
FAN FUN:
During the pre-game party, halftime show or when the action is slow, test your
guests' skills by having them toss a regulation or small b-ball through a
regulation or hula hoop.
Award the "Best Couch Coach" with a "Best Coach" trophy.
Play a trivia game about the careers of b-ball legends Michael Jordan, Shaq,
Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and other greats. Include questions about your home
team.
CONCESSION STAND SETTING:
Stuff sets of flatware and a napkin into a new, white tube sock for a
grab-and-go packet so your guests won't miss a play.
Get the kids involved by having them hawk snacks from a tray suspended around
their necks, concession-style.
For a table decoration, fill a popcorn box with team-colored flowers or a set
of pom-poms set into floral foam.
FAN FAVORS and PRIZES:
A regulation or toy basketball
Hand-held electronic basketball games for your trivia winners
Instant photos of your guests in basketball-themed frames.
Bobble heads with guests photos
HOST WITH THE MOST (time, that is)
When you have weeks or months to plan ahead for the big
game, here are more ideas you can supplement to those listed above for a party
that will put you in the "Hosts Hall of Fame."
INVITATIONS:
Heres an invitation that will make your guests mouths water.
Print your invitation on brown construction paper.
Cut, roll and tape into a hot dog shape.
Stuff inside a real hot dog bun.
Wrap in tin foil.
Add packets of ketchup and mustard.
Mail in an appropriately-sized box.
Encourage guests to come dressed in their favorite team attire for a
"Best-Dressed Fan" contest.
Cut out a picture of a folding chair from a magazine or catalog. Make photo
copies and mark them "Your court-side seat awaits" and include your invitation
information.
SPORTS SETTING:
If you have a hoop in your driveway or yard and the weather is nice, hold the
party outdoors on your own "court."
For a really important game or a very large party, rent or borrow a large
screen TV for the event.
For outdoor gatherings, place your arena under a rented tent to be prepared
for inclement weather.
The party hosts should dress in basketball, referee and/or cheerleader attire
to add to the atmosphere.
Light up night games with basketball-shaped novelty lights.
Set up folding chairs so guests can really feel as if they're sitting at
courtside while viewing the game.
FAN FUN:
Instead of everyone watching the half-time show, air a copy of a basketball
bloopers video.
For guests more interested in fun than the game, have them improvise their own
half-time show with music, cheerleaders and all.
Log onto NBA.com so fans can catch up on other competitions or play the "dream
team" games found on those sites.
Get them out of their seats during the half-time show, pre-game interviews or
post-game activities with a pick-up game. And, with small, foam basketballs and
a small hoop, you'll be able to toss the ball around almost anywhere, indoors or
out.
Assign a team to each guest (no matter for whom they are rooting) and whosever
team is ahead at the end of each quarter wins a prize.
Set up a friendly b-ball pool with prizes for guessing the number of baskets
produced by the team's star player for the half and final scores.
CONCESSION STAND SETTING:
Set a piece of wood-grained paneling, cut to size, on your buffet table and
trim with colored tape to resemble a basketball court.
Hang your napkins from a child-sized basketball hoop. Place a small tent card
near them reading Remember, excessive dribbling is not allowed.
Blow a sports whistle to tell your guests that your concession spread is open.
If you can't find paper goods imprinted with your team's logo, here's a way
you can still honor your favorite squad. Affix stickers or cutouts of your
team's logo on a team-colored paper plate. Cover the decorated plate with a
clear plastic plate for "servings with spirit."
Punch holes into the top of an old basketball and fill with pom-poms or
flowers for a centerpiece they'll jump at. You also could arrange pom-poms
and/or pennants inside a basketball shoe filled with floral foam.
FAN FAVORS and PRIZES:
Local high school, college or professional basketball game tickets
Pom-poms and pennants
Silver whistles with the event name and date painted or imprinted on them
Team banners, posters or t-shirts
Sports memorabilia or publicity shots signed by players (available at
specialty stores and online auctions)
Videos or DVDs of classic basketball movies
Gift certificates to a favorite sports bar