NFL game days have long been associated with certain food traditions, but recent data reveals some surprising trends in game-day orders: wings have emerged as the clear favorite, showing a significant increase in popularity compared to non-game-day Sundays.

Wings saw a remarkable 25% spike in orders on NFL Sundays, outpacing all other menu items, according to Toast’s analysis across 30 cities with professional football teams in 2023. 

Perhaps their shareable nature and variety of flavors has thrust them to the #1 position. Stay tuned to see if Wings maintain their lofty perch in the 2024 season.

But whichever food item tops the leaderboard, if you’re a QSR executive or restaurant franchise owner, one thing remains constant: game days are busy days. So keep in mind that if your restaurants are feeling overwhelmed or short staffed, innovative new tech options can help you keep pace.

Comfort foods rank high

Interestingly, comfort foods such as soup and stew orders increased by 23%, claiming the second spot in the game day food lineup. This trend might indicate that viewers are seeking warm, satisfying options as they settle in for long hours of football watching.

Noodles and Ramen surprise with a 3rd place finish, coming in at a 17% boost in orders — suggesting a shift towards more diverse food choices on game days.

Traditional favorites still maintain their popularity, with pizza, nachos, pasta, and burritos all showing a 6% uptick in orders. 

Game day game-changer: Smart Answering to the rescue

Prepping food, making drinks, serving customers means big revenues. But with great opportunity comes great responsibility – and a whole lot of phone calls.

Enter SoundHound Smart Answering, the leader of restaurant phone management. This AI-powered voice assistant is like having a star quarterback for your phone lines, capable of handling multiple calls simultaneously. No more missed calls or customers left waiting on hold.

Smart Answering handles questions like hours, location, or parking, freeing up your staff to focus on what they do best – crafting those perfect wings and ladling out soul-warming soups. It’s like having an offensive line that gives your kitchen staff the time and space they need to execute their culinary game plan flawlessly.

Smart Answering also facilitates ordering by sending menu links via SMS when callers ask to place an order. The result? A smoother operation and happier customers who’ll be cheering for your restaurant long after the final whistle blows.

Like drafting a first-round pick

For restaurant owners and managers, implementing Smart Answering is like drafting a first-round pick. It’s a strategic move that pays dividends when the pressure is on. With this technology in your playbook, you’re not just surviving the game day rush – you’re dominating it, delivering championship-level service that keeps fans coming back season after season.

David Barry is the senior technical content writer at SoundHound.