Peak sports-viewing season is supposed to be predictable. The same snacks, the same drinks, the same very-serious-and-not-at-all-imaginary rituals, like wearing that lucky jersey. 

But the receipts tell a messier story: one where veggie trays show up next to wings and canned cocktails challenge beer’s throne, and game-day prep looks more like a scramble than a strategy. Here’s how America really spends on game day.

1. Veggie trays are crashing the party 

Sports season is supposed to be a lawless land of cheese and carbs. But somewhere between kickoff and halftime, people decided their buffalo wings needed a responsible chaperone. 

The snack spread is playing both sides. Nearly one-fourth of game-day baskets with dips also include vegetables – proof you can care about your body while also buying a toddler-sized jar of queso.

2. New drinks want some space on the couch

Game-day tradition says beer should rule uncontested, clutched in every hand like a sacred, foamy relic. But the challengers have been training for their moment. 

Beer’s dynasty is facing a coup. Canned cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks are becoming  game-day favorites. Beer still holds the crown, but the field is getting crowded. 

3. Cleaning supplies spike before the first whistle

Sports are supposed to be about snacks, commercials, and pretending you understand defensive schemes. Instead, everyone’s acting like referees are coming over for a white-glove inspection.

Football sparks a nationwide scrub-down. Buckets, mops, and dusters spike with double-digit gains leading up to game day. Nothing motivates a deep clean like the fear of someone dropping guac on your ottoman. 

4. Chicken beats pizza to the delivery end zone

Pizza is supposed to be the MVP of delivery – the dependable veteran you can count on every big game. But when it’s time to place the order, chicken is getting called up. 

Pizza shows up, but chicken runs the play. Wings, tenders, and nuggets dominate game-day delivery orders across major sporting events. Pizza’s still invited – it’s just not calling the shots.

5. Game-day shopping is a weekend scramble 

In theory, people should tackle game-day prep calmly midweek, like responsible adults planning ahead for once. Instead, weekends are the moment everyone finally checks the pantry.  

Weekend panic-shopping is the real kickoff ritual. Saturdays and Sundays drive the biggest spikes in game-day favorites – usually right after someone asks, “Wait, do we have enough food?”

About Fetch Finds 

Fetch Finds is a consumer insights series from Fetch. Our insights are powered by billions of verified receipts — real transactions, not projections or approximations. This report focuses on shopping around major sporting events, especially Football’s Biggest Sunday, drawing from a static panel. FAST, Fetch’s AI-powered insights tool, makes those transactions instantly searchable in natural language, pulling out the stories hiding in the checkout line. Every chart, quip, and curveball you just read started with receipts on Fetch and came to life through FAST.