March is the month people finally stretch from their winter slumber and finally consider socializing again. Spring is in the air, sure, but so is the scent of fresh basketballs, masterful golf, the NFL Draft, and big-time soccer.

Take advantage of these seasonal opportunities with fresh LTOs, as much outdoor dining as you can muster, and sports-themed menus that will draw those big groups of friends and boost sales into spring — establishing your spot as the neighborhood sports headquarters.

Start pre-gaming and promoting your themed menus now, so groups don't have to guess where they're going to camp out and bust those brackets.

Rep the Home Team

Whether it’s for college hoops or the football draft, create a feature surrounding your home team that will draw in loyal fans and make the event more personal to them.

Live in the Midwest? Create a Big 10 Slider Platter — 10 sliders (with fried Entice® White Cheddar Cheese Curds tucked under the bun, of course!) perfect for sharing on the patio as the first course of many. An Entice Cheese Curd Poutine basket is another fan-tastic shareable option.

Make it extra special: If the home team wins, give a percentage off all home team-themed drinks, apps, or entrées. Or run buzzer-beater specials, complete with 15-minute flash sales if the home team takes the lead or forces overtime. Even more reason for them to stay and root for their guys while choosing selections from your menu.

Bracketology

Here's a way you can create fun engagement for your patrons — while also gaining valuable insight into their preferences!

Design your own bracket that features a whole variety of wing sauces. Each person at the table gets a printed lineup, while baskets of un-sauced wings get plopped in the middle along with a marked lineup of sauces. You can also cater to the veg crowd with Entice® Cauliflower Cheese Bites for the same dippable goodness — minus the chicken.

Groups will have a blast pitting sauces against each other until a champion is crowned. In order to collect their valuable preferences, have them turn in their sheets with contact info filled in (including an opt-in for marketing materials).

At the end of the promotion, draw a winner and give out a gift card. You may get a bunch of saucy fingerprints, but the mess will be worth it — for you and them.

Select Your Player

Customization is key these days — why not turn your menu into an actual draft your guests can have fun with? Offer a build-your-own app sampler, or even drink flights. A variety of ready-to-drink (and shelf-stable!) 100% juices from Rejuv® can put the finishing flavorful touch on any cocktail or mocktail programs.

Embrace the "BYO" draft theme with round picks: Maybe it’s a golf-inspired, sleeper pick “Azalea” drink, featuring vodka or gin, Rejuv Pineapple Juice, lemon juice, and grenadine or a Coconut Margarita Mocktail?

Host a Mock Draft

Sports and apps, like Deviled Eggs with Caviar Flights featuring Nature’s Best® Cage-Free Eggs, go hand-in-hand with beer and cocktails — and with these hours-long events, of course you want folks to stay in their seats for the duration. But it's important to find ways to keep them there without getting too sloshed.

Support responsible drinking while still bumping up tickets by offering solid specials on mocktails or NA beers. For another fun-themed element, market draft-day packages, including patio seating with a dedicated server, prix fixe menus, and pick-by-pick trivia.

Consider printing out your own "draft boards" with your beverages broken down into "teams." Fans get to fill in a pick every time they order a drink — including items like virgin Bloody Marys or NA IPAs. They'll surely be more tempted to alternate some alcohol-free options, if it means completing their board to be eligible for prizes. Celebrating safely is a win for all, and younger generations tend to be drafting sober beverages high anyway!

With the right mix of creativity and timely promotions, spring can become a powerful driver for traffic and check growth. Lean into the energy of the season and give guests a reason to gather, stay longer, and come back for the next big game.