Sports Party Bingo

Some guests are glued to the TV. Others drift to the kitchen, scroll their phones, or head home early.

Set out a few party prizes. Hand out the Sports Party Bingo cards. Then watch the room change.

Guests look over their cards and start watching for their squares: the home team scoring, a mascot on TV, two people at the party hugging. Someone cheers for the other team because a square says to, and the whole room turns to look. The fans roar at a big play, and a second later someone who doesn't follow the sport stands up and says "Bingo." The cheering turns into laughter. The quietest guest turns out to be the fiercest competitor in the room.

The fans still watch every play. Now everyone else is watching with them. The kitchen empties out, and nobody's in a hurry to go home.

Every card mixes squares from the game on TV, the commercials and the room, so the biggest fan and the guest who doesn't follow the sport have the same shot at Bingo.

THE GAME "Fourth down conversion." "Replay shows that umpire missed the call." "Pitcher licks hand."

THE BROADCAST "Close up of child fan." "Mascot appears on TV driving a golf cart." "Beer commercial."

THE ROOM "Someone arrives after the game started." "Two people at the party hug one another." Some squares need help from the room.

Fans mark the plays they were already yelling about. If a square uses a sports word you don't know, ask a fan. Asking is allowed. Obscure is not.

BINGO Five in a row. Call Bingo, and the host's phone shows your five squares. The host reads each one out loud and taps it when the room agrees. If the room agrees, you win the party prize the host put out. Chocolate works. Then the host picks what's next: a break, the same card for 2nd place, or the next card.

WHO PAYS, WHO PLAYS The host buys the app once, on iPhone or iPad. Up to 60 guests play free: they scan the QR code on the host's phone, or tap a texted link, and the card opens in the browser on their own phone or tablet. No accounts.

HOSTING TAKES FOUR STEPS 1. Type short names for the two teams, like "Wildcats". 2. Hold up the phone, or text the game link. 3. When everyone's in, tap Start the game. You can play, too. 4. Play.

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