When there’s a big sports event, the American population flocks to sports bars. The National Retail Foundation found that in 2024, 16.2 million people planned to watch the Super Bowl at a bar or restaurant.
But it’s not just the big events. According to a Nielsen survey, 66% of adults say they watch fall sports in a restaurant or bar. Whether for the food, drinks, camaraderie, or bigger TV screens, people are drawn to the atmosphere of a sports bar.
To manage those crowds and events and keep customer satisfaction high, sports bars need unique features in a point of sale (POS) system. By taking the following factors into consideration when selecting a bar POS system, sport bar owners can attract a loyal customer base, efficiently manage tables and tabs, and boost profits.
1. Fast and Intuitive POS Interface
Sports bars experience frequent bursts of high traffic, especially during major sporting events like the Super Bowl or World Series. In such a bustling environment, servers need to be able to navigate the bar POS system quickly and efficiently to keep up with the pace of orders and maintain satisfied customers. A fast and intuitive bar POS can help staff take orders quickly and accurately, as well as offer customers efficient payment processing.
2. Tab Management
In sports bars, customers often stay for extended periods of time, sometimes moving from table to table to socialize with different groups of people. That’s why it’s critical that your sports bar’s POS system can manage multiple open tabs, track orders for each table or customer, split checks for large parties, and allow for easy transfers between tables or tabs if a customer moves to a different part of the bar. This flexibility doesn’t only ensure that customers have a seamless experience, but it also simplifies processes for staff.
3. Mobile and Tableside Ordering
During busy periods, a bar POS with mobile and tableside ordering capabilities can help reduce wait times — servers can take orders right at the table. This also helps with order accuracy. Handwritten orders are prone to errors, whether it’s a missing substitution or detail, or back-of-house staff misreads hastily scribbled handwriting.
A handheld makes the job easier. Servers can select directly from the menu of available options and the order is immediately sent to the kitchen. The ordering process is faster, wait time for food gets shorter, and the potential for errors goes way down.
4. Inventory Management
In preparation for big sporting events, which often draw both in-restaurant crowds and increased takeout orders, sports bars need effective inventory management. A bar POS system with robust inventory management features can track stock levels of both food and alcohol — which can be tricky for bars that stock a wide variety of beers, wines, and spirits. Plus, a bar POS with inventory management tools can provide real-time alerts when inventory levels are low and managers can set up automated alerts to notify them when stock reaches a predefined threshold, facilitating timely and accurate reordering.
5. Changing Promotions
With multiple sports bars in the same town, how does one restaurant differentiate itself from the others? Promotions are a powerful tool for attracting new customers and encouraging repeat visits. New Epsilon research reveals that more than 70% of customers are likely to visit a restaurant with personalized promotions.
A data-driven POS system can help sports bar owners understand sales trends and customer preferences and, using that data, identify potential promotions to boost sales, especially during low-traffic times. By analyzing sales data, sports bar owners can create targeted promotions, such as a special game-day menu for particular sports events or drink specials when there are no games to draw in a crowd.
6. Integration with Loyalty Programs
Loyalty programs have been proven to increase retention and customer spend, which is important for sports bars that want to differentiate themselves from the competition. A POS system that integrates with loyalty programs allows sports bars to reward their regular customers with points, discounts, or special offers. Plus, the program can be customized to create a personalized customer experience, which can further foster repeat business.
7. Security
Sports bars handle large volumes of credit card transactions. To maintain customer trust, owners need a secure POS system that protects customer data and prevents fraud. End-to-end encryption and compliance with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) ensures that all transactions are secure. Robust security features help safeguard sensitive data, giving both customers and owners peace of mind.
8. Customer Support
If your POS system goes down, your restaurant loses its ability to process payments — so any downtime can lead to significant revenue loss. Reliable customer support is essential for quickly and efficiently addressing any issues that arise.
Sports bars in particular tend to operate late into the night to accommodate a variety of sports schedules — so owners should look for POS providers that offer extended customer support hours to resolve any technical problems quickly. Excellent customer support, available around the clock, is crucial for helping sports bars maintain smooth operations.
To handle large crowds, split checks, and complex inventory, sports bars need a robust bar POS system that’s built to support their type of business. Keep these 8 points in mind to get the bar POS solution that helps you boost profits and stand out in a crowded market. For additional insight into selecting the right system for your business, download our Restaurant POS Buyers Guide.