Yes, I’m still upset about the Jets game from the regular season. Had the management not given up on a perfect season, claiming the only important thing was a Superbowl title, everything would be different. I could have gone into the playoffs with a bit more excitement and even if they still lost, I would have had a bit more pride in my team.

The coaches, the management—they let the team down, they let the fans down and they let the entire city of Indianapolis down. It wasn’t about the perfect season, really. It was about playing every game to your fullest potential. To come out of a Superbowl loss saying “We did our best all season long.”

I know the boys played hard, all the way through. But management didn’t equip them with the right tools for the job. If someone had been injured, and the 2nd & 3rd string players had gone in, they still would have had a strong team around them. But to pull out all our weapons and basically hand the game over?

It’s going to take me awhile to get over that.

Food/Drink: Kroger is having a great sale right now with several items perfect for Superbowl snacks. Stockup on appetizers, chips and sodas. For alcohol beverages, BYOB is completely acceptable in this type of situation. Simply ask your guests to bring their favorites.

You can also use the food to play up the football theme & add a little “decor” to the event. Cut themed shapes out of cookies, shape a football cheese ball or create a football field cake.

Decorations This is obviously not a priority for a Superbowl party but it’s a great chance to show off your favorite Colts merchandise. You can’t wear all your jerseys at once, right? Go ahead and put them on display.

Paper Goods Besides the ultimate Superbowl plate, you’ll need cups, napkins and silverware. You can keep costs to a minimum by resisting the urge to buy everything Colts. Licensed party goods are available online and at Hallmark, Marsh & Kroger but they’ll be a lot more costly than basic blue & white.

Entertainment Obviously, the number one source of entertainment here is the big game, but be sure to play along with AdBowl in between. Register for the site in advance to rate commercials after the game. You can even print score cards or download the FREE iPhone app to play live during the Superbowl. You know, when you aren’t watching the Colts win the championship!

Step one, of course, is to invite guests. This isn’t a red carpet event, though, so don’t stress over formal invitations. Call your family, email your friends and update your Facebook status.

Greg Jenkins of Bravo Events also suggests letting our guests in on the atmosphere of the event. With a Superbowl, it’s usually pretty casual but if you are including certain guests to make an impression (boss? business partner? mother-in-law?), you should be sure the rest of your friends are aware. Don’t forget to remind everyone that they should arrive in blue—you might even consider having a contest for the most spirited outfit.

Next, you’ll need to decide on a budget. On Monday, we’ll explore ideas for keeping your costs down to make the most of your money but start thinking about how much you’ll spend. If guests offer to bring something, feel free to delegate—it’s a great way to spread some of the workload as well as keep your party under budget.

With an instant theme, automatic entertainment and sheer excitement surrounding the entire week, a Superbowl party is one of the easiest to host. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and check back here for updates on our favorite tips, tricks and tools to make Superbowl XLIV a fun, memorable experience!

Championship gear is already stocked in stores throughout the Indianapolis area, but if you want to stay in out of the snow, and avoid the chaos, FootballFanatics.com is offering 3-day shipping for just $4.99! You can actually get your order shipped completely free if you spend $75 or more.