By
Ana L. Diaz
As our summer weather slowly begins to fade, the sun settles a little earlier in our beautiful mountains. You can easily feel like something special is about to stir in the Sun City of El Paso. Football season in El Paso is a time when families, friends, and neighbors can become closer and also become rivals. We come together to celebrate a sport that transcends the field, weaving its way into the community. Football festivities begin as early as Friday nights with our high school games, but Sundays are sacred.
Sundays are for the NFL.
During football season our city offers endless opportunities for fun, family bonding, and community pride. Here’s how you can make the most of it.
NFL Sundays: A Time-Honored Tradition
While our city is proud to have strong support in local football at all age levels, NFL Sundays are a cherished tradition that brings El Paso together in a different way. It doesn’t matter if you are a die-hard fan of the Dallas Cowboys, the San Francisco 49ers, or any other team. NFL Sundays are the days to enjoy the camaraderie and friendly rivalry among friends and family.
You have to start your Sunday Football with a proper schedule, that includes your usual Sunday routines with the family leading to kick-off time for the 11 am or 2 pm game. You have to start your day by going to Bowie Bakery to get the menudo, sweet bread, and bolillos. Heading to Fox Plaza to buy any last-minute merch you are going to proudly wear during game time. Let’s not forget to get everything ready for the grill, stopping at your favorite meat market and grocery store.
NFL Sundays are a tradition, where the game is just one part of the experience every weekend. It’s about spending quality time with loved ones, sharing laughs, and maybe even placing a bet or two on your favorite team.
Enjoying the games in a lively atmosphere, such as sports bars and restaurants can be the perfect setting to participate outside of the house. You can’t go wrong with L&J’s Café for a cold iced beer, their traditional minis menu, and a fun atmosphere all around. Cabo Joe’s, The District Pub & Kitchen, and The Tap are popular spots to catch the action, complete with big screens, great food, and a crowd that’s just as passionate about football as you are. Supporting these local businesses not only enhances your game day experience but also contributes to the local economy.
Family Fun and Community Bonding
Football has no limits and no borders; it is a sport that brings everyone together in one way or another. Personally, football Sundays are part of our traditional weekends, after a week full of football practices and Saturday games for my son. As early as 9 am, our routine begins with having breakfast from Gordibuena or the Valley Food Market, we then go to the grocery store to get our charcoal from Don Carbon brand and last-minute things we will need for the meal.
We fire up the grill and get the steaks going while my mom makes her delicious chile con queso, and the kids get to play outside. We wear our 49ers lucky hats; my son tries on his Ravens jersey and just like that we become rivals for the next few hours while the games are on.
Football season in El Paso is as much about community as it is about the game itself.
During this time families, come together for fun-filled weekends, starting on Saturday with pre-game preparations that include attending the youth football games, or perhaps tailgating for a UTEP and ending with NFL Sundays. The best part about this season is the great opportunity to embrace our Chuco pride and explore the amazing businesses and activities we have right here in El Paso.
The ways you can have family fun and community bonding while embracing your football pride are endless. The city offers so many options from getting the curb at your home painted with your team colors, to hanging a big flag facing the street, and driving around with the flags as you go to Ascarate to cruise around playing oldies.
Football season is a time to enjoy and embrace our spirit of family and culture. Let’s show the fun ways El Paso celebrates football:
- Wear your team’s colors with pride, whether it’s the red and gold of the 49ers, the orange and blue of the Miners, or any team’s color you prefer.
- Join a fantasy football league, showcase that team’s flag on your porch, record funny videos for FitFam, and join the community in celebrating the season.
Football isn’t just a game in El Paso – it’s a way of life that brings us all together.
There are countless ways to enjoy the season, from the youngest players in the city leagues to the big games on NFL Sundays. Don’t be shy to adopt a new family tradition or enhance the fun ideas you have already started to do together. Gather your family, invite your friends, and neighbors, and party like an El Pasoan. No matter whether you’re in the backyard of your house, the bar downtown,n or in Peter Piper Pizza, the NFL is there playing and ready to unite the community for one of the most loved sports in the US.
