Oklahoma is a football state — Sooners, Cowboys, Tulsa Hurricane, and NFL — and game day entertaining is a year-round event for serious fans. An outdoor kitchen designed specifically for game day entertaining takes watching sports from the backyard to a whole new level. Here’s how we design game-day-ready outdoor kitchens throughout the Tulsa and Broken Arrow area.
The Outdoor TV Setup
Game day without a screen outdoors isn’t quite the same. Outdoor-rated TVs are a popular feature in VistaScapes builds — mounted to the pergola structure, an exterior wall, or a dedicated media cabinet within the outdoor kitchen island. Key considerations:
- Use an outdoor-rated TV, not a standard indoor TV — indoor TVs fail quickly in Oklahoma’s heat, humidity, and sun exposure
- Anti-glare screens significantly improve visibility in direct afternoon sun
- Mount height should put the screen at eye level for seated viewers — typically 50-60″ from the patio surface to the center of the screen for bar stool seating
- Plan the antenna or cable run and power circuit during the outdoor kitchen build — fishing wires through finished structures is difficult and expensive
Bar Seating for Game Day Crowds
Game day crowds vary — sometimes it’s four people, sometimes it’s 20. Design strategies that accommodate variable group sizes:
- A generous bar counter overhang (12-14″ extension) accommodates standard bar stools and allows easy seat-to-seat conversation
- A movable dining table and chairs in the yard adjacent to the covered kitchen/bar area can expand seating for large groups
- Counter height (36″) with counter-height stools feels like a sports bar; 42″ bar height with bar stools is a popular alternative for the dedicated game-day enthusiast
Game Day Appliances
- Flat-top griddle — loaded nachos, smash burgers, and tailgate-style foods come together fast on a 36″ griddle
- Kegerator or beverage tap — popular game-day addition for outdoor kitchens where the group is large enough to justify a draft system
- Built-in ice maker — runs continuously so the bucket is always full through a long afternoon
- Double burner side station — for chili, queso dip, or anything that needs sustained low heat while the grill handles the main event
Build Your Game Day Outdoor Kitchen
Ready to upgrade your game day situation? Call VistaScapes at 918-779-1317 to design your game-day-ready outdoor kitchen in Broken Arrow, Tulsa, or anywhere in the metro area.
