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Super Bowl print-on-demand strategies for game day sales

January 27, 2026 8 minutes

Create and sell merch with Printify

Even if you’re not a sports buff, the Super Bowl can be a huge moment for your business. The event draws a large audience that’s actively shopping for themed apparel, accessories, and game day products. 

With the right Super Bowl print-on-demand strategies, you can turn that excitement into timely products and real sales.

This article explores Super Bowl print-on-demand strategies that actually work, product ideas that sell, and practical tips for navigating copyright rules with confidence.

Super Bowl Sunday by the numbers

Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest consumer moments of the year, and recent viewership trends make that clear. Super Bowl LIX (2025) set a new record with an average of 127.7 million US viewers across TV and streaming, up from 123.7 million viewers in 2024.

That attention quickly turns into buying. Viewers are expected to spend $91.58 per person on average, adding up to roughly $18.6 billion in total Super Bowl-related spending.

While food and beverages take the largest share, apparel and home decor consistently rank second and third among planned purchases.

  • About 14% of shoppers plan to buy team apparel, which translates to roughly 28 million people actively looking for shirts, hats, and wearable items. 
  • Another 8% plan to purchase decorations, representing around 16 million shoppers preparing their homes for game day. 

For print-on-demand sellers, this shows clear demand for products people can wear, display, and share during the event. Knowing how fans spend helps you create better Super Bowl products and designs for the season.

Super Bowl print-on-demand strategies that actually work

A ball on the ground.

Super Bowl demand moves fast, and not every idea works for a short sales window. The following tips focus on what actually helps print-on-demand sellers stay relevant, compliant, and ready for Super Bowl enthusiasts.

1. Work around copyright limitations

Before creating Super Bowl-inspired products, it’s important to understand how copyright works and why it matters for print-on-demand sellers.

Copyright protects original creative works, including logos, graphics, illustrations, and branded visual elements owned by leagues, teams, and broadcasters. In the context of the Super Bowl, that protection applies to official team logos, uniforms, mascots, and many league-specific visuals.

Because of that, using team logos, exact team names, or official NFL graphics on products can quickly lead to takedowns, rejected listings, or account issues. Even if a design feels subtle, anything that clearly references copyrighted material can cross the line. That’s why strong Super Bowl print-on-demand strategies focus on inspiration, not imitation.

Instead, design around the game itself and the experience of watching it. Abstract football graphics, play-diagram-style visuals, stadium-inspired elements, or generic football icons let you tap into the excitement of the big game without relying on protected assets. This keeps your designs relevant for Super Bowl fans while staying legally safe.

You can also draw inspiration from the game day atmosphere. Visuals inspired by viewing setups, crowd energy, hosting a watch party, or kickoff and halftime moments appeal to fans getting ready to celebrate.

By focusing on shared experiences rather than specific teams, you create Super Bowl-themed products that feel timely, recognizable, and flexible enough to scale across different product types.

Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. It reflects our understanding at the time of publishing. Readers should seek guidance from qualified professionals for specific situations. Any actions taken based on this information are at your own risk.

2. Lean into humor

People laughing, having a good time together.

Humor is a great way to create cheeky Super Bowl designs while navigating copyright limitations. Funny, relatable concepts shift attention away from teams and logos and toward how people actually experience the event.

Fans watch the Super Bowl in many different ways. Some go all in by hosting watch parties, others tune in from the couch, and many show up mainly for the commercials, the halftime show, or simply because friends insist. 

Gently poking fun at these makes designs feel relatable, helping to drive engagement.

You can also draw inspiration from the unpredictable moments that often steal the spotlight on game day. 

For example, reference last year’s Super Bowl highlights, like Kendrick Lamar’s performance or the three-peat fail, using wordplay, abstract concepts, or silhouettes to avoid copyright infringement. News and social media are your best sources for references.

Lighthearted, anti-football humor works just as well. Jokes about long games, excessive production, beer culture, or watching “for the chaos” resonate with customers who want to enjoy the event lightheartedly. 

3. Go limited

Limited-edition products work especially well during Super Bowl season because demand is intense but short-lived. Since shoppers want items related to that specific event, these temporary products sell better than evergreen or standard designs.

The fun part is that limited drops increase perceived value. When an item feels exclusive, customers are more willing to pay a higher price. This is a good opportunity to focus on quality, from better blanks to thoughtful design placement for a premium feel.

If you plan to sell Super Bowl shirts, consider offering the same design in a few colors. This allows customers to pick a version that matches their favorite team without changing the core artwork, helping you stay relevant without too much design work.

Clear positioning matters. Promotional phrases like “special game day edition” or “available this Super Bowl season only” set expectations and encourage quicker purchasing decisions.

This marketing approach offers more control. You can set short availability windows, remove listings after the event, and refresh designs each season. It’s an efficient way to test ideas, protect margins, and make the most of peak Super Bowl traffic.

4. Stay active on social media

A woman is scrolling on her phone, checking her social media.

Social media is where much of the Super Bowl conversation happens, making it an essential channel for marketing print-on-demand products. Instead of just posting promotions, focus on engaging your audience in real time.

Ask questions, run polls, or invite followers to share their thoughts on the game. These simple interactions encourage participation from your community and lead to more comments, which helps increase your visibility in a crowded game-day feed.

If you’re offering limited-edition items, social posts are the perfect place to reinforce that message. Create urgency, especially as kickoff approaches. A small giveaway can also help drive engagement and user-generated content.

To maximize reach, use trending hashtags, mention the event in captions, and join conversations in relevant groups or comment threads. Being part of the discussion, rather than posting in isolation, makes your content feel timely.

5. Choose the right products

Product choice matters during Super Bowl season, especially in a short sales window. Apparel and home decor consistently rank just behind food and beverages in planned Super Bowl purchases, making them the most reliable categories to focus on.

Apparel performs particularly well because fans want something they can wear for the big game. Think t-shirts, hoodies, and hats. Need Super Bowl shirt ideas? Custom designs with bold, vibrant colors make fans stand out in photos and in person.

Home decor works perfectly for watch parties. Items like wall art, pillows, or mugs help set the mood and appeal to fans hosting friends or family.

Look for products that align with how fans experience the event. If something can be worn, displayed, or photographed on Super Bowl Sunday, it’s more likely to convert during this fast-moving season.

Sell Super Bowl print-on-demand products with Printify

A woman is working on a laptop.

Printify makes it easy to design and sell Super Bowl print-on-demand products without upfront costs. You can start selling for free, since we only print products once a customer places an order. With a global network of Print Providers, we make sure your products arrive in time for game day – no matter the location.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Sign up for a free Printify account.
  2. Choose a product from our Catalog.
  3. Create your Super Bowl design using the Product Creator. Upload your own artwork or build a design using pre-made clipart, fonts, and stock photos.
  4. Connect your online store to automate order fulfillment.
  5. Publish your product and start promoting it. When a customer makes a purchase, Printify handles production and shipping.

Super Bowl Print on Demand FAQ

No. Team logos, official names, uniforms, and other branded visuals are protected by trademark and copyright laws. Using them without permission can lead to takedowns or account issues. 

For Super Bowl print-on-demand t-shirts or other products, it’s safer to focus on creating original designs inspired by the game or the game day experience rather than official team branding.

That’s still not allowed. Slightly modifying or redrawing a design from an existing team logo doesn’t make it legal to use. If the original logo or branding is still recognizable, it can be considered infringement.

In most cases, no. Team names and player names are often protected by trademark or publicity rights, and using them on products without permission can lead to takedowns or legal issues.

Generally, no. Even using names that are similar to the official team names could be considered illegal trademark infringement, since it’s an obvious link to the official brand. If the reference is recognizable to a specific team, it carries similar risks.

No. The NFL logo, Super Bowl logo, and related branding are protected intellectual property.

Even if others appear to get away with it, the risk is real. Using protected logos or names can lead to listing removals, account suspensions, lost revenue, or funds being held while disputes are reviewed. 

In more serious cases, it can result in legal claims or permanent bans from sales platforms. Enforcement isn’t always immediate, but when it happens, the impact can be costly and difficult to reverse.

Turn Super Bowl buzz into smart sales

The Super Bowl brings attention, energy, and spending into one moment. With the right strategies, it’s a great chance to encourage customers to join the fun and turn that demand into real money.

Print-on-demand services make it easy to move quickly, test ideas, and show up while the conversation is still hot. Join Printify today and get your Super Bowl product lineup ready without the hassle.

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