Once upon a time, an NFL viewing party was a simple affair. Someone—usually the one with the biggest television or the comfiest sofa—would volunteer their house, and the rest would turn up with varying degrees of enthusiasm, some more for the snacks than the sport itself. A pot of chili, a few bowls of crisps, and a carefully rationed six-pack were the staples of the event. There’d be shouting at the screen, sure, but it was all in good fun.
Back then, the only technology involved was the television itself—one telly, one game, and, if you were lucky, a remote control that hadn’t yet disappeared down the side of the sofa.