This past fall our family started watching Thursday night football together. Some members of our clan were more enthusiastic than others when it came to gathering in front of the television to watch a football game. To make it more enjoyable for everyone I decided we needed snacks. Lots and lots of snacks. So I sketched out a snackadium and asked my husband if he could build it for us. Keep reading for all our tips on how to build a snackadium of your own!
what is a snackadium?
A snackadium is exactly what it sounds like–it’s a stadium for your snacks. You can find an array of tutorials online for how to build a snackadium. Some involve constructing them out of wood, like ours. Others are more temporary and made with leftover carboard boxes or magazine files. Some are even more complicated than ours, with multiple levels and faux light poles. Whatever route you decide to go when you build your snackadium, you’ll be making something your family can gather around and enjoy for a long time.
how to build a snackadium
Please keep in mind that although I am sharing our cut list with lengths and degrees to cut the angles at, you need to allow for wiggle room with the boards. As you start cutting your boards to size and cutting the angles, you’ll find there may be gaps. It’s best to cut slighter longer and shave or sand some off afterwards if need be.
how to build a snackadium: cut list
You can really make your own snackadium any size you want. We specifically made ours so that the center area could hold a half sheet steamer pan or 9×13″ Pyrex dish. If you were consistently feeding a large crowd with your snackadium, you would probably want to make the side compartments bigger, or build a second level or tier on your snackadium. For our family, this size is plenty big enough and our snackadium snacks are enough to count as our dinner that evening.
1×3 boards cut to 45° angles:
- 2 boards cut to 17″
- 2 boards cut to 12″
1×4 boards cut to 22.5° angles (or 4 boards cut straight and 4 boards cut to 45° angles):
- 2 boards cut to 20″
- 2 boards cut to 15″
- 4 boards cut to 4 ½”
We used 1×4 boards for the dividers and cut at an angle to get the tiered stadium seating look. You could also just use 1×3 boards and save yourself from cutting the angles.
Once we had our snackadium cut, glued, and nailed into place, we secured it to the base of our choosing. We decided to use a thin dry erase board for our base, which you can find at your local Home Depot or similar hardware store. We also opted to fill the nail holes with a stainable wood filler. However, my husband said he wouldn’t bother if he made another one because it doesn’t take the stain the same so the spots stand out even more. That’s a judgment call for you. For the finish, we used a food-safe stain.
| Read: Super Bowl Printables and Family-friendly Activities |
what to fill your snackadium with
You can’t go wrong when it comes to filling your snackadium. Just make sure you’re being careful with wet or messy foods so your snackadium will last. Even though I used a food-safe stain, I still like to line each compartment with parchment paper before filling with treats. At the end of the night I blow out all the crevices with a can of compressed air.
Here are some ideas for filling your own snackadium:
- Classic Game Night: Stock up on foods like carrot sticks and celery, wings, corn dogs, and sliders.
- Mexican Fiesta: Fill your snackadium with jalapeño poppers, chips, taquitos, and mini churros.
- Sweet Snacktime: Load each compartment with classic junk food like cookies and candy.
- Healthy-ish Fare: Fill up on healthier options like cauliflower nuggets, fresh fruit, and popcorn.
Find more fun DIY projects on Pinterest!
Of course, a snackadium doesn’t have to just be for football season. You can use it for basketball, soccer, or even hockey! The possibilities are just about endless!
What would you fill up your snackadium with?
