The Gear You Need to Gear Up for the Big Game

By Reena Jana
February 1, 2011

SuperBowl Preview on TV

Super Bowl XLIV pre-game media coverage XLIV Media Center (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

This year, many football fans are gearing up for Super Bowl Sunday by stocking up not only on Cheesehead hats and Terrible Towels—not to mention beer, wings and seven-layer dip—but also on high tech gadgets that will make watching the Big Game even more thrilling. A new survey from the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association, conducted by a firm called BIGresearch, found that the number of consumers planning to buy a TV specifically to watch the Super Bowl rose 25% from last year. And on eBay, as fans gear up for the game, online auction sales in the "Televisions" category have risen 38 percent in a recent week (1/17-1/23) compared to the previous week.

But big-screen high-definition TVs aren’t the only cool new tech gadgets that can enhance the experience of Super Bowl Sunday, whether you’re celebrating by throwing a party or catching the game solo, without interruptions. Here, we’ve put together a must-have list of gadgets that will make Game Day more fun, no matter how, where, or whom you’re spending it with.

Logitech Harmony 1100 Remote Control

This sophisticated yet easy-to-use device is the ultimate in remote controls. It looks like a small tablet computer, has a customizable screen, and can control up to 15 different pieces of equipment, including a TV and home-theater system.
Sony 60-inch HDTV, 3-D ready

This high-def television has a huge five-foot screen that offers sharp colors and contrast. And although the Super Bowl won’t be broadcast in 3D, it's quite possible the next one will be. This set is 3D-ready for watching future games.
Frisby Surround Sound System

You don't just want to watch the Super Bowl; you want to hear it, too. Enhance the experience with this speaker set, which can be hooked up to a TV and is ready for full digital surround sound.
EyeClops Mini TV Projector

This small, affordable projector can be hooked up to a television to enlarge the image size up to 60 inches when projected against a surface.
Tivo Premiere DVR

In the event that you miss the game—or if you want to relive its best moments—pick up a Tivo Premiere digital video recorder.
Beer Chiller

What’s Super Bowl Sunday without a nice cold beer? Make sure your beer supply is chilled with this good-looking and handy hybrid of a fridge and a keg.
Waring Pro Induction Flat Cooktop

Make sure the requisite Super Bowl pizza and barbecued chicken wings stay warm and at the ready with this sleek, tabletop warming plate.
Wagan Portable Cooler/Warmer

If you’re lucky enough to actually be at Super Bowl XLV in person this year, pack this clever device, which can function as either a cooler (it can hold up to 12 beverage cans) or as a food warmer. A tailgater's dream, it even has a built-in AM/FM radio and a shoulder strap.
Coby Portable 7-inch HDTV

If you're traveling on Super Bowl Sunday and can't watch in the comfort of your home (or a sports bar), this portable high-defnition set could come in handy.
Portable Sangean Radio

In the event that your town is hit by a blizzard or a natural disaster that throws out power lines—and your ability to watch the game on TV!—you can avoid missing the game with this battery-operated, high-performance portable radio. Hey, it happens...

And if after all this, you're still not content to watch the game at home, make a bid for one of three pairs of tickets being auctioned off for charity by eBay and the Steelers' Troy Polamalu. Click here for details.

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