Spring is here and it's the perfect time for a casino to upgrade their sportsbook and for you to upgrade or build your first Man Cave. If you start today, the new Man Cave will be ready in time for football season.
If you don’t already have a space for your Man Cave, you’ll want to decide on that first. The space can be as small as a room and as large as a basement depending on the living space. Once the space is decided on it’s time to plan on what you need to fill it up.
I find planning easier with a sketch and a wish list of all desired items. Start with everything you want in the Man Cave and let the budget decide what you can actually afford. We’re positive EV gamblers so treat this room the same and select the items that will get the most bang for the buck.
Start With The Basics
Much like a sportsbook, the perfect Man Cave begins with screens and seats. This room is being made for sports, so what matters more to you for viewing - size or options? In a sportsbook, I want enough screens to show every game. I also want those screens to be impeccable quality. If I have to sacrifice anything, it’s the size of the screen. Great HDTV's are available at very reasonable prices today, so choosing how many and what size might simply come down to budget.
Seating is important for a Man Cave because there’s a good chance you’ll spend lots of time on your butt in here. Be greedy, think of yourself first, and move out from there. You might want to plan for nicer seating for the crew that will be spending the most time in this room with you. Lastly, consider a plan for seating for extra guests that may visit a few times.
A row of sweet recliners, or a reclining couch, might be the way to go for you and the main crew. Smaller chairs and barstools can be added to fit the number of people expected to join the party. Before I even heard of a Man Cave I purchased a batch of cushioned folding chairs that were kept in the closet for the few days a year they were needed.
Eat, Drink And Be Merry
A finished basement might have room for a kitchenette, full sized refrigerator, a bar, and multiple games to play. Unfortunately, not everyone will have this much space for their Man Cave so let’s look at some options for a small to medium sized room.
Drink: If you have room, at least a mini refrigerator would be optimal. This would be a great place to keep enough beer on hand to make it through the week or day of games. If beer selection doesn't matter you might opt for a kegerator. This is an effective way to get a lot of beer for cheap.
Eat: A small area to act like a bar and snack bar would be useful. Having a place to keep vodka, scotch and other liquor is useful. Likewise, a place to keep food away from the main seating and play areas should make cleanup easier.
Be Merry: It's game time! How much space do you have and what kind of games you prefer? Start with the TV’s, do you need a computer or game system connected for gaming? This is the most efficient space to add games to a Man Cave. Billiards, Foosball, Bubble hockey, and old upright video games like Golden Tee are great additions but will depend on the space available.
Hook It Up!
It’s time to make the Man Cave pretty. Every Man Cave has to evoke a feeling, even if it's just a place that you go to forget the real world. We probably don’t want the Man Cave to give us the same feeling as the visiting football team at Iowa. Not everyone has a budget to make their Man Cave with the same specs as the University of Oregon locker room. Let’s consider what else we need to create the perfect vibe.
Walls: Will a simple coat of paint do or do you want a ski lodge feel with wood paneling? Consider the wall covering if you want to hang memorabilia or soundproof the room. A Man Cave can get loud and you might not want to hush people every time there's a big play.
Flooring: If you're working with a wood or cement floor you might want to consider some rugs. Not only will these be easier on your feet but it will keep heat inside and dampen sound from bouncing around the room.
Audio and Lighting: Not only is audio important for the games but you might want to be able to stream music and podcasts in the privacy of your own room. I often mute games and listen to podcasts to relax. Mood lighting isn’t only for dates. If your Man Cave will also be a movie room you might want to add dimmers for theater style lighting.
Wifi: Make sure there’s ample wifi for anyone visiting. This might take an extra router or an extender but wifi access is important. You may need it to connect to PlayStation but this is beyond just your needs. If this room is used by a group of friends they’re likely going to need access to fast wifi for in-game wagers and fantasy. I recommend getting a separate connection for the Man Cave so other people streaming movies, music, etc. don’t get in the way of game day fun.
Man Caves are so popular that there are casinos in Las Vegas creating similar rooms for special events like March Madness. Once gambling is legalized nationwide, this will also double as your own legal sportsbook. Life could be a lot worse than having your own personal sportsbook!
