Parties expecting huge turnout Local establishments are gearing up

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Whether they’re New England fans, New York fans, casual fans or people who have no rooting interest whatsoever, area restaurant, bar, pub and lounge owners are expecting Super Bowl Sunday to be a “giant” day for them.

“I think there couldn’t be two much better teams matching up in terms of the two most popular teams in this area because of the longevity of the Giants and the popularity and success of the Patriots,” said Len Cole, owner of the Sports Arena on outer Hammond Street in Hermon.

Whether the actual game lives up to its gargantuan hype, Cole says it promises to be a big win for local businesses holding Super Bowl parties.

“We’re ratcheting it up even more than we usually do. I’d say we’ll have triple the business of what a normal Super Bowl would bring us in terms of sales,” said Cole, who will field a full staff of 20 employees to accommodate an anticipated crowd of 500 to 800 people.

Orono’s three-story Bear Brew Pub can handle up to 300 people and owner Matt Haskell is hoping his biggest problem is running out of room for customers.

“This is our sixth year, but it’s our third year of holding a Super Bowl party,” Haskell said. “We’re so psyched up about having the Pats in it this year because we were really looking forward to them being in it last year before the second-half collapse against the Colts.”

The longtime Patriots fan from Bangor expects a huge turnout.

“I think it’ll make a tremendous difference having the Pats involved,” he said. “We’ve been over 100 or so the last two years, but I think we’ll be near capacity this year. I think we’ll do twice as much business just because of that, and having the Giants involved is great, too.”

Haskell will have a full staff on duty (three cooks, a buffet server, two servers and three bartenders) and is offering an all-you-can eat buffet for $12.50 per person, a giant projector screen TV with high definition and surround sound on the second floor, seven other TVs, prizes and drink specials.

Carolina’s Sports and Spirits under the Chamberlain Bridge in Bangor is also offering an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring items like prime rib, shrimp and pork ribs for $23.95 a person, and prizes including a table-and-chairs set, a grill, jackets and other paraphernalia.

Doors open at 3 p.m. and co-owner Mark Greenleaf recommends people arrive early to find a good seat.

“We can handle up to 110 people and we’ll be packed by 4 or 4:30,” said Greenleaf, whose facility has two 60-inch TVs and nine smaller ones ranging from 19 to 32 inches. Game time is scheduled for 6:17 p.m. “Having the Patriots in it increases the crowd a little, but we’re always packed for the Super Bowl since we only have a certain number of seats.”

Orono’s Sports Caf? can handle 125 people and owner Joe Bianchi isn’t expecting many – if any – empty seats.

“Having the Giants play the Patriots makes a huge difference. Every one of the playoff games for both teams, we were packed,” said Bianchi, a Pittsburgh fan who will likely wear his Steelers jersey while rooting for the Giants. “Yeah, I’m sure I’ll be taking some crap, but it’s all in good fun.”

The Sports Caf? opens at 11:30 a.m. and Bianchi expects the place to be full by 6 p.m. He’ll have a full staff of 10 people and offer a full menu. With 15 total television sets (all HD), all patrons should have a clear view of the broadcast.

The Caf? is offering prize giveaways with the main item being a Patriots jersey autographed by Richard Seymour. Bianchi will also have a Patriots helmet that he wants all the customers to sign for permanent display at the bar.

The Ground Round, a Maine eatery staple for many years, won’t be missing out on the action as all the restaurant’s locations will be hosting Super Bowl parties.

The Bangor location on Odlin Road opens at 11 a.m. Sunday. The lounge has one big-screen TV, seven smaller TVs, and enough room for 110 fans.

“People will start arriving around 3, but the diehards will get here as early as noon,” said manager/entertainer Chris Florey of Brewer, now in his 18th year with Ground Round. “If they want a good seat, people should get here by 4.”

Florey will be one of 35 people, including nine cooks, on duty Sunday.

“We’ll have appetizer and drink specials, prizes like hats and shirts, and 25-cent wings,” said Florey, who estimated they sell 200-300 wings on a typical Sunday. “I’d say having the Patriots involved will at least double our usual Super Bowl business, and I’m guessing we could sell a thousand wings.”

Cole doesn’t doubt that estimate.

“I’d say we’ll go through 100 pounds of buffalo wings and probably 100 pizzas,” said Cole, a lifelong Miami Dolphins fan who is still pulling for the Patriots despite the fact they could eclipse the 1972 Dolphins as the NFL standard for unbeaten seasons (17-0). “Hey, it’s history. I think it’s great.”

Cole has a commemorative Super Bowl banner which he wants everyone present to sign. The banner will go on display with the other four already up for Red Sox and two previous Patriots championships.

“We’re telling people to come see history and also be a part of it,” he said.

The Sports Arena will have specials for groups and families in the game arcade and the bowling lanes. They’re also offering people a chance to register to win a $1,200 leather recliner in Patriots colors, as well as other prizes.

“All you have to do to register is purchase a play card and we’re giving anyone who gets one an instant $5 bonus, so a $5 card is basically free,” Cole said.

All 20 TVs at the bowling lanes and the other 40 in the facility will be tuned to the game. The facility will also be decked out in team colors, balloon pillars and inflatable team helmets from I-Party.

Brewster’s Fine Food & Drink in Brewer will also be decked out for Super Sunday and employees have plenty of activities lined up for patrons well before kickoff.

“We’re having a brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” said bartender Christy Garside of Orrington. “We’ll also have a blackjack table and bingo so people can play for prizes from [beverage] distributors. We’re doing appetizer specials, too.

“We’re expecting a very big crowd, but I don’t know how it’ll compare to the last three years,” said Garside, one of seven employees (three cooks, two bartenders, two waitresses) scheduled to work. “We can handle about 50 or 60 people.”

aneff@bangordailynews.net

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