When the Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers two weeks ago to clinch a spot in Super Bowl 48, bars and restaurants across B.C. saw an increase in business to the tune of $1 million.
“And most of that was in Vancouver,” said Ian Tostenson, president of the B.C. Food and Restaurant Association. “It’s the Seattle factor.”
Tostenson expects to see an even greater gain this Sunday, Feb. 2, when the ‘Hawks meet the Denver Broncos in a battle for the Vince Lombardi trophy at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Tostenson said while Super Bowl Sunday is typically a slow day for some restaurants, bars and pubs selling food and liquor with a big-screen TV, or 10, can expect to cash in this weekend — so long as they have the game on.
“The sports-orientated places will do very well,” said Tostenson, who added a 3:30 p.m. start means fans can head out for brunch and stay for the game.
“But after kick-off everything shuts down and it will be all about the drinks,” said Tostenson, who’ll be at home watching the game with family. “Everyone will kick into game mode.”
Jillian MacBride, manager of Speakeasy on Broadway, said, with 13 TVs displaying the game, every seat in the house will have a view of the action. Many of those seats are already reserved, and in fact restaurants and bars across the city are taking reservations for the big game.
MacBride added with a large selection of craft beer and a menu heavy on share plates such as nachos and chicken wings, she expects the Speakeasy to be packed from the time it opens at 10 a.m. Sunday.
Many of those fans will also be wearing Seahawks gear, much of it likely purchased from Vancity Sports on Seymour Street.
Owner John Czvelka said this season he sold more Seahawks hats, jerseys and other memorabilia than Canucks gear.
“But we’re running on fumes now,” said Czvelka, who’ll watch the game with friends. “We’ve got a few pieces left, but there’s nothing coming in.”
That is until the Seahawks win the Super Bowl, which Czvelka is confident will happen. Czvelka said fans have pre-ordered Super Bowl championship gear in advance, which will arrive four to five days after the game should the ‘Hawks win. Besides hats, the most popular item flying out of Vancity’s door this season was the Richard Sherman jersey followed closely by the Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch versions.
Chris Hannan, general manager of the Charles Bar located in the Woodward’s building in Gastown, said there’ll be draws for some of those popular jerseys during the game Sunday. He added the bar has been packed with fans every Saturday or Sunday the Seahawks played this season.
“Sometimes it was only once a week, but the Seahawks definitely have a bigger fan base here than the Canucks right now,” said Hannan. “At least while they enjoyed this run.”
The Charles Bar, which touts itself as having the largest HDTV of any Gastown bar, is taking reservations for the game and while a lot of the seats are booked, there’s still room. Hannan noted during the playoff game two weeks ago the bar was full from the moment it opened with fans waiting outside for a seat.
“So we’ve left open a few select tables for true fans who want to get here early,” said Hannan.
sthomas@vancourier.com
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