Local businesses gear up for Super Bowl Sunday

One of the most watched sporting events in the U.S. (over 97.4 million viewers tuned in last year to watch the Giants topple the Patriots), the Super Bowl is traditionally a time for fans and non-fans alike to get together and chow down as many chicken wings, pizza slices, and down as much beer as they dare. And although local teams from New York and New England will be sitting this year's championship game out, the area's restaurants and local bars are nevertheless gearing up for Sunday's biggest game.

"We expect a very high turnout," Niel Nielsen, owner of Wings Over Saratoga on 105 West Avenue in Saratoga Springs said. "Last year we'd been open only 6 weeks before the Super Bowl came along, and I still sold well over 2,000 pounds of chicken. So we're expecting something similar, maybe even a little bit more seeing as how we've been around a little over a year now."

However, this year's party planners may be in for a bit of a surprise. It seems that in this struggling economy, even our beloved chicken wing industry hasn't gone unscathed. Early last December, Texas based company Pilgrim Pride, the largest chicken producer in the States, filed for bankruptcy protection to keep their company afloat. With an increased demand for the barbequed treats this weekend, the price on a case of wings has nearly doubled from what they were this time last year. Still, restaurant owners urge their customers not to worry.

"We were concerned, so we're ordering them a couple of days earlier than normal. But because we're a franchise, we have a little more firepower to make sure we get what we need." Nielsen said, who indicated that he started marinating his ribs and chicken wings nearly one week ahead the big game.

For those looking to go out and enjoy a night on the town, Peabody's Restaurant at 39 Phila Street in downtown Saratoga Springs may be the place to be this Sunday. With over eight high-definition big screen TV's in the bar, two in the pool room, smaller flat screens on every table, and a plethora of large screen TV's on the patio, Peabody's will have all your Super Bowl viewing needs more than taken care of.

This year also marks the first year that Peabody's will be hosting an all you can eat and drink buffet on their heated patio, in association with the American Cancer Society.

Deborah Lynch, mother of the owner Sean Lynch, indicated that, "10 percent of all proceeds will go to benefit the American Cancer Society."

The buffet, which runs from 6 until 10 p.m., will be $44 a person and boasts a wide assortment of foods and drinks.

"It's got prime rib, turkey, Alfredo pasta, ham and peas, Italian ziti, two kinds of meatballs, wings, rolls, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy, all sorts of stuff," Lynch said. "It's a nice feast the way it's laid out. It should be a fun night."

Dave Harmon, the owner of the Stadium Café at 389 Broadway in Saratoga, predicts a sold out night.

"We sell every seat in the restaurant for $20, which goes towards the customer's bill. So this way, we're guaranteed people will show up. We still haves some tables left, but I would say we're probably at 60 percent so far."

The café has already been decked out in Steelers, Cardinals, and NFL décor, and Harmon promised several merchandise giveaways as the night progresses.

Harmon, who also owns two retail outlets in Crossgates Mall and one in Wilton Mall, said that, "Steelers merchandise is selling really well." Whether it's jerseys, T-shirts, hats, terrible towels or terrible T's, Harmon said that he has every fan's need covered for Super Bowl Sunday.

"We've even got a T-shirt that says, 'Got Curtain?'" (a reference to the Steelers so-called steel curtain defense), "with a curtain coming down on a Cardinal head."

Although his stores are selling both Steelers and Cardinals merchandise, Harmon indicated that so far, Steelers merchandise has far outsold their rivals.

"Steelers fans in this market are big. They've got a big fan base," Harmon said.

As for a prediction on the game's results, the verdict seemed to be unanimous.
"I think the Steelers," Harmon said. "You've got to respect the Cardinals, but I just think the Steelers have a lot of players that have been there previously, and they have a very good defense. I think the Cardinals have had a good run, but I think that run's going to end."  

"I feel as if the Steelers will win," Lynch predicted, "Although my team has always been the Giants, because that's my son's team."

As for Nielson, he thinks "Pittsburgh is going to win, but I'm rooting for Arizona."