More fans watch game at home than bars

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - How many people do you think stay at home, go to a friend’s house to watch the big game, or actually go to bars?

Bar owners we spoke with Sunday say it seems like more people opt to stay at home or attend a house party than watch the game at a bar.

Sunday in Buffalo with a big sports double-header helped bolster bar patronage.

Having a Sabres game immediately before the big game against the 49ers and Ravens is like Christmas for sports fans.

Athony Anastasia was one of many at Bada Bing on Chippewa Street all set at the bar for marathon sports viewing. “I actually have season tickets but I chose not to go, just to get a good seat and everything for the Super Bowl.”

The Sabres game serving as a Super Bowl pregame really helped out the local establishments.

Pearl Street Manager Robert Buskirk said, “Typically people stay at home and do their house parties. But with 18,000 fans here I’m sure plenty are going to stick around and go to local bars for the super bowl as well.”

The employees try to make it entertaining for their customers and create the atmosphere worth leaving home for.

A server at Bada Bing Audie Abbatoy said, “We get in on it too and joke around with the customers. Why is this better than a house party? It's much better because there's a lot more people here than there is at a house party. It's a better environment. There's always something crazy going on at Bing too.”

Businesses that do get customers on gamedays, especially one like Sunday, make the game experience just as fun as if they were all sitting at home.