Thursday night will be massive for pubs and sports bars across Vancouver, and for Murray Saunders, excitement levels are even beyond the Super Bowl.
“We're telling people not to walk in anymore because we've received so many calls that there's no point,” said the general manager of Shark Club Sports Bar & Grill
Canada and the U.S. are facing-off at the 4 Nations Face-Off final in Boston in what’s expected to be a heated game between the sports rivals amid political tensions.
Saunders said reservations at his downtown Vancouver sports bar filled up as soon as the final whistle blew after Canada’s Monday victory over Finland.
The Shark Club is expected to host around 350 people for the game and even have a lineup at the door, he said.
“The energy and atmosphere is crazy in here,” Saunders said. “It’s a rival game.”
Kitsilano pub Bimini’s is also expecting an electric night.
Server Tyler Boxshall said the establishment is fully booked and will be looking to accommodate more than 100 people.
Owen Coomer, co-owner of the Barn Country Bar in Surrey, compared the levels of excitement with those seen during last year's NHL playoffs.
“I’m expecting a full house and a lot of people wearing red and white,” he said, adding his 450-seat pub has received numerous reservations and many more walk-ins are expected.
On an hourly basis, Coomer said the Canada-U.S. game could be more profitable than the Super Bowl. The only downside is the game’s duration, said Coomer.
“The Super Bowl is usually an all-day event,” he said. “It's going to be crunch time … where everybody orders everything at once.”
