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Fun in community

Local sports bars happy to provide night out for fans

Jan 20, 2021 | 5:46 PM

From NFL playoffs to the beginning of a new NHL season, professional sports are back and in full swing to kick off 2021.

And while capacity limits on bars and restaurants across the province remain restricted to just 50 per cent, a number of local establishments are happy to offer a place for sports fans in the Battlefords to take in the action in a social atmosphere.

Owner of the Boston Pizza in North Battleford, Laszlo Horvath, said while they would certainly love to be able to pack the bar area like in previous years, they have found there remains a real feeling of excitement around the establishment on game nights, even with current restrictions.

“I think the people who are coming for sports are still very excited about it, and we try to provide a good experience,” Horvath said. “We’ve always got the volume on and all the big screens are going, so we’ll get people coming in wearing their jerseys and it’s still exciting even in these times.”

Tamara Tkaczyk, manager of Bennigans Irish Pub, said while they perhaps haven’t had quite as many people out for sports due to the pandemic this year, things could start to pick up a bit more in the coming weeks with the Super Bowl around the corner and the hockey season still just ramping up.

“At the time it’s still been pretty slow, [but] we usually have a decent crowd for the bigger events like the Super Bowl and the Stanley Cup playoffs and things like that,” she said. “It’s nice to see people still getting out a bit and enjoying the hockey games here and there too, as people have been deprived of hockey for too long,” she added.

Tkaczyk said for those interested in dropping in to watch a game, it’s important to remember that masks are required at all times, except when seated at a table to eat, while social distancing protocols also remain in effect as well.

Owner of Blend Restaurant and Bar, Robin Petersen, said they have also seen a bit less of an emphasis on sports viewing through the early part of the year, although Blend remains very well-equipped for locals looking to catch the game of interest to them.

“We’re mostly seeing people come in to hang out with their friends or see family and visit in their tables of four, but we are set up well for the sports too,” he said. “We always have sports on and we can have four different games playing at once with eight TV’s at the bar, so people are definitely welcome to come out and enjoy it.”

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

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