Winter Weather Spoils Big Game Day for Local Sports Venues
by February 17, 2014 12:00 am 59 views
The winter storm that hit Northwest Arkansas on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 2, put a big damper on sports bar and restaurant business.
Local venues like Buffalo Wild Wings in Bentonville, Fayetteville and Springdale; On the Mark in Fayetteville; and Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery in Fayetteville reported dismal sales in comparison to previous years — although the venues would not provide any sales numbers or estimated losses.
For Tilted Kilt, which opened in April 2012, Super Bowl Sunday is usually one of the busiest and most profitable days of the year, said Eric Lunderby, general manager.
“In the winter, you just have to pray for the best and hope that the weather comes on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday,” Lunderby said.
Pizza deliveries, however, were not thwarted much by the weather.
Eureka Pizza, Pizza Hut, Jim’s Razorback Pizza and Papa John’s Pizza report sales similar to previous Super Bowl Sundays.
However, Pizza Hut drivers were not able to deliver to some areas, which had limited access because of icy roads, said Brandon Gilbert, general manager of the School Street location in Fayetteville.
Although demand was high, Eureka Pizza stopped delivering at 9 p.m. instead of its usual 1 a.m., because of a lack of staff.