The beat from Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” performance Sunday during the Super Bowl halftime show could be heard a block away from Scotty’s Brewhouse.
Sasha Niese, bar manager at Scotty’s, said the turnout was better than she expected.
“People want to eat at home, not here,” Niese said. “I didn’t work Super Bowl last year but it was really dead, we think partially because it was in Indy so a lot of people went there just to be there. A lot of people usually stay home, so the fact that they came out ... we’re happy.”
Neise said Scotty’s prepared for the Super Bowl by stocking up on “more suitable food,” such as wings and beer. The restaurant also prepared for an increase in take-out orders and offer catering specials.
Junior exercise science major David Hudson went to Scotty’s last year for the Super Bowl, and came back this year to continue the tradition.
“I don’t really care too much about either team ... but it’s the Super Bowl so you’ve got to watch,” Hudson said.
Tony Edmonds, a history professor, brought essays to grade alongside his beer.
“My TV set ran out two days ago,” Edmonds said. “I really wanted to watch the Super Bowl. I come here all the time and it’s my favorite afternoon bar. The manager told me that he would save a seat for me.”
Edmonds said he is still rooting for the Colts.
“They are going to have a lot of trouble winning this one,” Edmonds said. “But probably [I’m rooting for] San Francisco because San Francisco is more hippie than Baltimore.”
Gary Burdine, a shift leader at The Locker Room, said the bar had a similar situation to Scotty’s.
“We’re not super busy, we’ll get more busy later on,” Burdine said.
Senior communications major Aubrey Lee and her friends took advantage of the smaller crowds to grab a table with its own TV for the halftime show.
“I really came to drink and watch commercials,” Lee said. “I think Beyoncé was very beautiful and talented. I wasn’t expecting Destiny’s Child.”
Sophomore speech pathology majors Amanda Jones went to the Super Bowl watch party at DeHority Complex, but isn’t a football fan.
“I like to watch it for the food,” Jones said. “I’m not going to stay the whole time. I just signed up for the food and the commercials.”
David Predajna, a senior mathematical economics major, made sure he sat in the front row of the viewing party, wearing his Colts jersey.
“I always wear this Colts jersey, I don’t take it off ever,” Predajna said. “It’s pretty much the only thing I ever wear. Anyway, I’m just rooting for the Ravens because pretty much the whole dorm switches between the Ravens and the Colts. I hate the Patriots and they beat the Patriots so I’m like ,‘Yes!’ That’s why I’m rooting for them.”
-Rachel Podnar contributed to this story.
