Football getting the boot from NYC bars on debate
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Posted On: 09/24/2016 6:20:05 PM
Football getting the boot from NYC bars on debate night
Football is taking a backseat to politics on the Monday night bar scene.
Manhattanites on Monday plan on flocking to watering holes to watch Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton as they tackle the big issues in their first debate.
“We haven’t had a single call about football,” said Michael Sinensky, the owner of Village Pourhouse, a downtown sports bar. “But once word got out we’re showing the debate, we booked every table.”
On taking reservations for Pourhouse’s 75 tables, Sinensky asked for political affiliations “to keep them separate,” he said.
Given the potential for political fireworks, he’s beefing up security for what believes will be “the craziest event we’ll ever have.”
Like Pourhouse, e’s Bar on the Upper West Side is switching off ESPN — at least during the first presidential debate’s 9 to 10:30 p.m. time slot.
Bar owner Erin Bellard said bartenders will offer two special libations — a blue gin-based drink called “The Hillary” and a red one called “The Trump.”
The debate is expected to reduce ratings for Monday Night Football by as much as 20 percent, according to WSJ.com (paywall).
That won’t be the case for patrons in Atlanta and New Orleans, however, whose Falcons and Saints square off on national TV at 8:30 pm.
“It’s a Falcon game, so we’re definitely sticking with that,” said the manager of the Hudson Grille’s outpost in Atlanta.
At Cooter Brown’s, New Orleans’ go-to sports bar for the rowdy set, politics aren’t even an option.
“Definitely football,” the bartender said when asked about viewing choices.
Some New York sports bars say they are sticking with football — because there’s less potential for violence.
“No politics at the bar,” a manager at the Upper East Side’s East End Bar & Grill said. “Last time we tried that we had too many arguments.”
The debate is expected to reduce ratings for Monday Night Football by as much as 20 percent, according to WSJ.com (paywall).
That won’t be the case for patrons in Atlanta and New Orleans, however, whose Falcons and Saints square off on national TV at 8:30 pm.
“It’s a Falcon game, so we’re definitely sticking with that,” said the manager of the Hudson Grille’s outpost in Atlanta.
At Cooter Brown’s, New Orleans’ go-to sports bar for the rowdy set, politics aren’t even an option.
“Definitely football,” the bartender said when asked about viewing choices.
Some New York sports bars say they are sticking with football — because there’s less potential for violence.
“No politics at the bar,” a manager at the Upper East Side’s East End Bar & Grill said. “Last time we tried that we had too many arguments.”
Football is taking a backseat to politics on the Monday night bar scene.
Manhattanites on Monday plan on flocking to watering holes to watch Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton as they tackle the big issues in their first debate.
“We haven’t had a single call about football,” said Michael Sinensky, the owner of Village Pourhouse, a downtown sports bar. “But once word got out we’re showing the debate, we booked every table.”
On taking reservations for Pourhouse’s 75 tables, Sinensky asked for political affiliations “to keep them separate,” he said.
Given the potential for political fireworks, he’s beefing up security for what believes will be “the craziest event we’ll ever have.”
Like Pourhouse, e’s Bar on the Upper West Side is switching off ESPN — at least during the first presidential debate’s 9 to 10:30 p.m. time slot.
Bar owner Erin Bellard said bartenders will offer two special libations — a blue gin-based drink called “The Hillary” and a red one called “The Trump.”
The debate is expected to reduce ratings for Monday Night Football by as much as 20 percent, according to WSJ.com (paywall).
That won’t be the case for patrons in Atlanta and New Orleans, however, whose Falcons and Saints square off on national TV at 8:30 pm.
“It’s a Falcon game, so we’re definitely sticking with that,” said the manager of the Hudson Grille’s outpost in Atlanta.
At Cooter Brown’s, New Orleans’ go-to sports bar for the rowdy set, politics aren’t even an option.
“Definitely football,” the bartender said when asked about viewing choices.
Some New York sports bars say they are sticking with football — because there’s less potential for violence.
“No politics at the bar,” a manager at the Upper East Side’s East End Bar & Grill said. “Last time we tried that we had too many arguments.”
The debate is expected to reduce ratings for Monday Night Football by as much as 20 percent, according to WSJ.com (paywall).
That won’t be the case for patrons in Atlanta and New Orleans, however, whose Falcons and Saints square off on national TV at 8:30 pm.
“It’s a Falcon game, so we’re definitely sticking with that,” said the manager of the Hudson Grille’s outpost in Atlanta.
At Cooter Brown’s, New Orleans’ go-to sports bar for the rowdy set, politics aren’t even an option.
“Definitely football,” the bartender said when asked about viewing choices.
Some New York sports bars say they are sticking with football — because there’s less potential for violence.
“No politics at the bar,” a manager at the Upper East Side’s East End Bar & Grill said. “Last time we tried that we had too many arguments.”
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