Bar owners throughout Northeast Pennsylvania feel the buzz surrounding Thursday’s College Football Playoff Semifinal game featuring Penn State and Notre Dame.
Lindsey Mellow, owner of Happy Valley Sports Bar in Dickson City, a Penn State-themed bar, believes the clash between the Nittany Lions and Fighting Irish for a trip to the national championship may be the most anticipated sporting event since the establishment opened in 2015.
“I think it’s going to be the biggest game we’ve ever had,” Mellow said. “There is a lot of energy, a lot of excitement — this is huge for our area.”
In addition to the first 100 guests receiving a Happy Valley/Orange Bowl-themed T-shirt emblazoned with the logos of both teams, the bar will offer food specials specific to the schools including The Four Horsemen burger — a nod to Notre Dame’s star-studded backfield in the 1920s — and a Penn Stater hoagie.
Despite a 7:30 p.m. Thursday kickoff time, Jason Mushow, Mellow’s husband, feels both fan bases will be well represented.
“I think everybody is calling off for Friday,” he said.
To meet the expected high demand, Happy Valley will have a high-definition projection screen set up in the banquet room for people to watch the game.
Two days prior to the national semifinal, Mellow was also bracing for an electric environment Thursday night.
“I’m actually nervous about the whole thing … it literally scares me,” she said. “That’s how big I think the hype is about this game.”
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Mike Macciocco, co-owner of Buddy Clarke’s in Dunmore, thinks the tavern — which typically attracts Notre Dame supporters — will draw a good amount of Penn State enthusiasts wearing blue and white, as well, which should make for an energetic environment.
“We’re anticipating a bar divided with fans from both sides,” he said. “We’ve had requests to make it civil, so we’re accommodating both fans, but we lean a little Irish here.”
Buddy Clarke’s will host a Guinness Tailgate from 2 to 6 p.m., leading up to kickoff, and the Orange Crush drink — popular during the summer months — will be available for the Orange Bowl, Macciocco said.
Like Mellow, Macciocco senses the excitement around town for the monumental matchup.
“There is a definite buzz around Thursday that we really haven’t seen for a college football game since we took over three years ago,” he said. “The energy is in the air and the comments and requests to come in early have been off the charts.”
In Luzerne County, Jeffrey Fager, a chef/manager at Brews Brothers in Jenkins Twp., noted the bar plans jersey and T-shirt giveaways for the game.
“We’re staffing up and ramping up — making sure we have enough help,” he said. “We have a lot of reservations on the books already, so hopefully it’s a good day.”
The Cinema and Drafthouse in West Hazleton announced it will offer free admission to watch the game on the big screen with doors opening at 7 p.m.
The theater has aired football games featuring local teams for more than 20 years as a change of pace, owner/manager Tony Katona said
“We’ve done a couple Penn State games this year and we do (Philadelphia) Eagles and (Pittsburgh) Steelers games,” he said. “It’s a big clash for the community around here of Penn State fans and there are a lot of Notre Dame fans also. It’s a nice break from movies.”
The rabid interest in the contest also extends to Schuylkill County where John Challenger, co-owner of The Crimson House in Pottsville, looks forward to a large crowd and plans beer a food specials — including $1 wings and $10 Yuengling buckets — along with some giveaways.
“I’m expecting a full house,” he said. “Based on the past, I’m expecting more Penn State fans than Notre Dame, however there is a huge Notre Dame contingent in the area. It should be a great night.”
And even though the two teams haven’t met on the gridiron since 2007, Challenger stressed there is no love lost between the schools and fans.
“Back in the day, they used to play each other a lot and it was always a rivalry,” he said. “And then (Penn State) switched conferences, so whenever they get a chance to play that animosity is still there. Now it’s a big game, so it’s going to be even bigger.”
