Why does Asian Carp make Trump think of Mark Carney?
Murray Wood ponders the question raised after Donald Trump insulted the Prime Minister in the middle of a random social ...
New England Patriots take on Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60 later today, and while bars across Saskatchewan are gearing up for a busy night, the on-the-ground atmosphere near the host city in California felt noticeably subdued.
In Saskatoon, staff at Hudsons Canada’s Pub said on Sunday that anticipation was building as fans make plans to watch the game together.
- Super Bowl LX ads feature AI, weight-loss drugs and celebs from George Clooney to Kendall Jenner
- NFL launches challenge to improve facemasks and reduce concussions
- Olympics Day 2: Canadian curlers fight to advance in mixed doubles
Assistant manager Bree Walchuk said the bar was expecting a strong turnout, with reservations already filling up.
“We’re expecting quite a few people,” Walchuk said. “We do have a lot of reservations. Currently, we are still taking some reservations if they call the store.”
Walchuk said interest in the NFL increased during the regular season, helping fuel the buildup to Super Bowl Sunday.
“We definitely did see a little bit of a rise this year in people coming in during the regular season,” she said. “So we’re hoping to really pack this place.”
She said Super Bowl Sunday is an important day for the bar, largely because staff and customers are so invested in the game.
“A lot of our staff are super involved and paying attention to the NFL throughout the regular season,” Walchuk said.
“Just being able to host something where people look forward to coming down and enjoying the atmosphere is a really big part of it.”
Walchuk said that shared excitement among both staff and customers is what makes Super Bowl Sunday stand out.
“When the staff are excited and the customers are excited, it really adds to the atmosphere,” she said. “It just makes you feel like a part of the community.”
Hudson’s is offering an all-you-can-eat wing special for the game, priced at $19.99, a promotion Walchuk said they rarely run.
“We don’t do it very often,” she said, “but it always brings in a lot of people, and everyone’s really excited about it.”
Listen to Dave Naylor preview the Super Bowl:
While the energy is building locally, TSN football insider Dave Naylor said the Super Bowl hasn’t taken over the host region the way it typically does.
Speaking on The Green Zone from the San Francisco Bay Area on Friday, Naylor said the contrast has been noticeable.
“It really hasn’t had that same kind of presence,” Naylor said. “I shot my last stand-up for the week down by the Golden Gate Bridge… That’s the first time I’ve seen people this week in football jerseys.”
Naylor said one local he asked about the game said California offers plenty of distractions, which may be contributing to the quieter feel compared to previous Super Bowl host cities.
“There are lots of things to do in California,” he said. “It’s an easy part of the world to get distracted.”
Despite the muted buildup, Naylor said the game was drawing attention as kickoff approaches, particularly because of Seattle’s defence.
“They gave up the fewest points,” he said. “I think that’s what’s interesting for me about this game is … no one’s debating what Seattle is, there’s a lot of debate about what New England is.”
When it came time to make his prediction, Naylor leaned clearly toward the Seahawks.
“I am not thinking this is going to be one of those cliffhanger Super Bowls. I think the Seahawks are the better team, and I think New England is stepping up in class. And I don’t think they’re ready,” he said, predicting a 28–13 Seattle win.
As fans settle into bars and living rooms across Saskatchewan, Super Bowl 60 kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with local excitement running high, even if the host city feels unusually calm.
