Sunday is Super Bowl 55 and many folks around Grenada will indulge in partying for the biggest sports event of the year.
The Big Game will begin airing Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m. and the excitement is already brewing over the contest between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Husband and wife, Levester and Tracy Watt, who are Kansas City Chiefs fans, said they plan to celebrate Sunday as their team plays for the championship.
“This is the second year in a row for us, so we’re pretty excited,” Levester Watt said. “Before last year, we waited a long time. We will have a few friends over Sunday, but not many because of the times we’re in.”
Hiram Elliott, officer with the Grenada School District Police, has been a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan for more than 20 years and said he had made plans to travel to the Super Bowl.
“I was going to do it, but the common sense set in and I told myself to keep my butt right here in Grenada,” Elliott said. “It’s been nearly 20 years since we’ve been to the Super Bowl, so Sunday I’m firing that grill up. Of course, I wanted to be in Florida for the game, but I can’t jeopardize my safety and others by going down there.”
According to Hallmark, the Super Bowl is the biggest at-home event of the year — even bigger than New Year’s Eve. Behind Thanksgiving, the Super Bowl is also the biggest eating day of the year.
The National Chicken Council reports that Americans will eat a record 1.42 billion chicken wings on the day of the big game. The NCC adds that 1.42 billion chicken wings are enough to stretch from Kansas City to Tampa Bay 19 times. Also, statistically, 1.42 billion wings are enough to give every attendee of every Super Bowl since 1967 each 342 wings.
Business picks up locally
Local businesses are keeping that statistic in mind and all of them have began to stock shelves already.
At Spain’s Supermarket, owner Tim Golding said Super Bowl weekend is always big, but it has grown over the years.
“The Super Bowl is a big deal every year,” Golding, a Tom Brady fan, said. “We try to work ahead of schedule to keep stock of everything.”
Golding said items like Velvetta, Ro-tel and avocados are some of the products kept in mass for dip making. He said he and employees will work to keep those things in stock.
“This year though, shrimp has been the biggest thing that’s selling,” Golding said. “Our produce is popular too. I’m seeing baby carrots, avocado and broccoli leaving fast.”
At Grocery Basket, manager and New Orleans Saints fan Wayne Moore, said the Super Bowl is one of the biggest grilling holidays of the year right along with the Fourth of July and Memorial Day.
“The wings, ribs and Boston butts will be the big thing this year,” Moore said. “We try to stock up on all types of snacks, especially the football stuff like dips and soft drinks.”
Of course, when it comes to Sunday, both grocers said meat will be in high demand.
“The ribs and the wings will be going,” Golding said.
For those taking participating in the consumption of alcoholic beverage, the authorities are urging those to drink responsibly.
Grenada Police Chief George Douglas said typically Grenada has done well during Super Bowls in the past and he would like to see it stay that way.
“We don’t want people out there drinking and driving, we want them to remain safe and have a good time,” Douglas said.
One of Douglas’ main concerns is party scenes remaining positive.
“It’s just a game, people need to remember that,” he concluded.
