Big Game a big deal in Las Vegas

Justin M. Bowen

Super Bowl fans gather at ESPN Zone on the Las Vegas Strip to watch the game Sunday as the Arizona Cardinals took on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Seating was limited to about 450 people.

By Brett Okamoto

Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009 | 11:48 p.m.

Betting on the Super Bowl

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Super Bowl fans gathered at Hilton Hotel and Casino Sunday to make bets and watch the game.

Local Steelers Fans Celebrate

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Steelers fans at PT's Pub on Eastern Avenue celebrate after Pittsburgh wins Super Bowl XLIII over the Arizona Cardinals 27-23.

Super Bowl in Las Vegas

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With all of the entertainment Las Vegas has to offer, it’s a rare day when a single event can steal the show. When it comes to Super Bowl Sunday, however, all bets are off.

The National Football League left its mark on Las Vegas this past weekend, with the Big Game nearly monopolizing every television screen across the valley -- and across the country. From local haunts to bars on the Strip known for trendy music and martinis, old-fashioned pigskin was the theme of the day.

The closely contested matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers seemed to draw everybody’s attention.

Although it was free to watch at many places, a hefty cover charge of up to $200 at any sampling of restaurants or bars promised plenty of food and an open bar.

And, while food and drinks are an important part of Super Bowl Sunday, in Las Vegas, wagering on the game can add an extra element of excitement.

“It was electrifying,” said John Harmon, one of the many people taking in the game at the sports book at Caesars Palace. Harmon said he has flown in from New Jersey the past nine years to take in the Super Bowl. “I often have people ask me why I go to Las Vegas when the game is somewhere else, and my response always is that being in this atmosphere is like being at the game.

“Money, alcohol and atmosphere. Once you get those three components together for the Super Bowl, it’s a changed environment.”

For the first time since it opened in 2001, ESPN Zone at New York-New York welcomed the general public. In past years, a single company would usually buy out the bar for the day but that didn’t happen this year. A seat there during Sunday’s game was a hot ticket and reservations sold out last week.

“I don’t come out to the Strip very often,” said 10-year Las Vegas resident Brian Thompson. “But it’s the Super Bowl; it’s a special occasion. I bet on some of the props -- it’s just a fun thing for me. I was here at 10 this morning waiting in line to get in (to ESPN Zone).”

Houston Texans running back Chris Brown was spotted in the crowd.

“The major difference (from previous years) is everybody is here because they are true sports fans and want to watch the game,” said ESPN Zone manager Robert Birrell. “This isn’t a company retreat; these are the guys watching these games week-in and week-out. The atmosphere is amazing.”

For game-watchers on the Strip, businesses and casinos offered a variety of ways to take it in. Restaurants up and down Las Vegas Boulevard hosted parties to celebrate and altered their menus to include items like chicken wings and chilidogs. Sports books overflowed with bystanders, including groups of Steelers fans twirling infamous Terrible Towels.

In addition to keeping bars and restaurants abuzz on a Sunday night, the Big Game seemed to offer a shot in the arm for Las Vegas sports books.

Jay Kornegay, executive director of the race and sports book at the Las Vegas Hilton, said the Super Bowl drew $92 million to sports books last year, and preliminary figures for Super Bowl 43 are indicating that this year will be similar.

“We don’t have all the numbers in yet, but early numbers indicate it should be similar to last year, which is a lot better than many had anticipated,” Kornegay said. “It says a lot about the event. Despite some things being bad around us, people are willing to forget that for awhile, put some money on the Super Bowl and enjoy the weekend.”

Off the Strip, bars and restaurants around the valley did their part to keep locals entertained. Decked out in black and gold, one Steelers-leaning bar -- PT’s Pub on Eastern Avenue -- brought a little bit of Pittsburgh to the desert.

“This place is great,” said Jim Drabeck, a Pittsburgh native who came to PT’s with his father. “Steelers fans are out here and that’s what makes it all.”

The Steelers defeated the Cardinals 27-23 with a final-minute touchdown by Santonio Holmes, who was selected the game’s MVP. This is the sixth Super Bowl win for the Steelers.

Sun reporter Garrett Downing contributed to this report.