Tom Brady and company will face off against the Atlanta
Falcons at 6:30 p.m. in Houston, but Midcoast fans won’t have to look far for a place to watch the Patriots attempt their fifth Super Bowl win.
Smitty’s Cinema in Topsham has been airing Pats’ games on the big screen all season and will be reserving a minimum of three screens for Super Bowl LI.
Smith said that Smitty’s would have aired the Super Bowl even if the Patriots weren’t playing in the game, but their presence is a “big plus.”
Smith said the combination theater/restaurant hosted around 220 people for the AFC Championship two weekends ago. He expects at least 300 this weekend for the big game. One theater holds around 100 people.
“There is free admission, free popcorn … and we’re giving away Patriots T-shirts at halftime,” said Smith. “We’re taking reservations if people want to call ahead, too. This event will be good for all ages, and we expect a lot of families to attend.”
Byrnes Irish Pub in Brunswick will be hosting a party for the big game with specials and halftime giveaways.
“We’ll have a lot of pint specials going, free munchies at halftime and we’re giving away a Bud Light NFL cooler,” said general manager Patrick Byrnes. “The crowds have been good all year, and it’s been a pretty good football season, so I expect a good crowd on Sunday.”
Byrnes said he was almost at full capacity two years ago when the Pats beat the Seattle Seahawks.
“We had some Seahawks fans in here, and it was a little rough for them,” said Byrnes. “Great crowd, though. Whenever the Pats are in the Super Bowl the crowds are a little bigger.”
Byrnes’s Bath location will have some specials for the game as well.
Gritty McDuff ’s in Freeport will roll out a combination of their weekly specials from 11 a.m. Sunday until close at midnight, including free food for children under 12, among its specials.
“We’ve always tried to have specials for the Super Bowl, but with the Pats playing this one is extra special,” said manager Robert Hoye.
Tom Shelton, a Gritty’s Mug Club member who frequents the Freeport restaurant, said he is looking forward to being out of the house for the Super Bowl.
“I’m going to come in with some friends for happy hour, so it will be a good atmosphere to stay for the Pats,” said Shelton.
bgoodridge@timesrecord.com
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