By By Andrew Scharff
This is one of the best times during the sports year. As we head into late October, all four major sports are either just starting or finishing up.
In October, sports fans have the baseball playoffs, along with the NFL and NHL starting up again and college and pro basketball seasons on the horizon. With all of this in mind, sports fans have to find a place where they can relax, watch a game and have a good meal. For starters, a good place to go watch a game is a restaurant.
Hooters on Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow is a great place to go and watch football. When you watch football, what else would anyone want besides good chicken wings and cold beer while they watch their favorite football team play?
“Hooters is known for its famous wings and beer specials,” part-time manager and Monday Night Football (MNF) bartender Rebecca said.
According to Rebecca, Hooters also has something that no other sport bars or hangouts has-the “Hooter girls”. During MNF, Hooters has its own halftime show. “Delightfully tacky and unrefined” is how Rebecca describes Hooters, as it is a great place to go to enjoy a good sporting event and a good meal.
Another place to go for a game and good food is Applebees. Applebees, which does not consider itself a sports bar, is still a great place to go for a meal, and with televisions located all around the restaurant, you don’t miss a minute of the action.
“We consider ourselves a family restaurant first,” Hicksville Applebees general manager Brian Perrone said. “A family restaurant with a bar in the middle and TV’s to watch sports”.
One thing Perrone emphasized is the environment at Applebees. It has local high school, college and pro sports apparel all around the wall. Autographed pictures, jerseys, pennants and memorabilia of local popular pro-sports players don the walls as well.
At the Hicksville location, the restaurant’s walls are covered with all kinds of signed sports apparel. It even has a section dedicated to our school, highlighted by an autographed jersey of former Pride football standout Wayne Chrebet.
Even though Perrone doesn’t consider Applebees a sports bar, with half-price appetizers late at night and a great environment to watch sports, it is definitely another place where sports fans can enjoy good food and a game.
Possibly the best sports bar/hangout in Nassau County has to be Champions, located in the Marriott right next to the Nassau Coliseum. Along with excellent service and great food, it gives the ideal sports fan chills.
“It is great for fans of all different interests,” manager Edward D’Souza said. “We made a great improvement from three years ago and continue to improve.”
The atmosphere is what makes Champions unique. Imagine eating and watching a game from a luxury box behind home plate in Yankee stadium. That is what the back wall at Champions resembles. For a moment, you actually think you are sitting in that box. Along the side walls, there is a plethora of signed jerseys, pictures and pennants.
“Our atmosphere is bright and with four big screen TV’s, we have everything a sports fan needs,” D’Souza said. “One unique thing we added is a sports score ticker on top of the bar. Our customers can come in and get any line or score they need.”
Champions could also be known as the New York Islanders road home. When the Islanders hit the road, their game is being watched on all the big screens, and the main dining room is shaped and configured like a hockey rink. Whenever the Islanders score, home or away, the Champions crowd knows it happens. Along with hockey, Champions also hosts NFL Sundays with all kinds of beer specials. With all different sports represented, Champions has something for every fan.
Another place to go is ESPN Zone in Times Square. It might be far from the University, but it’s worth the trip on the Long Island Rail Road and the 10-block walk. The Zone, where many ESPN shows are taped, is a sports fan’s Mecca.
“The ESPN Zone offers the best viewing experience with the addition of HDTV and a 16-foot square TV,” regional marketing manager Susan Abramson said.
With a total of 150 televisions in the building, there’s no possible way for anyone to miss a minute of the action.
The first floor is the Baseball Tonight Bar and Grill. On the second is the Bristol Suite, which hosts “The Dan Patrick Radio Show” whenever Patrick is in New York, as well as the TV show “The Sports Reporters” on Sunday mornings.
The next floor in the ESPN Zone is the Skybox, which Abramson calls, “incredible”. The Skybox is two rooms that can hold 75 people and overlooks the screening room for the best viewing experience possible.
Finally, on top of the Skybox is the ESPN sports arena, which is 10,000 square feet of sport-themed arcade games. With ESPN related baseball, soccer and racing games, it has everything for everyone.
“The ESPN Zone brings ESPN to life,” Abramson said.
Thus, no matter how big of a sports fan you are, there is always a place for you to relax and enjoy the game.
The ESPN Zone is one of many places to watch sports in NY. (Photo Courtesy of Students.juniata.edu)