By Staff
Jonathan Willis
Tim Parker stood staring over the meats at a local grocery store Thursday afternoon.
With Super Bowl Sunday just a few days away, Parker said he was looking for some items to grill and to snack on.
"I don't really even watch the (National Football League) much but we try to get a bunch together every year to watch the Super Bowl," he said.
Instead of walking out with a buggy load of ground beef or ribs Thursday, Parker said he would probably go back to the store later this weekend to stack up on supplies.
Millions of Americans will gather with family and friends Sunday to watch pro football's biggest game, which features the New England Patriots and New York Giants this year.
Tim Sage, owner of Five Star Pizza in downtown Russellville, said Super Bowl Sunday has become one of the year's biggest days for sales.
"Last year we almost doubled our average sales," Sage said. "It was about an 80 percent increase."
Sage said pizzas and hot wings have become increasingly more popular in recent years.
"We do a lot of party orders and boneless wings. We are even running a special where anyone who spends over $20 gets a free cheese bread if they ask for it."
Super Bowl Sunday is much different than other big game days, such as in Alabama, where college football is king.
"For some of the big games, like Alabama – Auburn, people have big tailgate parties that are pretty elaborate," Sage said. "Super Bowl days are big with pizza"
Local grocers also see a big gain on Super Bowl Sunday.
"Sales are up on any kind of snack," Big Star manager John Cook said. "We sell a lot of chips and drinks, things like that. We actually sell quite a bit of charcoal and meat also to people grilling out.
"There are some people who grill out no matter what the weather is like."
Most grocers look at Super Bowl Sunday as the "kick off" to better sales, Cook said.
"January is always a slow month following the holidays and things begin to pick up a little after the Super Bowl," he said.
For party planners, there doesn't appear to be a time better than another to start getting ready.
Cook said customers begin to take advantage of manufacturer's discounts on drinks and chips when the weekend arrives. Sage said pizza and wing sales are steady from about 4 to 9 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday.
"It's like getting an extra holiday," Sage said. "The day after Thanksgiving is a real good pizza day and so is the day of the Super Bowl."