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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Sports Bars and restaurants in South Florida say they’ll come out winners no matter who wins Saturday’s fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
At the Sports Grill in Kendall, preparations are already underway for a big night.
“We’ll probably sell anywhere between 13,000 and 16,000 chicken wings,” said general manager Daniel Diaz. “I expect it to be standing room only, probably record breaking. It’s going to be insane.”
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Six of the seven Sports Grills in South Florida are showing the highly anticipated fight, and they’re expecting huge crowds. They are preselling tables and charging a cover.
“If you order the fight at home, I believe it’s $100. If it’s a business they charge you by your occupancy so for us it costs quite a bit more,” said Diaz, adding, “That’s part of the reason we’re charging the cover and the tables is to kind of recoup that initial charge that’s so much more for us.”
Other sports bars are following a similar plan. Carolina Ale House in Doral is also charging a cover and expecting about 600 people.
“The phone has been ringing off the hook today and this past week because we’re expecting to be very busy,” said Natalia Bueno with the restaurant. “We’re busy; our staff is busy.”
Still, they’re happy for the extra work. Some sports bars say they’ve taken a hit this year.
“We’ve definitely seen a falloff in business from the playoffs and the Heat not being in the playoffs,” said Diaz.
“We’re a sports bar we’re all about sports. Our business is surrounded by sports. The Miami Heat didn’t make it to the playoffs, so that hurt us a little bit but with the fight I think it should be good for now,” said Bueno.
South Florida is definitely excited.
“This is the biggest fight ever in boxing -probably the biggest fight ever,” said Juan Vazquez.
“Everywhere you go it’s all about the fight all about the fight all about the fight,” added Armstrong Santiago.
