Even though the Arizona Cardinals fell one game short of making Super Bowl 50 truly local, five Sedona-area establishments still have quite the celebration planned for 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7.
Although none of them guarantee call-in reservations, and all prices are before tax, fans of the Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos or even just the Super Bowl commercials can make plans for the big game at one of these places to watch:
Cliff Castle Casino Hotel Football Madness: 555 Middle Verde Road, Camp Verde, 567-7913 — A stadium buffet, cash prizes and a swarm of other contests and drawings await the first 168 people who purchase tickets for Cliff Castle’s Football Madness Tailgate Party, located in its Dragonfly Lounge on Feb. 7.
Tickets for lounge seating can be purchased at the cashier’s window and are limited to the first 128 people who redeem their ticket for a wristband at the lounge entrance when doors open at 3 p.m. Otherwise, it will be standing room only at the bars.
Guests who attended every Monday night game at the casino will receive free entry into the tailgate with a fully completed punch card. For all others, admission is $20 each, which includes one raffle ticket for any and all chances at games and giveaways.
Admission also includes unlimited access to the tailgate buffet, at which there is a cheese tray, vegetable platter, hot wings, hot dogs, beef taquitos and chips and salsa. Budweiser draft products can wash that all down for $2 each during game time. Budweiser will also give away promotional items.
Drawings will be held during the game, which will play on no less than seven big-screen televisions, including a 12-foot HDTV screen, for t-shirts, hats and a flat-screen TV.
Drawings will also be held for the football toss and punch board games. One raffle ticket will be selected in each quarter for guests to participate in the football toss. Each participant who hits the back of the basket with the ball in one of three tosses will be awarded Castle Cash prizes of $30 on the first toss, $20 on the second toss and $10 on the final toss.
Five tickets will also be selected in each quarter for guests to participate in the punch board game. Participants search for 10 Castle Cash prizes of $25 and five each worth $100 and $50 in the punch board, all of which also include Super Bowl memorabilia such as T-shirts and hats.
PJ’s Village Pub and Sports Lounge: 40 W. Cortez Drive, Village of Oak Creek, 284-2250 — Another packed house is expected at PJ’s hours before kickoff on Super Bowl Sunday.
More than 200 people are expected to fill all the parking lots around PJ’s beginning at 11 a.m. Feb. 7 to watch the Super Bowl on eight big-screen TVs.
“We’ll have beer [and] drink specials,” said Nicole Lehnartz, manager of PJ’s. “We’ll have a Budweiser vendor who comes in and gives out free goods. It’ll be happy hour prices all day long.”
Four small plate specials representing food from both teams’ regions have again been prepared, which Lehnartz expects to sell from $7 each.
“People are so friendly here, sometimes parties end up sitting together, especially if they are fans of the same team,” Lehnartz said. “We always advise guests to get here early, though, because once their seat’s gone, it’s gone for the entire game.”
T. Carl’s Restaurant and 10th Hole Bar and Lounge, Poco Diablo Resort: 1752 State Route 179, 282-7333 — Secret game day specials await those who imbibe Feb. 7 at Poco Diablo Resort.
Bring family and even canine friends to enjoy a Sedona Sunrise Sandwich for breakfast on the covered patio, as T. Carl’s offers a separate Canine Cuisine menu year-round beginning at 7 a.m. Vegetarians can make it an early lunch and enjoy fresh herb alfredo pasta beginning at 11 a.m. in the restaurant, which seats 130 people comfortably.
Then, at 2 p.m., belly up to the bar and lounge for $3 Bud Light draft and happy hour specials, which begin at 3 p.m. and run through 6 p.m. A solid 50 people, for Super Bowl 49, enjoyed the game on four 40-inch flat-screen TVs as well as a huge screen projector last year. At halftime, $15 will grant access to the all-you-can-eat taco bar.
Olde Sedona Bar and Grill: 1405 W. SR 89A, 282-5670 — Olde Sedona’s bar opens at 11 a.m. to show the action on eight flat-screen TVs, including two 60-inch displays showing the game, one in the dining room.
Show up by 3:30 p.m., though, as during last year’s Super Bowl 49, the whole restaurant was standing-room-only by then. Owner Michael Smith estimates Olde Sedona hit its capacity of 154 people by the 4 p.m. kickoff.
“We always do,” he said. “People flow over into the dining room, so we put a TV in there as well.”
Mooney’s Irish Pub: Hillside Shopping Center, 671 SR 179, 282-2331 — Show up early Sunday to get one of the 40 seats in front of the two 48-inch flat-screen TVs at Mooney’s, which will serve free individually-sliced portions off a 6-foot sub during the game — while it lasts, according to manager Ken Saxe.
Choose from six different drink specials during the game, including $1 off a beer and a cocktail as well as a special Irish whiskey shot.
For local takeout specials, please see the Friday, Feb. 5, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.
