Locals Revel In Game Day Madness

The Upper West Side was a sea of blue and white last night as New Yorkers turned out in droves to support their local team—the New York Giants—in the 42nd Super Bowl.

Bars along Broadway were crammed full of excited fans well in advance of kick-off, but as the game started, disappointed latecomers were left desperately pleading for admission with bouncers at the neighborhood’s most popular bars.

Will Russell, who had just been refused entry to Blondies Sports on 79th Street, frantically called his friends inside to try and get their attention, but with the crowd inside at fever pitch, they didn’t even hear their cell phones ringing.

“As a Giants fan, I’ve been so excited about this all day, and I’m just devastated I can’t get in to watch this game with my buddies,” Russell said. “I was running a little late, but I never dreamed that the bar would fill up so quickly. ... I’ll find another bar, but it just won’t be the same.”

Ben Betrand, a French student who recently moved to New York to finish his studies, also found that his local bar was filled to capacity.

“This is my first time to watch an American football game, but they are already full, and so I must go elsewhere or watch through the window,” he said.

In Lower Manhattan, Giants fans cheered from the rooftops shortly after the team secured a last-minute victory, while Brooklyn played host to a celebratory light show across the river.

On Columbia’s campus, the mood was no less exultant, although Super Bowl watchers in East Campus were rudely interrupted by a fire alarm midway through the first half. The call drew at least seven fire trucks, and the drone of the alarm thankfully silenced the Fox broadcasters for a spell. Although it is unclear how many residents were in EC at the time, only about 200 people appeared to have evacuated. The more passionate of these escaped to the International Affairs Building to catch the ongoing game.

For those lucky enough to get a bar-side spot, the game was an emotional roller coaster.

“I love it. It’s such a great way to bring the whole community together, and I love the New York Giants,” said Super Bowl spectator Bongani Slaie at The Heights Bar and Grill on Broadway.

“It’s just beautiful. Who could fail to enjoy themselves watching something this exciting, surrounded by so many happy people?” Slaie shouted over the thunderous din that accompanied the final few minutes of the game, before breaking off to join other Giants fans in celebration of their win.

As The Heights filled with cheering, however, a small group of Patriots fans sat dejectedly in a corner.

“We don’t have a TV at home, so we had to come out to watch the game, but now I wish we hadn’t bothered,” said a tearful Melissa Ivy.

“It’s always hard losing, but somehow it’s even worse today because we’re surrounded by fans of the winning team. It was a great game, but this was not the result we’d hoped for, and I just want to go home and forget all about it,” Ivy added.