Look out NRL: Super Bowl Monday now biggest day on the Sydney hospitality calendar

Wings, beer, fries, hot dogs, and a huge sporting spectacle. What’s not to love? Former NRL player Willie Mason says rugby league can learn a lot from the US Super Bowl as it sells out in Sydney.

This year’s Super Bowl has a true Australian flavour – with our very own Jordan Mailata lining up for the Philadelphia Eagles. Picture: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

In two short years, a Monday morning in February has become the biggest day in the Sydney hospitality calendar as sports fans take the day off work and spent it at the pub to mark the Super Bowl.

Next week’s “grand final” of the American National Football League between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs and halftime show by Rihanna, is bigger than the NRL and AFL grand final at The Star’s 24/7 Sports Bar with bookings for their event sold out in October.

While many venues which are traditionally closed on Monday’s, like Eveleigh’s The Alex, have opened specifically for the occasion with many workers taking the day off to watch the event.

Like Halloween, thanks to the rise in social media, the Super Bowl has become a key date in the hospitality calendar.

The game, which is played on Sunday in the US but airs Monday in Sydney, has become the largest event in The Star’s 24/7 Sports Bar calendar, attracting over 1500 attendees and with tables being booked out in October.

Justin Horo and Willie Mason, at The Stars 24/7 Sports Bar ahead of the NFL Super Bowl. The two are hosting the festivities, which were sold out in October. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Despite the early morning start, the venue bring in marching bands and cheerleaders with a US themed food menu and have former NRL players Willie Mason and Justin Horo, from the YKTR Sports podcast, to hosting the celebrations.

Mason, who played for the Canterbury Bulldogs, said the NRL should look to the Super Bowl in when it comes to turning the game into a spectacle.

“I think Aussies love it because it’s more than just the sport. Yes, the game itself is going to be great, but it’s also the whole build-up and event that comes together like the halftime show, the American food and the entertainment that surrounds the game,” Mason said.

“The NRL should really adopt that the teams have a week off for Super Bowl to celebrate. It allows time for recovery but also time to do parades, building it right up and making it into a spectacle.”

From The Alex to The Collaroy, five Merivale venues have organised sports themed events, with bookings almost at capacity.

General Manager of The Alex, Sam George, said interest for the event has “skyrocketed this year” and they’ve had to increase the number of venues showing the game.

The Super bowl is now the biggest day on the calendar for many sports bars. Sydney Swans players Errol Gulden (left) and Logan McDonald enjoy a drink and chicken wings at The Alex in Alexandria. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“It has become a key event in the social calendar,” George said.

Swans midfielder player Errol Gulden believes the success of the sport is only a good thing for codes in Australia. “You get to go to the pub on a Monday, the half time show is always awesome and the more people that watch footy, the better,” Gulden said.

For hospitality group Solotel, who have venues like Parramatta’s Albion Hotel, the numbers of covers booked is nearly equal to Valentine’s Day.

Other venues are also getting on board with their first party this year, including Cargo Bar’s tailgate party. Forrester’s Hotel in Surry Hills introduced Super Bowl Mondays in 2021, and sold out in 2022.

Former Manly player Justin Horo has been a fan of NFL for a long time, but believes the success of Aussies in the sport has also increased the exposure.

“It’s really blown up in the last five years off the back of Jordan Mailata’s rise to fame in the NFL,” he said.

“He’s a Sydney boy — from Bankstown, used to play for the South Sydney Rabbitohs — so it’s great to have someone from home to cheer on and get behind,” he said.