Cardinals’ strong start to season bringing benefits for Valley bars

PHOENIX – A fast start to the NFL football season for the Arizona Cardinals has not only been good for fans, but good for bars in the Valley as well.

Many bars and restaurants offering patrons a chance to watch the Arizona Cardinals continue the team’s winning ways are seeing a boost in attendance.

Even bars that are not considered traditional sports or Cardinals bars are seeing an increase, such as Four Peaks Brewing Company in Tempe, which General Manager Steve Lynch said is usually popular among Minnesota Vikings fans.

“We’ve been a Vikings bar here at the 8th Street location through and through, but with this season, with the NFL, with the Cardinals and the Super Bowl and everything else going on, the (Cardinals) fans are starting to come out of the woodwork,” said Lynch.

The excitement over the Cardinals’ success this season has not only increased attendance at bars and restaurants, but Lynch said he has seen customers stay for longer periods.

“It makes weekends just that must more awesome for the staff, for the customers,” he said. “We have a lot of televisions in here, we’re not designated a sports bar by any means but we definitely have the volume on for those games now and people come in, people come in early, they’re interested and they hang out for the whole duration of the game instead of leaving at halftime.”

The Cardinals will attempt to stretch their season record to 7-1 against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Nov. 2.