Bars in Toronto are expecting an influx of customers as the Toronto Maple Leafs begin their second-round NHL playoff series against Florida on Tuesday. The city is buzzing with excitement after the Leafs clinched their first playoff-series victory in 19 years, with bar owners reporting a record-breaking sales for two weeks in a row. Christopher Murie, the owner of The Dizzy Pub, said the atmosphere on Saturday was “so crazy that I thought the roof was gonna blow off of this place”. In preparation for the game, he has ordered more food and beer for hockey fans.
Other bar owners, such as Igor Medvetsky, the owner of The Right Wing Sports Pub, say they have been turning away dozens of customers on game nights due to how busy their bars have been. Medvetsky said for Tuesday’s game, he has doubled his staff, added 15 more TVs in the bar, and ordered plenty of food and drinks. People who cannot find a seat at his bar can flow into one of the other five or six bars on the same street to watch the game, even though not all of them are sports bars.
Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment has announced that it is expanding its tailgate parties “to include an additional viewing zone, allowing more Maple Leafs fans to catch the excitement of both home and away games in Maple Leafs Square,” a viewing area in downtown Toronto. The organization also said that “fans will enjoy two additional big screens to witness the on-stage programming as well as all the game action”. However, Toronto police say there will be more officers patrolling the streets because of large crowds on game days and have urged people to make plans to travel safely to and from the games.
The excitement in Toronto is reminiscent of the 2019 Toronto Raptors’ NBA Championship win, according to Murie. He said that something has changed this year and there’s something in the air. The city is alive with the anticipation of a potential Stanley Cup win, and the bar owners are ready to cater to the passionate fans’ needs. The Leafs will host Game 1 and Thursday’s Game 2 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto before the series shifts to Florida.