The Best Places To Watch the Super Bowl in Leeds

The official NFL figures show that the United Kingdom’s interest in American football increased by almost 20 percent in total audience reach last year.

There’s a market for this unique blend of hard-hitting turbo-boost action and Stateside culture. Interest peaks when the postseason gets going, as favourite teams are in a win-or-bust scenario that appeals to the instinct of many hooked on the knockout sport’s thrill.

Leeds is a city that has the oval ball game at its heart, with thriving rugby union and rugby league teams. They also have Leeds Beckett Carnegie, which is one of the top three university American Football Teams outside of North America, and the Leeds Gryphons. Both sides play in the British Universities American Football League.

Leeds is a city built on sport, from cricket to soccer, but it is also growing its links with gridiron. Currently, the city has a three-year initiative with the NFL Foundation UK, the Leeds United Foundation, and the San Francisco 49ers to provide more access to educational and sporting pathways for young people through flag football. American football has embedded itself in this very traditional English location.

As for the game itself, the clock is ticking down to the big day. The drama steps up a notch in the knockout rounds following the regular season, and there have already been a few shocks and close games. NFL Super Bowl odds have a familiar feel to them now that the much-fancied Detroit Lions have been eliminated. The Kansas City Chiefs are in their fourth final in the last five years and are looking for a historic third consecutive victory. The Buffalo Bills beat them in the regular season and will have to do so again to stop Patrick Mahomes from strutting his stuff in New Orleans.

The sports bar brand Box already made its mark when England made it to the European Championship soccer final, and its venue is perfect for an event as big as the Super Bowl. The experience is designed to host the very best matchday. The company is the official sports bar partner of the NFL, so it appears an obvious choice for February 9. The screens are high definition, and the sound is geared to replicate being in the stadium itself. There is even free popcorn, games of beer pong, and shuffleboard to get into the spirit. It’s a concept that works with such a big night out.

Roxy’s is another bar located in the Headrow area of the city centre. It’s very much a bar and games venue, which is central to the whole Super Bowl vibe. While waiting for the match to start, there are some socially competitive leisure pursuits to enjoy. There’s ten-pin bowling, air hockey, darts, shuffleboard, and plenty more during the half-time interval in New Orleans. The venue has a history of putting on a show for the Vince Lombardi Trophy with special deals on pizzas and a ticket price entry that offers an obligatory can of Red Stripe. There are the essential Roxy Beast burgers that are just ripe for eating as the game goes deep into the fourth quarter.

Another popular destination among the student fraternity is the library, on the edge of Hyde Park and quite close to the main University campus. On Super Bowl evening, the kitchen stays open all night and has discounted student drinks. Several huge TVs will show the action and the interval music from Kendrick Lemar. To go with the Deep South location of the big game, there will be big bowls of chicken wings in classic buffalo, BBQ, spicy options, and even cauliflower wings for vegetarians.

Call Lane is in the city centre and has a reputation for producing electric nightlife. Brooklyn Bar brings a bit of New York to the north of England with its perfect ambiance for the Super Bowl. There will be free entry, very long hot dogs – one foot at the last measurement – and over a dozen big screens across two floors. There are plenty of Brooklyn beer and hip-hop-inspired cocktails to ensure that America is the spiritual Headquarters for the evening.

A recent survey placed Europe’s top 50 cities in terms of nightlife, and Leeds was comfortably in the top 30 for a place that never sleeps. This is a perfect venue for a Super Bowl Sunday that goes through to the small hours of Monday.