The Advocate’s guide to Superbowl Spectating

Are you watching the big game this weekend? Of course you are, but the real question is where?

The storyline heading into the weekend is quite riveting, with Peyton Manning looking to go out in a blaze of glory (or at least tie his doofus little brother in Super Bowl rings), while the Panthers counter with Cam Newton in an attempt at their first championship since entering the NFL in 1995. Carolina has “wrecked the league” this season, but hasn’t gone up against a defense as dynamic as Denver’s yet, and are 1-3 all-time vs. the Broncos.

So, if you‘re planning on tuning in but haven’t secured your watching spot for Sunday, the Advocate is here to shine some light on the best sports bars PDX has to offer.

Just like pairing the perfect wine with the appropriate cheese, your taste in viewing should match the venue chosen on this important occasion. Sports bars are a different breed than other watering holes, typically choosing to put the emphasis on TVs and fandom rather than food and drink. The sports fan appreciates an ambience of cheering, clapping and yelling, as opposed to the softer tones of, say the stuffy Multnomah Whiskey Library.

Let’s start with the tried-and-true local joints, right in the backyard of campus.

Geno’s Grill is located at the corner of Northeast Kane Drive and Southeast Stark Street, and features a full fare of good ol’ American eats, such as Buffalo chicken dip, and serves breakfast on Sundays when they open at 9 a.m. Geno’s has a pretty standard selection of adult beverages, a competitively priced happy hour and open seating in the dining room surrounded by televisions.

Heading further down Stark will situate you in front of Skyland Pub, a staple in the East County. Skyland is a massive bar divided into two sections – the bar / restaurant area enveloped in televisions, and the gaming / gambling section with more TVs, darts, pool tables and video poker. The busy Troutdale bar invites you in with a heated wooden patio and loads of parking, then keeps you around with a rocking jukebox (which of course will be replaced by the booming sound of Levi Stadium), prompt table service, good food and strong drink. This place has sheer size on its side as well, easily able to accommodate over 100 hungry and thirsty fans.

The next bar on the list, and the closest to resemble a “dive,” is The Tanker, set on trendy Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard. It’s a saloon, with big port hole windows cut into the side, serving canned beer (among the traditional drafts), naughty bingo, ski-ball and, you guessed it, sporting events on the big screens. The Tanker ditches sophistication to bring simple elements back to the neighborhood tavern. With plenty of screens littered within its small confines, there’s not a bad seat in the house to take in the game.

On Deck Sports Bar and Grill lives life on the other side of the coin, resembling a restaurant you’d likely encounter on the Las Vegas strip. Located in Portland’s downtown Pearl District, On Deck compliments upscale decor with HD flat screens and sports memorabilia throughout the restaurant. Super Bowl 50 will pack the place, and for those wanting to lock down a seat, it will cost $25 for the reservation but that includes an appetizer and drink ticket. There will be prize giveaways during halftime and at the end of the game too.

The novelty winner has to go to The Station, an up-to-date restaurant that took residence in the original home of Northwestern Electric Co. on Northeast Alberta Street. Subtle reminders of the power station’s past are apparent throughout the taproom as skylights have replaced the original ventilation shafts, wood flooring covers the former generator pits, and the high voltage rack is still attached to the ceiling in the bar.

The Station also breaks the mold because it’s focused on an advanced menu, with eclectic offerings like “Crater Tots” – crawfish tail meat with Yukon gold potatoes and creole aïoli… intriguing, indeed. It can transform into the sports pub persona beyond the six large flat screens fixed on the walls, as two massive projector screens drop down to turn up the sportage amps.

Neon lights splash color all over the Bucket Brigade Sports Bar on Southeast Powell Boulevard, where cheap drinks and the video lottery are the name of the game. This cocktail lounge touts 17 televisions and “the coldest beer in town” to attract regular clients. They’re offering a package of Buffalo wings and a pitcher of beer throughout the game, price TBD.

For the any-ager, the staff pick consensus pick is The Station for its well executed environment and next-level fare, but for those with a proclivity for raucousness, there’s no match for Skyland.