The Super Bowl is days away from kicking off and some British Columbians are changing their big game traditions. A survey conducted by BC Hydro found more than a quarter of residents plan to tune in on game day—and for nearly half, it is the only football matchup they will watch all season. The data also shows that almost one in five expects to attend a Super Bowl party, but just four per cent plan to host. The reasons range from the work involved in preparing the food to the social pressure of hosting to the potential costs. The survey also found one-third of British Columbians believe hosting a Super Bowl party significantly increases household energy consumption. “Air fryers, toaster ovens and slow cookers, they use about 75 per cent less electricity,” said Susie Rieder, a BC Hydro spokesperson. “So that’s a really good option.” Many British Columbians are also planning on watching the game in a bar or restaurant. The BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association (BCRFA) expects many establishments to triple their typical Sunday revenue, especially with the Seattle Seahawks taking part in the game. Ian Tostenson, the BCRFA president and CEO, explained to CTV News that January and February are typically slow months for the industry, and having a sudden revenue spike is needed. “We’re not making a lot of money because our cost of labor our cost of food is so high,” said Tostenson. “It’s a tough business right now” He went on to say that the restaurant community is resilient and will be happy to see businesses across the province filled this weekend. Tostenson also provided data of the most popular dishes this weekend. Based on a calculation for the United States proportioned to British Columbia, the BCRFA estimate 19 million chicken wings will be sold in the province, with 700,000 avocados being eaten. As for take out, the BCRFA expects upwards of 700,000 orders on Sunday. The New England Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX on TSN, CTV, and RDS at 3 p.m. PST.
