As you’re enjoying sleeping in late on a cozy fall Sunday morning, you’re startled as your alarm goes off. Usually, you would smack the buzzing black box on your nightstand, roll back over, pull the sheets a little tighter, and go back to sleep. But not today. Today is different. Because it’s football season. So instead, you jump out of bed, landing on the cozy, lightly stained rug under your feet, and head straight to the closet. As you open the creaky wooden doors, you are met with an astounding array of NFL jerseys. You spot your favorite, snatch it off the practically broken hanger, and throw it on. The stairs creak with each step as you speed down the stairs, met by your family, ready for the gameday ahead. Yet there’s one question. Where will you go to watch the games?

As a football fan, going out to watch your favorite team is one of the most exciting times of the year and a day many families look forward to for the entire week. Yet, it’s finding your “spot” that can sometimes be difficult. And by spot, we mean the restaurant where you’ll not only be able to celebrate your team’s victories, but also the amazing gameday experience. One spot may have good food, but it doesn’t play all the games you would like to watch. Maybe it’s the other way around.

An issue for many football fans in the United States is their TV provider not playing their favorite team’s game. This occurs due to the NFL’s broadcast rules, which determine which games are shown in each local market. There is a solution to this, but it doesn’t come without a cost. By purchasing the NFL’s Sunday Ticket subscription service, families can watch the games from the comfort of their home. Yet, the subscription service is a whopping $276 for the year (for new subscribers) and $480 (for returning subscribers). A price that not many families can afford or even want to spend the money on, forcing many to go out to local sports restaurants to watch the games. 

So, within the Naperville area, we are going to take a look at three of the most popular spots to watch every pass, run, and touchdown, and grade them on a system we created, helping you decide where to bring the family, hang out with your friends, or even take a solo trip next gameday. 

The grading system we developed consists of three different topics, the first being customer service. This relates to everything from the interactions with the customers (how they are greeted, dealing with inquiries, etc). For example, if I ask to have a certain game on a TV in my line of view, will they accommodate me? Is the overall experience with the staff friendly and helpful? If so, this is a spot we will want to return to.

The atmosphere of a restaurant is also a very important factor that goes beyond the simple action of “having a TV on.” It encompasses the collective energy of the crowd and staff in the restaurant. Do people seem just as excited for gameday as you? Do the TVs bring the roar of the stadium to the bar? Are TVs high definition and placed strategically? Having a clean, high-energy environment makes for a perfect gameday spot.

Lastly, the food during your game-time experience is very important and focuses on the affordability, quality, versatility, and taste of the menu. Does my food come out in a timely manner? Is my order correct? Am I dropping my entire paycheck on one meal? The food we will focus on at each of our restaurants is wings. 

Hot and ready wings from Pub 56. (Mac Law)

If you take a short trip down Butterfield Road, you will arrive at Pub 56. Dim lights allow the TVs to shine even brighter within this atmospheric Pub. Upon entering, we were greeted with a smile, and sat immediately with a great view of the game all around us. As we took a look at the very appealingly designed menu, we came to find out they had a diverse selection of burgers, wings, salads, and even pizza. Our server was very attentive during our time browsing, checking in multiple times to make sure we were doing okay. 

In terms of food, the wings were a slam dunk. They came out quickly, steaming hot, and tasted delicious. The meat slid right off the bone, making the eating experience easy and enjoyable. They were $9.00 for 6 wings. 

The restaurant was packed with fans, repping jerseys of their favorite team. The sound system was loud, allowing us to hear all the action from anywhere in the very clean and pristine establishment. The only con about Pub 56 for us would be the size. Out of the three restaurants we visited, this was by far the smallest and had the least amount of TVs. Although on the bright side, due to the smaller size of Pub 56, the view of the screens was not obstructed

To conclude, taking every aspect into consideration, we decided that PUB 56 was the greatest pub near us to visit for your next sports night out. With affordably priced, delicious food and a small, cozy feel with perfect views of the game all around you, there’s no other place we would go to watch the next big game. 

For your next big night out, grab your friends and head to Pub 56. As your favorite team takes the screen, you can always count on getting great food and a fantastic atmosphere. Be sure to order a round of wings for us!