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Super Bowl 57 is rapidly approaching and, by now, most fans have already made their plans for how they’ll watch the big game.
Some die hard Kansas City and Philadelphia fans made the trip to Phoenix to watch live. Others will join friends or family at home, and still more will head out to the bars to watch with strangers.
But for some fans in South Philadelphia, their plans just got blown up. Those fans, however, are not Philadelphia Eagles fans, but rather Kansas City Chiefs fans.
Thank you to our friends from the Midwest. Go Chiefs pic.twitter.com/L3FFYaxYez
— Big Charlie's Saloon (@bigcharlies) February 10, 2023
You see, Big Charlie’s Saloon in South Philly is a Kansas City Chiefs bar. ABC6 Philadelphia reports that owner of the bar became of a fan of the team in 1970 when his father bet on the Chiefs and they won the Super Bowl.
Our family pic.twitter.com/a59qNMINBz
— Big Charlie's Saloon (@bigcharlies) February 7, 2023
Circa 1992 in Rome, Italy Chief/Eagle game @bigcharlies pic.twitter.com/Zarn8HBjIy
— Laura (@ls272516) February 4, 2023
New color in pic.twitter.com/GFfwuiQ7VP
— Big Charlie's Saloon (@bigcharlies) February 10, 2023
Now the bar hosts Kansas City fans regularly on NFL Sundays. But most NFL Sundays are not the Super Bowl. And most NFL Sunday don’t see the Chiefs squaring off with the Eagles.
South Philly Chiefs Bar To Close For Super Bowl
The bar had still planned to proceed as usual. It even sold tickets to its Super Bowl party. But now that party is off.
It saddens me to say we will not be hosting the Super Bowl this year, we sold tickets very fast and had to turn our patrons away. So we don’t want to do that, we can’t accommodate everyone so we will just close for the night. I’m sorry again. Go Chiefs!
— Big Charlie's Saloon (@bigcharlies) February 6, 2023
“It saddens me to say we will not be hosting the Super Bowl this year, we sold tickets very fast and had to turn our patrons away. So we don’t want to do that, we can’t accommodate everyone so we will just close for the night. I’m sorry again. Go Chiefs!,” the bar posted on Twitter.
While the tweet explains that the bar will close due to demand which exceeded what could be accommodated, many believe it was most likely due to safety concerns.
Chiefs fan from Philly here:
Just be honest… you’re closing because if the Chiefs win that place would be a hot zone. Did the Philly PD advise you to do this?I 100% Understand
— Bob Salley (@Bob_Salley) February 7, 2023
I’m an Eagles fan, but I had a great experience in your bar many years ago on a spontaneous visit while just cruising around S Philly. I just hope that your closing for the reason given, and not for fear what the neighbors might do if the Chiefs are successful in this game.
— Barry Scott Jr (@Scottjr4Barry) February 8, 2023
One fan even proposed raising money for private security for the the event.
I’ll start a gofundme (and contribute) to private security if it helps.
— knowyourroleandshutyourmouth! (@jca4198) February 6, 2023
But the bar did not respond. And doesn’t appear to be backing off its decision.