Local bars anticipate New Year's Day crowds for the Sugar Bowl 

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- As the year comes to an end, the Fighting Irish season continues in the Sugar Bowl, New Year's Day, keeping local joints busy during a typically slow period.

"We're ready to watch this with everybody and watch this history happen as we go," said Annamarie Cartwright, general manager at Taphouse on the Edge.

The Fighting Irish take on the Georgia Bulldogs on New Year's Day in the Sugar Bowl, following their college football playoff victory against the Indiana Hoosiers.

"The electricity in South Bend was crazy," Cartwright said. "We were crazy. So I think that's just going to carry over."

Despite the holiday, regular South Bend haunts will be open and showing the game, like The Linebacker, O'Rourke's Public House, and Taphouse on the Edge.

"We're super excited here at Taphouse on the Edge to be involved in the history that Notre Dame is making with this season," Cartwright said. "I mean, it's been an awesome, killer season, i think they've surprised everyone."

Even with Notre Dame students home for winter break, spots like The Galley Sports Pub in Mishawaka expect to be full for the Sugar Bowl, drumming up business and foot traffic.

"It keeps us busy, a lot of the businesses around here too, it keeps them busy too," said Bartender Christy Slater. "Because after the holidays, it's really hard, you know, people dealing with everything. But this just keeps everything alive too, it's so nice."