The best places to watch the NFL in Durham, Ontario

The NFL season is approaching its biggest day out, and teams are now being eliminated from the postseason round of knockouts. The advent of the playoffs typically brings extra excitement as the favorites and the outsiders try to make it to the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9 for the showdown.

Last year, a record global audience of over 62 million tuned in to see the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers. A significant part of that worldwide viewership came from Canada. The country was second behind Mexico in the most eyeballs internationally, with an audience reach of just over 18 million. There are fans in Germany, the UK, China, Australia, Africa, and almost 200 countries, but there’s always a huge interest from the other two neighbors in North America.

Many Canadians, including many younger fans, follow the NFL and give it precedence over the Canadian Football League (CFL). A recent market research report found that over 30 percent of Canadians have a favorite NFL team, although there is a great deal of variation according to region.

For instance, Ontario is leaning significantly toward the Buffalo Bills. It should be remembered that Toronto had an arrangement to stage some Bills games in the NFL about 17 years ago, and it is a natural neighbor on the southern side. As defined by the NFL, a significant chunk of Ontario is within the Bills’ marketing region.

On the other side of the coin, Quebec tends to get drawn towards the Kansas City Chiefs. Detroit Lions are another favorite of Canadians, given that it has a river route border with Windsor. Still, the Lions’ superb season came to a shock ending at Ford Field against the Washington Commanders.

Intriguingly, the current NFL Super Bowl odds have the Bills and Chiefs fighting it out for the favorite tag. They can’t meet in the final as they are scheduled to play the AFC Championship game. It pits the four-time losers, the Bills, against the team that has appeared in four out of the last five Super Bowls. Buffalo beat the Chiefs in the regular season, but Kansas has defeated the Bills three times in the postseason in the previous five years.

One popular spot for watching American football is Durham in Ontario. The town has a strong sporting heritage, even going back to when cricket was played in the 1860s. Local bars reflect this, but an excellent gastropub called Bardown in the Whitby locality of Durham provides dedicated NFL coverage. It is situated  in Iroquois Park Sports Centre, which has several restaurants and facilities that reflect the town’s passion for hockey and outdoor life

Last year, the venue put on a big Super Bowl Bash on its 100-foot screen with over 20 other TVs for customers. There was even a prize giveaway, and it was advisable to reserve a seat or a table. There was some musical entertainment, which may be repeated for the 2025 version. Throughout the regular season, NFL Sunday has been featured with deals often tied in to the game, such as traditional wings and certain beers. It’s a good place to watch the game in sporting surroundings.

The catchily named Bollocks Pub is also in Whitby, and it enhances its sports-first vibe with an award-winning culinary experience of proper restaurant food. The kitchen menu offers stone-baked pizzas, stacked burgers, award-winning wings, artisanal fresh pasta, seasonal soups, appetizers, sides, desserts, and several weekly specials. There are $3 hot dogs, 23 different beers, and multiple large screens to view proceedings during games.

The largest municipality in the Durham region is Oshawa, and one of the most ambient, well-received sports bars is the Canadian Brewhouse. The venue’s motto is “our house is your house,” which is a good start. There are several high-definition screens to watch the action and an impressive menu that ranges from typical Super Bowl-style food to More Canadian-style dishes like poutines.

There have been themed nights where entry can be gained to win NHL tickets, reduced prices on Bud tankards, and even chances to win a flatscreen TV. Special offers on Super Bowl day from the past have included eight-inch pizzas and even the chance to win a replica Vince Lombardi trophy.

Although known more for its ice hockey heritage, Canada has always been a natural bedfellow for fans of the NFL. Plenty of locations will put on the Super Bowl despite the love for the NHL. Durham is a prime example of how a local community with a strong sporting heritage can look beyond the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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