Saipan Super Bowl Parties

By MARK RABAGO, Assistant Editor
SHAN SEMAN, BRAD E. RUSZALA, Reporters

AJ’S RESTAURANT AND BAR

A sophisticated crowd of fans called AJ’s Restaurant and Bar home for the Super Bowl, and they were treated with some of the best food and drinks around without leaving the comforts of their beachside bistro in Susupe.

Patrons took their time in line and received individual service with a smile throughout the big game, while enjoying Asahi and a Mexican-style buffet that blew the competition away.

“We’re happy. There are a lot of places doing a lot of things. We’ve got a good loyal crowd here. They know our food and they know our place so we’re happy. It’s a petty decent turnout considering all of the places doing things,” said proprietor John Jones.

Fans were glued to the twin big screen televisions that separated the Seahawks and Steelers from each other, and some found time to enjoy their favorite cigars at their tables and at the bar.

AQUA RESORT CLUB

About 20 in-house guests and residents of the nearby San Roque area were treated to a comfortable and intimate Super Bowl Party at Aqua Resort Club’s Vino Bar.

The no-frills but cozy event featured both breakfast and lunch buffets from Raraina Restaurant as well as 20 percent discount on drinks.

Aqua resort F&B director Manny Barcial said the entire setup was the Achague hotel’s way of treating its guests as well as repaying the local community, which has always patronized Aqua Resort.

FIESTA RESORT & SPA

Over 200 football fanatics filled Fiesta Resort & Spa’s Hibiscus Hall and whether they were rooting for eventual Super Bowl XL champion Pittsburgh Steelers or runner-up Seattle Seahawks, all were treated to quite a Super Bowl Party hosted by the Garapan landmark.

Aside from two giant projector screens, sumptuous brunch buffet, and raffles almost every commercial break, Fiesta Resort and Pacific Trading Co.’s Coors Light also scored a coup of sorts with its football throwing contest at halftime.

Five lucky ticket-holders were chosen to throw the pigskin through a 17-inch diameter target from distances of 20 yards, 15 yards, and 10 yards.

Haidee Navarro, Andy Orsini, John Castro, Mark Blackburn, and Ignacio Aldan all tried their hand—or in this case their arms—in throwing the football through the hole.

All missed terribly from 20 and 15 yards away, with the exception of Castro, who played quarterback in high school.

Blackburn and Aldan, however, upset Castro and made good in their 10-yard attempts and after five or so more agonizing tries to break the tie, 16-year-old Aldan came out the winner and took home $300 in cash.

The other big winner during the party was Kip Reynolds of SandCastle. The 41-year-old native of North Carolina won the grand prize raffle, which was a 32-inch flatscreen TV.

Fiesta Resort F&B assistant manager Tom Welch was overjoyed with the turnout and was equally ecstatic about the reception to their halftime football throwing competition.

PTC sales manager Glenn Hunter seconded Welch’s remarks and said his company will definitely sponsor the event and the accompanying halftime contest next year.

GODFATHER’S BAR

According to proprietor Scott Dottino, a crowd of an estimated 65 Pittsburgh and Seattle fans visited “the family” at Godfather’s Bar in Garapan to cheer on their favorite teams at one of their favorite weekend hangouts.

Folks from all walks of life were welcomed to pick their poison as well as with door prizes once they walked in the door. Soon after they were able to grab a seat in front of the big screen and order from the breakfast menu, while other still opted to man their stool at the council round to watch the wall-mounted screens.

While the action during the game was intense, scores of well-primed fans poured in to pay a visit to “the Don” after the confetti filled the air in Detroit, Michigan, as Godfather’s quickly became the post-game party of choice.

HAFADAI BEACH HOTEL

There were nearly 300 football fans settled into the Fiesta Hall by kickoff, and the staff was called in to remove some of the tables an hour later to allow for the gathering to swell close to 400 spectators.

The Bud-thirsty crowd was looking for their food and brew well in advance the scheduled opening time, forcing organizers to open the doors earlier than expected.

“The line was all the way out to the lobby at 7:30am, so we had to open the doors early so we didn’t have so many people out there waiting,” said event coordinator Jojo Camacho.

Aside from cramming into the biggest party on the island for Budweiser and Bud Light, the partygoers came to the Garapan haunt for a shot at winning the grand prize. When all the half-time festivities came to a close, Taula Peter of OPA brought home the 52-inch flat screen HDTV and 600-watt Pioneer home theater package after surviving multiple rounds in the chamber by reeling in 12 Bud Bowl Bucks.

While all of the finalists walked away with prizes, Adrian Moses and Jose Tudela were the closest to Peter with 10 and eight Bud Bowl Bucks, respectively.

HAMILTON’S

Saipan’s oldest watering hole saw 40-45 loud but good-natured gridiron enthusiasts soak up on all the homey feel of Hamilton’s Super Bowl Party sponsored by Miller Lite.

Event coordinator Rik Northen said almost all of the “partygoers” enjoyed the venue’s all-you-can-eat and all-you-can drink offerings. He said, without a doubt, Hamilton’s “has the best food on Saipan during Super Bowl Monday.”

Hamilton’s has been hosting Super Bowl Party’s since 2000 when the Baltimore Ravens beat the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXIV. Northen said nothing has changed much in terms of demographics for their Super Bowl parties—8 percent are regular customers, while the remaining 92 percent are made up of new customers.

JOETEN MOTORS

Employees and customers of Joeten Motors received a Super Bowl treat as well, as the company hosted a gathering in its showroom at San Jose.

Equipped with a projector, television set, a couple of couches, balloons, food and drinks, the Joeten Motors crew gathered to see the Steelers win their fifth title in franchise history.

“We wanted to have something for the employees and the customers that may be coming in,” said sales manager Matt Deets. “Originally, we were thinking that if we didn’t have something, nobody would show up to work so we decided to put up this projection screen, bring in some food and drinks, and let everybody have a good time.”

“So far, it’s going good. The employees seem to be enjoying it. We wanted to open it up to customers so if they come down and are looking to buying a car, they can still watch the game,” Deets added.

PACIFIC ISLANDS CLUB

An energetic crowd of over 130 fervent fans packed into Charley’s Cabaret as the Pacific Islands Club joined forces with Miller Lite and Pepsi to throw one of the most popular events on Saipan.

There was a large contingent from the Commonwealth Ports Authority on hand to enjoy the action as well as the motor heads from Team Rush’M, and all were happy to see Mark Toves win the grand prize at the half.

Pacific Trading Co. general manager Charles Cepeda was on hand to award Toves the roundtrip airfare and accommodations to Hawaii for this weekend’s Pro Bowl. Now all that the local baseball and softball player has to do is try to get the time off of work to take the trip.

Event planners were pleased to see that all of the people had good fun with a hearty breakfast buffet in the first half and snacks in the second—all the while getting their fill of frosty Miller Lite and Pepsi.

“We’re very happy to see our loyal fans coming back to PIC. We know that they have other options but we’re just really excited that they chose to spend Super Bowl Monday at PIC,” said event coordinator Catherine Chapman.

SAIPAN GRAND HOTEL

About 100 gridiron fans got their money’s worth at the Saipan Grand Hotel Super Bowl party.

While the Steelers and Seahawks were beating on each other, those at SGH were busy enjoying a feast that included all-you-can drink Miller Lite and Pepsi beverages.

Several in attendance were able to win cool raffle prizes such as overnight stays at the SGH and Pepsi chairs, but in the end, it was Seahawks fan Michael Jewell who took home the $550 grand prize.

Jewell, who is from Washington and is visiting Saipan for about three weeks, had a lot to be happy about despite his team losing the game.

“I was rooting for the Seahawks all the way but once it got to 21-10, I knew the game was over and the Steelers were going to win. [But] it’s a real good day. My name was called earlier and I won a chair at the very beginning and now I’m the $550 winner, so it’s been a great day for me,” he said.

WORLD RESORT

Over 100 screaming football faithful filled the Royal Taga Hall of the Saipan World Resort, taking advantage of all the available Coors Light and Pepsi beverages, as well as tasty grub that was as good as the Super Bowl action.

“Pacific Trading Co. has been a great help for us in terms of giving away promotion prizes,” said World Resort sports manager Glenn Policare. “We got Pepsi chairs, Coleman outdoor kitchen, and World Resort has kicked in some brunches, waterpark passes, and we’re giving away $500 cash after, so we’re all having a great time.”

When it was all said and done, it was 14-year-old Jay Reyes of Hopwood Junior High School who pocketed the $500 prize.