Street closures negatively impacting local businesses during SF's Super Bowl festivities
SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) - With Super Bowl just days away, fans from around the country are descending on the Bay Area and in particular, San Francisco.
Super Bowl City is definitely attracting lots of people and along with it, a lot of security. There was live music Wednesday night at a free concert featuring local talent.
Singer songwriter Matt Nathanson is based in San Francisco. He says he is one of only two local artists set to perform on the Super Bowl City stage.
The headliner for this night's concert says he's not a big football fan, but says he's a big fan of San Francisco--his adopted city.
"I feel like San Francisco is throwing a big dinner party and the whole world is coming. And I'm at the door taking the coats, " said Matt Nathanson.
At the Hotel Vitale, its proximity to Super Bowl City is a big attraction.
The general manager tells KTVU a special $10,000 package for three nights and two tickets to Saturday's Rolling Stone Magazine party has sold out, but a handful of rooms starting at $1,200 a night are still available.
"We have had a lot of early arrivals. You can tell they're all dressed up for the event. They're going right over here to Super Bowl City so we're really excited to have them have a fabulous stay in our hotel," said Carole Manning-Kim with Hotel Vitale.
A family from Rhode Island booked their trip to San Francisco when they thought their beloved team the New England Patriots were going to make it to the Super Bowl.
Tom Imondi says this is his 15th. He's here with his wife and three daughters.
"We went last year in Arizona. We had a great time. Decided to do the same thing this year," said Imondi.
Security is highly visible. Police are in swat gear. Some officers are with bomb sniffing dogs. Other officers not so visible---in plainclothes.
San Francisco police are joined by state and federal law enforcement.
At Boulevard Restaurant, the owner says Super Bowl City and all the surrounding street closures have hurt business.
Nancy Oakes says says her regular patrons have stayed away.
She says she is booked this Friday and Saturday, but it won't recoup her losses.
"This is actually the worst business we've done since 9-11," said Oakes, the owner-chef of Boulevard.
Outside the restaurant , a couple from North Carolina tells KTVU their daughter is engaged to Panthers linebacker AJ Klein.
When asked if they've been to Super Bowl City and the NFL Experience, Aldo and Rosemarie Rovito replied,
"Yes, we have. We were here early this morning. We were probably the first ones here this morning."
There is live entertainment Super Bowl City every day through Sunday. Businesses say they expect things to get busier as the weekend nears.