By Valerie Yu, Special to the Independent
With the London Olympic Games set to start today, July 27, the “Go Team U.S.A!” chants will be erupting all across the nation. Despite such anticipation, few Laguna Beach businesses seem intent on grabbing any Olympic momentum.
Traditional social venues that routinely cater to sports-loving crowds, from the White House, Mozambique, Asada, and Pacific Edge Hotel’s Deck restaurant, have little planned. As of now, the only constant for many may be viewings the Games from big screens over happy hour morsels and cocktail glasses, according to interviews with managers of local watering holes.
“We’re not going to be doing anything special at this time for the Olympics besides playing it at the bar,” said Sarah Lawson, Hotel Laguna’s marketing and sales director.
The Saloon owner Michael Byrne echoed that sentiment. “We’ll have the Olympics on all the time for sure,” he said. However, in addition, he mentioned the possibility of an Olympic drink special coming soon.
So goes the trend this summer. Those hoping to watch the competitions in a social setting will have to be content with tape-delayed excerpts at their favorite happy hour hang-outs.
Real-time broadcasts of the Games in Pacific Standard Time will have to be followed from home. For these Games, NBC will be streaming all 32 Olympic sports live at nbcolympics.com.
