‘Quite a party’ happening in Sydney, N.S. thanks to Cape Breton Eagles playoff run
Global News
A record 4,922 fans were in attendance for both games at Centre 200 in Sydney for the Cape Breton Eagles in the second round of the QMJHL playoffs.
Cape Breton’s renowned Bras D’or Lakes aren’t the only spot on the island where residents are spotting high-flying eagles as of late.
Centre 200 in Sydney, N.S., has recently played host to back-to-back sell-out crowds as the Cape Breton Eagles of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) are on the verge of advancing to the league’s semifinal series for the first time since 2007.
Barkley Haddad, owner of the Steel City Sports Bar & Steakhouse in the downtown core, said the excitement is in the air — and business is booming as a result.
“We’ve got people calling for reservations already. It turns out to be quite a party,” he said, adding he’s in the process of installing a 10-foot television screen in anticipation of Wednesday night’s game. “The city’s abuzz.”
Haddad, who’s operated the family-owned restaurant for about 40 years, began hosting watch parties for the Eagles’ away playoff games at the start of the post-season. As the team continues gaining momentum on the ice, so does the turnout for his restaurant’s fan events.
“It’s a real nice shot to the economy. You get a lot of people out. Everyone’s in a good mood, especially when the boys are winning,” he said, mentioning that sell-out crowds at Centre 200 have also resulted in Steel City reaching capacity on game day due to its close proximity to the arena.
“It just adds up to a really nice picture for everybody. We’re not an overly big city, (so when) you get this product on the ice and how well they’re playing … it’s been nice to see.”
The first two games of the best-of-seven series were held in Sydney, where a record 4,922 fans were in attendance for both games.
