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The NFL Draft is like an early Christmas for professional football fans starved of anything related to the sport in the lackluster offseason (such as myself). The event kicks off later this week on Thursday, April 30 at 8 p.m., as only the first, and perhaps most exciting, round of the draft is broadcasted in primetime.The event continues on Friday night starting at 7 p.m. and Saturday starting at noon.
If you take the draft as seriously as my friends and me, you’ll have your mock draft filled out and be looking for a place to watch it—whether that is at a bar or at a house. Here are a few establishments with specials in the Metro Detroit area on Thursday night, and later we can discuss the essentials needed to host your own draft party.
The Sports Bar, 5510 Jackson Rd., Ann Arbor, gives you not one, but two happy hours. If you want to beat the rush and get there before the draft begins, the first happy hour goes from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. It offers $2.25 domestic bottles and $3.50 craft beers, as well as discounted glasses of wine. The late night happy hour begins at 10 p.m., which just so happens to overlap with the draft. During this time, there are $4 domestic drafts or $5 craft selections. Don’t worry, wine drinkers; your beverage of choice is still discounted. There is also a full menu.
J.S. Fields, 18490 Ford Rd., Dearborn, will be showing the draft on its numerous televisions. It is located right on the border of Dearborn and Detroit, and will likely be running specials on appetizers and drinks during the big event. The menu provides great options for starters to share with the table, such as Spinach and Artichoke Dip, Macho Nachos or Sweet Potato Fries, but also has several entrees to choose from.
Coach’s Corner Bar and Grill, 19170 Farmington Rd., Livonia, has all kinds of happenings on Thursday night. The draft will be on, with the audio on surround sound. The Tigers will also be on, which means Coach’s Corner will be running its game time specials: $3 shots, $0.50 wings, $1.50 Coney dogs, $1.99 sliders and $2 off nachos. The beer of the month is also $3.50 all day long. In addition to all of this, there is also trivia to play if you’re looking for something to keep you entertained between picks.
On the Dunes, 2055 Haggerty Rd., Commerce, has half off appetizers and house wine on Thursday nights, as well as $3 Three Olives Vodka cocktails, $3 tall Labatt drafts and $3 Stella pints. There are plenty of televisions in the establishment, so you won’t miss a minute of draft action, or Tigers baseball. Not to mention, a plethora of activities to keep you occupied during down time: indoor golf simulators, ping pong, Cornhole and volleyball leagues also begin this week. Great food is offered as well.
There are hundreds of other bars that will be showing the draft, but maybe you don’t want to deal with a big crowd. Perhaps just inviting a few friends over to watch it in the comfort of your home is more your style. Here are some quick tips:
- Have snacks out: Your company will appreciate not being starved during the duration of the first round. Go to a local grocery store such as Joe’s Produce in Livonia and get a party tray (fruit, meat, cheese, dip, chicken wings, etc.) to keep everyone happy. Joe’s has a lot to offer.
- Order take out: If you don’t have time to whip up a four course meal for your buddies, order take out and you won’t have to leave the house. For ideas, check out our previous articles on the matter: Sunday Football Take Out Tips and Super Sunday Takeout Options
- Have cold beers ready to go: Need I say more? Check out some of the spring beer choices in Michigan.
- Have plenty of seating available: Nobody enjoys sitting on the floor.
Most importantly, have fun with your pals. No matter what you do, tune in for the Lions selection at pick No. 23 of the first round. Whether you are a casual fan or a diehard; appreciate this three-day window of nothing but football talk! And by now you’ve probably realized that few people get as excited about the draft as me.
