Churches, theaters make changes for Super Bowl
Rev. Dan Brandt, a lifelong Bears fan, is making sure his parishioners at Nativity of Our Lord Parish don't have to choose.
Brandt holds a regular 5 p.m. Mass at the South Side Catholic church, but this Sunday, that falls just a half-hour before the Super Bowl's start time. So he plans to cut a few corners -- omitting parts of the liturgy and forgoing his sermon.
''I'm going to say the fastest ... Mass you've ever been to,'' Brandt said. ''People will be in front of their TVs at home by kickoff time.''
The 36-year-old priest isn't the only one in Chicago making accommodations as the city prepares for Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts. Restaurants, theaters and other businesses have changed their schedules -- or thrown in the towel altogether -- in anticipation of the game.
Chicago's Feast restaurant, for example is shutting its doors early, in part to give staff the chance to see the game. A worker from Poland will use the down time to refurnish the restaurant floor, said manager Kelly Hunt.
''He's European, so he cares more about soccer than football,'' she said.
Some theaters lowered ticket prices for Sunday shows.
Tickets at the Goodman Theatre normally cost between $30-$50 on Sundays, but they'll go for half price on the day of the Super Bowl, said spokeswoman Denise Garrity.
Matinee performances that start in the afternoon will also be half price and should end early enough for fans to watch the game. ''It's a great deal,'' Garrity said. ''You can get culture and football the same day.''
Others are building Bowl references into their performances.
Directors of ''The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'' planned to write references to the Colts-Bears game into Sunday night's script, said Eileen LaCario, an executive with the company that manages the theater showing the musical. Characters may refer to the score as it changes throughout the night.
The Chicago-area Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra also planned to keep music lovers up to date on the game. During the 7:30 p.m. performance Sunday, the musical director will step up to the podium intermittently to let the crowd know the score.
The Archdiocese of Chicago didn't know how many churches might alter Mass schedules -- or speed them up, like Brandt plans to do. But spokeswoman Susan Burritt suggested some Catholics might be of more use to the Bears by attending church during Sunday's game. ''Praying for the Bears may be the best thing they can do to help,'' she said, laughing.
At Nativity of Our Lord, Brandt has invited parishioners to watch the game with him in the church hall. He also plans to blast the team fight song, ''Bear Down Chicago Bears,'' out an open church window throughout the day.
And every time the Bears score Sunday, he'll run up the steps to the belfry to ring the church bells.
On the Net:
Nativity of Our Lord Parish: http://www.nativitybridgeport.org/
League of Chicago Theaters: http://www.chicagoplays.com/