(SYRACUSE, N.Y.) NCC News – Students across the campus of Syracuse University and the rest of Syracuse are brimming with anticipation for Saturday night’s Sweet 16 matchup with the Houston Cougars.
But for bars throughout the area, a dilemma remains. Because of New York State’s mandatory 11 pm curfew on bars and restaurants, bars will not be able to show the entire game, and will have to close around halftime.
The curfew has been a hotly debated issue around the state and especially in Albany. New York Republicans and restaurant owners have urged Governor Andrew Cuomo to either move the curfew back or eliminate it altogether.
(***TRACK 1***)
ON ONE OF THE GREATEST MARCH WEATHER DAYS THAT SYRACUSE HAS EVER SEEN, STUDENTS FLOODED OPEN AREAS OF CAMPUS. SOME ARE BRIMMING WITH ANTICIPATION ABOUT S-U’S UPCOMING BASKETBALL GAME AGAINST HOUSTON ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
(***SOT 1 Surya Vaidy, Sophomore***)
“I think we’re doing good. I’m surprised, so, you never know. But I’m hopeful.”
(***SOT 2 Sam Baylow, Freshman***)
“I think Syracuse has this in the bag. I think we win by 2. I think the score will be 71-69. Houston 69, Syracuse 71 and we will be moving on to the Elite Eight.”
(***TRACK 2***)
BUT IN DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE, BARS ARE STILL SUBJECT TO A MANDATORY 11 P-M CURFEW.
(***SOT Joe Jones***)
“I personally don’t see a huge difference between 10 and 1 A-M or 11 and 1 A-M only because now it’s been across the board announced and agreen on that private events were the reason for the large amount of spike from COVID.
(***TRACK 3***)
THIS IS JOE JONES. HE’S THE GENERAL MANAGER OF WOLFF’S BIERGARTEN, A BAR ON MONTGOMERY STREET. AND WHILE NEW YORK STATE HAS SAID THEY ARE REVIEWING THEIR CURFEW RULES, JONES SAYS EVERY DAY IT REMAINS MEANS LOST REVENUE
(***SOT Joe Jones***)
“That can only for me assume that we wouldn’t be doing 18. We’d probably be doing 22.”
(***STANDUP***)
NOW THE BAR CURFEW MEANS THAT MOST SU FANS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT TO THE BARS ON SATURDAY NIGHT, AND WILL PROBABLY BE WATCHING FROM HOME. BUT THEY WON’T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THIS. IN FACT THEY’LL LOOK MORE LIKE… THIS! AS THEY WATCH SU TAKE ON HOUSTON FROM INDIANAPOLIS. REPORTING FROM DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE, OSCAR OFFERMAN, N-C-C NEWS.
“I personally don’t see a huge difference between 10 and 1 A-M or 11 and 1 A-M only because now it’s been across the board announced and agreed on that private events were the reason for the large amount of spike from COVID,” said Jon Jones, General Manager of Wolff’s Biergarten Syracuse.
Jones went on to say that the curfew means lost revenue every night. “Before the pandemic, we were doing about $22,000 per night. Now we’re doing around $18,000. So it’s not a big drop. But I can only for me [sic] assume that we wouldn’t be doing 18. We’d probably be doing 22,” he said.
The Governor has said that he is considering these complaints and is formulating a plan.
