NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The mayor’s office says there won’t be any extended bar hours or Broadway closures for fans watching Tuesday night’s Tennessee Titans game.
The city extended bar and restaurant hours when the team traveled to Denver to play the Broncos in the first game of the season. However, the mayor’s office says that decision was made due to the late kickoff time.
The city entered Phase Three of its reopening process on Oct. 1. Under Phase Three guidelines, restaurants and bars can operate at 50% capacity with social distancing in place and must close by 11 p.m.
The Titans are expected to play the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday night – a game that was rescheduled after the Titans reported more cases of COVID-19 this week. The team reported all negative tests Friday morning, which puts the Bills game on track to be played – barring no more positive cases.
Johnny Baker of Ole Smoky Distillery was hoping expanded hours Tuesday because it would mean more business. "It was like an early Christmas present when it came to allowing people to get out and not have to run them out by halftime or after the national anthem was over," he said.
Despite the uncertainty, Ole Smoky is planning an outdoor watch party for the team's Tuesday night matchup. He's put his staff on standby and is ensuring all the proper social distancing protocols are in place. "We’re hoping they’ll get up, throw that mask on and put that wallet in their pocket, and they have, you know, it’s been good," said Baker.
The team won't play at all if anyone else from the franchise tests positive for COVID-19. Stay with NewsChannel 5 for the very latest.
