Route 1, Walpole Businesses Readying for AFC Game Sunday

As everyone living under a rock will tell you, the AFC Championship game is at Gillette on Sunday, and businesses along Route 1 are getting ready.

British Beer Company general manager in Walpole Nancy Cowles said that the BBC’s location on Route 1 is perfect for pregame activities, because the traffic to the game doesn’t start at that area of the road.

“It’s not bad traffic wise, typically traffic starts by the 95 exit there, we’re in that area right before it starts to get bad,” she said. “But typically we end up with a pretty full bar.”

She added that post season is always a hectic time at the BBC, and beer and food specials go out very quick.

"We get far more busy in post season," she said. "Any sporting event when it's a chamoponship we get pretty packed."

Cowles said she’s a huge fan and will be rooting for New England all the way, thinks they need to step up their game for Sunday.

“They need to play better than they did last week if they want to win this week,” she said.

She added she's a season ticket holder for home games at Gillette.

Owner and operator of the Lafayette House in Foxborough Ron Young said he’s already received a slew of reservations and is looking forward to a very busy game day.

“Our phones have been ringing off the hook,” he said. “Last weekend [versus the Texans] it was a little warmer out, people were saying ‘Oh, it’s 50 degrees out in January, I can’t believe this weather.’ This weekend, they’re going to say ‘It’s not 50 degrees out, can you believe this weather?’”

 Young added that the later start time of the game compared to last weekend will make everybody busy along the Route 1 corridor because there will be less people tailgating.

Dan Barros, a manager at the CBS Scene at Patriots Place said they are gearing up for an extremely heavy crowd.

“We’re actually expecting, since it’s probably the biggest game of the year, we’ll have the biggest turnout of the year… All of our employees, 135, are on for the day. It’s all hands on deck.”

John Lightizer of the Red Rooster in Wrentham said he expects good business as well, even as far down Route 1 in Wrentham.

“Football season in general is good for business,” he said. “This week should be pretty good, everyone’s going to be coming before the game and we’ll definitely some late night traffic after.”

Foxborough hotels are also looking at great business this Sunday. America’s Best Value Inn and the Gaard Hotel on Route 1 are both completely booked. As of Friday, the Renaissance Boston Patriot Place Hotel still had a few rooms available, starting at about $800 a pop.

Lightizer said he expects a serious win for New England on Sunday.

“38 to 17,” he said. “I don’t see them having any problem. I’m already booking flights for the Super Bowl.”

Young said he’s a little more tentative, and is seriously worried about fumbles, interceptions and turnovers.

“There’s n NFL statistic that states if you have three of them the likelihood of winning drops so low it’s unbelievable,” he said. “They just have to control the ball… During the Raven game last week, everyone in that game was all over that ball trying to create a fumble.”

Barros said he ‘s more than confident the Scene will host another Super Bowl party.

“I have full faith in the Pats, they’ve been in this situation before,” he said. “The team’s really focused, I think we’ll be able to take it to the Super Bowl.”