It's the matchup America has been waiting for.
It's the Pats against the Hawks, East against West, the alleged deflaters against the gregarious haters, the ruling dynasty versus the reigning champions, the mastermind QB against the menacing D.
The storylines, if not the tradition, will have millions of people tuning in as the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks meet at 3:30 p.m. Sunday for Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
And judging by the television ratings of previous editions of the big game, it's probably not a matter of whether you'll watch it, but rather one of where.
Here are a few Santa Monica hotspots for the Super Bowl, although there are no guaranteed seats at some of them:
>> O'Brien's Irish Pub |2226 Wilshire Blvd., (310) 829-5303
The regulars at O'Brien's have already reserved their favorite tables for the Super Bowl. The pub isn't planning to offer any special discounts that day.
The Patriots must be involved.
"We know we're going to be full," owner Willy O'Sullivan said. "It's going to be a great Super Bowl with all the hype and everything. It's the (defending) champion versus arguably the best team of the era.
The game will be shown on flat-screen TVs throughout the pub, a New York Giants fan hangout that has become a haven for New England loyalists. And, for good measure, O'Sullivan said he knows a few Seahawks fans who will show up.
"With the cheating scandal," he said, "I don't think anybody is going to be ambivalent about who they want to win."
>> Sonny McLean's Irish Bar |2615 Wilshire Blvd., (310) 449-1811
This probably isn't your destination if you're a Seahawks fan.
Patriots partisans flock in droves to this Irish bar, whose profile picture on Facebook features a patron covering her face with a Tom Brady cutout.
Sonny McLean's has 23 flat-screen TVs and as many as 40 beers on tap.
"Even though we're a local neighborhood pub all year around, when it comes to Boston sports and the Patriots being in the Super Bowl we'll be a full on Boston pub that day and are expecting to be at capacity all day," owner Grant Woods said. "If it's anything like the last few playoff games, we'll have people lining up from 8 a.m. to get in as soon as we open at 9 a.m."
>> Del Frisco's Grille | 1551 Ocean Ave., (310) 395-7333
Need a side of ocean views with your Super Bowl?
Find one of the 60-inch screens at Del Frisco's Grille, which will have a variety of food and drink specials as well as contests and prize giveaways during the game.
Highlighted menu items include mini sliders, flatbreads, sandwiches and cheesesteak eggrolls. The restaurant is also offering $5 Santa Monica Brew Works drafts and $8 cocktails that day.
A pre-game brunch is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Reserved patio seating is available.
>> Q's Billiard Club |11835 Wilshire Blvd., (310) 477-7550
The game will be shown on Q's two projector screens, one on the main floor and the other on the second floor, as well as on 50-inch flat-screen TVs throughout the bar.
The audio from the Super Bowl broadcast will be on as well, according to manager Emily Hung, who said the bar has attracted Patriots and Seahawks fans throughout the season.
"We get a great crowd," she said.
The 350-person-capacity bar opens at 11:30 a.m.
>> The Daily Pint | 2310 Pico Blvd., (310) 450-7631
A complimentary barbecue and drink specials are on tap at the Daily Pint, which will stream the action on a 12-foot screen.
Festivities are slated to begin at 1 p.m.
>> Barney's Beanery |1351 3rd St., (310) 656-5777
Barney's is taking a limited number of reservations for Super Bowl viewing, according to its website. For more information, call (310) 237-8006.
>> Busby's West | 3110 Santa Monica Blvd.
>> Finn McCool's | 2702 Main St.
>> Rick's Tavern | 2907 Main St.
>> Ye Olde King's Head | 116 Santa Monica Blvd.
Contact Jeff Goodman by phone at 310-573-8351, via email at jeff@www.smdp.com or on Twitter.
