Local pubs, restaurants gear up for college football showdown

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Restaurants and hotels in Boca Raton are hoping the excitement about Monday night's big college game will spill over into Palm Beach County.

The Wishing Well near Mizner Park is where the Notre Dame Club of Boca Raton watches games. Managers at the bar are hiring more staff to handle bigger crowds. Upwards of 70 people are expected to pack the place Monday.

The game will be a shot in the arm for the Irish bar, where Mondays are usually a slower night.

"We will have 10 people as oppose to two people working that night. We'll have extra help in the kitchen, extra waitresses and more bars setup," says Alana Cann, a manager at The Wishing Well.

Local hotel staff say with tourist season in full swing they're already busy with guests. But several expect to be full for the weekend through Tuesday in part because of fans staying in Boca Raton who making the drive to the stadium in Miami Gardens.