Marc HortonB次元官网网址檚 annual Super Bowl parties are usually epic, day-long events, garnering so much attention, the host says, that he had to create a waitlist for those eager to enjoy the festivities in the future.

This yearB次元官网网址檚 soiree in Keswick, Ont., will be exclusive to Horton and his wife Alicia however, as wild winter spread of COVID-19 meant cancelling the big bash.

In years past, HortonB次元官网网址檚 hoopla B次元官网网址� nicknamed the B次元官网网址淪tuper BowlB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� included as many as 50 invitees.

The day would begin with a series of football games played at a nearby field, complete with a trophy presentation to the winning team, followed by a poker tournament at HortonB次元官网网址檚 house. Guests would then flop down in front of several TVB次元官网网址檚 and a championship-calibre food spread to watch the big game.

HortonB次元官网网址檚 parties marked a day of competition and greasy culinary indulgence like no other in the calendar year, but it was also an opportunity to catch up with old friends.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of them I went to high school with, and we see each other once a year at this event,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o itB次元官网网址檚 pretty depressing that it canB次元官网网址檛 happen this year.B次元官网网址�

Indoor gatherings are banned across much of the country in efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, which has accelerated in recent months.

Horton, whoB次元官网网址檒l be cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs over the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, is one of many football fans altering Super Bowl traditions as Canada deals with a dire second wave.

Some are moving their get-togethers to virtual platforms, while others will simply watch alone.

Catherine Sabiston, a kinesiology professor at the University of Toronto and a Canada Research Chair in physical activity and mental health, says it can be hard to infuse authenticity into an online event, and itB次元官网网址檚 normal to feel somethingB次元官网网址檚 missing when experiencing a big game solo.

Whether itB次元官网网址檚 watching sports at a bar with close friends or in a stadium with thousands of strangers, Sabiston says the B次元官网网址渟ense of collective identityB次元官网网址� we get from fandom has been largely lacking over the last 11 months.

B次元官网网址淪ports make you feel like youB次元官网网址檙e a member of something, and tied to that are emotions specific to togetherness,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淵ou think like others, you feel like others, thereB次元官网网址檚 others around you in that collective environment.

B次元官网网址淏ut the social element is gone, or at least very limited these days.B次元官网网址�

That feeling can hit harder now almost a year into the pandemic, Sabiston says, especially for an event like the Super Bowl. And that can ring true whether theyB次元官网网址檙e football fans or not.

Horton estimates 40 per cent of his usual guests donB次元官网网址檛 care about touchdowns or field goals, but they attend his shindigs for the social aspect, including friendly wagers on random outcomes from the coin flip to the final score.

The food, including Super Bowl staples like chili, nachos and chicken wings, is also a big draw.

Brenda Andress, an expert in sports and business leadership, says food has become an integral part of the Super Bowl by design, as the NFL has marketed its championship game in a way that mimics holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Bars and restaurants get on board too, she added. While closed to indoor dining, some establishments are tweaking their takeout menus to offer football-themed packages.

The Super Bowl itself is appealing for a number of reasons too, Andress says, including its strategic placement on the calendar B次元官网网址� in the dead of winter when nothing is going on, and when people are itching to escape cold-weather doldrums with a social affair.

The simplicity and excitement of a one-and-done title game, rather than a stretched-out series, entices many non-sports fans. And elaborate halftime shows, which this year will feature Canadian artist The Weeknd, draw in others.

B次元官网网址淭he NFL has created this niche where their entertainment rocket can accelerate,B次元官网网址� said Andress, whoB次元官网网址檚 also the president and founder of the SheIS organization aiming to bring more attention to womenB次元官网网址檚 sports.

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B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e done an excellent job building around the game B次元官网网址� the halftime show, tailgate parties, home parties, bar parties. TheyB次元官网网址檝e created a marketing machine that everybody can buy into.B次元官网网址�

While Andress says the collective social experience of sport fandom can be important for our mental health, a Super Bowl in lockdown might not be all bad.

It offers some an opportunity to start new game-day traditions by connecting with their own households in new ways.

B次元官网网址淚n some instances youB次元官网网址檙e creating a greater bond instead of just leaving the house to watch the game with other people,B次元官网网址� she said.

Horton, whoB次元官网网址檚 happy to hunker down with his wife and a few pounds of wings for an intimate game experience, is still disappointed to miss a crucial aspect of what Sunday night is supposed to be.

B次元官网网址淗alf the fun is experiencing it with a lot of people,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 that aspect of group camaraderie that just isnB次元官网网址檛 there this year.B次元官网网址�

Melissa Couto Zuber, The Canadian Press