Eau Claire (WQOW) – Despite the pandemic, NFL teams are returning to the field and football fans and sports bars are getting excited about the start of the season.

The Sports Page in downtown Eau Claire usually sees an uptick in customers around this time every year.

However, with COVID-19 impacting the rules and regulations of business capacity, the bar can only hope to see that same increase in business this fall.

As of Thursday though, business looked promising as several customers were already in attendance grabbing a drink, and seat in front of the big screens to kick off the season.

“I’m hoping that we get some people back. I mean, on Thursdays we usually have $2 bottles and it always works good with football coming on Thursdays. So, hopefully, we have some regulars back in and maybe some people that we haven’t seen before,” said Adam Ward, bartender at The Sports Page.

The Sports Page is continuing to ask its customers to practice social distancing and wear masks as they return for the football season.