REAL SPORTS BAR & GRILL NAMED "NORTH AMERICA'S BEST SPORTS BAR" BY ESPN

Lone Canadian representative tops list of eight finalists

TORONTO, Sept. 3 /CNW/ - The votes are in and Real Sports Bar & Grill in Toronto has been crowned "North America's Best Sports Bar" by ESPN Mobile. The announcement comes after two weeks of fan voting via ESPN Mobile. A total of eight finalists, including nominees from Green Bay, Detroit, South Bend and Santa Monica among others, were selected by ESPN from hundreds of submissions. Real Sports Bar & Grill was the only finalist not based in the United States.

"This is fantastic! We opened Real Sports with the goal of being the best sports bar anywhere and now its humbling to know that our patrons have made it official," said Michael Doyle, vice-president food & beverage for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). "We were honoured to be the lone Canadian representative among the finalists and to be recognized as the best in North America is amazing."

Located at Maple Leaf Square and adjacent to Air Canada Centre, Real Sports Bar & Grill is the most authentic sports experience you can get outside the rink, court and playing field.

"Our goal was to create a one of a kind experience for sports fans. Whether it's providing great service, quality food, an electric atmosphere for a Leafs, Raptors or Toronto FC game or having a thousand fans watching the World Cup or UFC on our huge HD screen," said Bob Hunter, executive vice-president venues and entertainment for MLSE. "We see Real Sports Bar & Grill as an extension of Air Canada Centre and with our Real Sports Apparel Store right next door this is the place to be for die-hard sports fans."

Offering an extensive menu with fan favourites that include Cheeseburger Spring Rolls, Quesadilla Sliders and 12 types of burgers to traditional sports bar fare and 112 taps featuring more than 29 brands of beer, the 25,000 square-foot, 1,000-seat sports bar is also home to 199 High -Definition televisions and a two-storey HD screen, the largest indoor restaurant screen in North America.

The truly daring can attempt to conquer Real Sports Bar & Grill's Hail Mary - a 67 oz. Canadian AAA grill roasted ribeye accompanied by one pound of house cut fries and a pound of coleslaw. Anyone finishing the entire Hail Mary in under an hour will be enshrined in the Real Sports Hall of Fame. For more information visit www.realsports.ca/bargrill.html

For further information: Rajani Kamath, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, [phone]; Jamie Deans, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, [phone]; Melanie Greco, Get Ink Public Relations, [phone]