As the Packers and Cowboys gear up for tonight's big game, fans who do not have access to the NFL Network will be looking for a place to enjoy the game.

NFL Network is a channel that is currently not shown on Time Warner Cable because it is an independently-owned channel. Without access to the NFL Network, fans without a satellite dish will have to wait until the game is over to see highlights on sports networks such as ESPN or their local news affiliate.

If football fanatics hope to see Brett Favre and Tony Romo go head to head, they may be forced to go to one of a handful of bars and restaurants. However, the game may not be available in some locations.

Gene Hay, owner of the Liquid Center, has not had any of his customers specifically ask if the game will be available at his establishment. With that in mind, he feels that not showing the game will not affect the revenue the Liquid Center will bring in tonight.

"We've got Clemson and Carolina fans," Hay said in a phone interview. "When I need to, I order [those games]."

On the other hand, Daniel "D-Train" Haynes, manager of Real Talk Sports Bar and Grill, feels that not showing the Green Bay-Dallas matchup could hurt some places.

"I would say that you would lose for that particular evening 30 to 40 percent of your business," Haynes said. "It'll probably hurt in the long run as well because most people visit other bars and they find out these bars have DirecTV. They're going to start frequenting them during the sports season."

Real Talk does have access to the NFL Network and Haynes -- whose bar is decidedly pro-Dallas Cowboys -- expects a slightly larger crowd than he'd usually have on Thursdays.

"With a little advertising, I expect to double what's normally in here on a Thursday--maybe even triple," Haynes said.

The Packers will face the Cowboys in Texas Stadium tonight at 8:15 p.m.

-- T&D Sports Writer Emery Glover can be reached by e-mail at eglover@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5532. Check out his blog, Cover 2, at www.thetandd.com. --

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