Unlike some bars that imposed cover charges or seated tables on a first-come, first-served basis, Sport Restaurant and Bar in Fisher Plaza let luck seal fans' fates.

Sport held a free lottery for 49 reservable tables last week – and received more than 575 entries.

The only open seating – 13 bar stools and a patio warmed by gas heaters – were quickly filled with walk-in customers after the bar opened at 11:30 a.m.

General Manger Paul Gould called the lottery winners early last week – and some were so thrilled they screamed, he said.

"There were four or five where I actually had to go to the speaker phone, they were so excited that they actually got a table," he said.

Sport has 13 booths with their own flat panel televisions – like a modern-day spin on the table-side juke boxes in old-school diners. The dining room has 14, 42-inch plasma sets; the centerpiece is a 130-inch flat screen high definition screen.

Restaurants make money from "turning" tables, so Sunday was not a day for big profits. Customers came in early and parked all day, Gould said.

"This isn't a money making day, this is a friends-making day," he said.

Kellanne Henry, a 43-year-old from Capitol Hill who works for a real estate developer, attended the Seahawks very first game, its only playoff game before this season and four games this year, she said.

Henry said she won a table reservation on a single lottery entry.

"I just thought it would be really fun to watch with a big group of Seattle fans," Henry said. Plus, with all the television sets, "no matter where you are, you can see a great view."

Her friend, Lori Albert, a 43-year-old nurse from Kenmore, added: "Having everyone here does show community pride."

The game is a coming of age for the Seahawks said Henry, who attended the Seahawks' very first game, she said.

"It's just great for the city, great for the image of the city and great for the economy of the city," Henry said.

"It helps give a sort of legitimacy to Seattle – all the things that we've known about it," said Henry, who admitted having mixed feelings about Seattle getting national attention. We don't want too many folks in on how great the city is – or they may move here, she said.

Catlin Vandiver, 42 of Kirkland, snuck in with a quick smile to the management, and quickly scored a tall bar table with two stools. She has connections. Vandiver is a cocktail server and bartender at a Bellevue restaurant owned by the same people as Sport.

"It's a job perk," Vandiver said, of her decision to watch from Sport. "We wanted to watch the game at a place with atmosphere – the hype of the game."

Vandiver's blue-glassed sunglasses matched her shades-of-blue sweater, and she got them for the team spirit they reflect. She was drinking a "lovely, young Chardonnay" in a crystal glass.

"So it's not all about beer and chicken wings," she said.

Vandiver is from Canada and has lived in Seattle for about two years.

"I'm in Seattle, so I'm from Seattle," she said.

Aaron Holmlund, a 28-year-old Costco employee from Factoria, sweet-talked Gould into giving him a booth.

"It's the best sports bar in town. I mean Kobe beef – come on!" he said pointing at the menu's burger selections.

Holmlund said he chose the bar over numerous invitations to house parties or watching from home.

Some of his friends are watching the game live in Detroit, he said.

"I had a lot of different options," he said. But, the crowd is "what it's all about. Why not be with everybody that's Seattle fans?

"And having a TV at your table – it don't get any better," Holmlund said.

-- Angela Galloway