While Chiefs and Eagles Battle, It’s the Super Bowl of Pizza for Local Restaurants

It’s not only the Chiefs and Eagles (and their fans) preparing for the big game Sunday.

“That’s our Super Bowl for Pizza Day for us. We sell hundreds of pizzas,” said Rodrigo Centeno, Fresno/Clovis area supervisor for Domino’s. “Last year, (Domino’s nationally) sold about 7,000 football fields worth of pizzas stretched that long. So it’s a huge thing for us.”

Americans order 12.5 million pizzas for the Super Bowl, industry reports estimate. It’s no different for Domino’s, which sold 2 million last year.

Watch: Domino’s Prepares For Super Bowl Weekend

The retailer — with several stores in Fresno and Clovis — will have extra staff and more supplies in stock than on a typical Sunday. Centeno said they sell 30% more pizzas on Super Bowl Sunday than on average Sunday. It would be more locally if a California team was playing, he said. The highest sales are expected in Philadelphia and Kansas City.

The busiest times? Around 2 p.m. (90 minutes before kickoff) and after the game.

Both of the Super Bowl opponents are represented on the menu. Domino’s offers a Philly cheese steak pizza and Kansas City fans might like a BBQ chicken pizza.

Sophia Sierra prepares a BBQ chicken pizza. (GV Wire/David Taub)

Getting Ready for the Rush

Centeno said his stores have a game plan.

“It takes a lot of time, weeks in advance. We schedule correctly, we have a whole team here. We prep the day before, the day of (the game) and, yeah, it takes a lot of time, a lot of manpower,” Centeno said.

On a normal Sunday, about 12 work on the crew at the Clovis Domino’s. Sunday, that number swells to 20. Most of them will be out delivering pizzas.

Two ovens, heated at 465 degrees, can crank out hundreds of pizzas an hour. It takes about six minutes to bake.

A computer system helps the stores make sure they have the inventory needed for the Super Bowl rush. If supplies are running low, they borrow from another store in the area.

Up to 80% of orders are made online. The Clovis store is already taking orders for Sunday. The most pizzas in a single order? Centeno says 30.

Several stores will offer curbside delivery.

The Most Popular Foods

A classic pepperoni is the most popular pizza on game day. But the second most popular may solve the great pizza debate.

“Believe it or not, because it’s a big debate if pineapple belongs on a pizza, but ham and pineapple is a big one as well,” Centeno said.

New this year at Domino’s are three varieties of loaded tots — Philly cheese steak, cheddar bacon, and melty three-cheese. All sell for $6.99 each.

As the name implies, the side dish is tater tots loaded with cheese and other goodies.

The Philly cheese steak, appropriate for Sunday, includes slices of steak, Alfredo sauce, onions, green peppers, and a blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheese.

The cheddar bacon loaded tots is one of three varieties at Domino’s. (GV Wire/David Taub)