No penalty for ‘piling on’ at Pala during Monday Night Football

Sports fans that attend the Monday Night Football (MNF) parties at Pala Resort and Casino should be very thankful there are no National Football League referees in attendance.

In the NFL, a player gets penalized for “piling on.” A referee would run out of flags calling that penalty at Pala, where the condiment bar is under a constant blitz from hungry football fans that know a great bargain.

While attending the MNF party in the Infinity Showroom on Oct. 3, this writer saw several fine balancing acts by people carrying plates of nachos that were stacked so high with condiments – guacamole, salsa, jalapenos, shredded cheese, chopped tomatoes, chopped onions – that I mistook them for the nearby Palomar Mountains.

The foundation for those architectural masterpieces were tortilla chips that had already been covered with cheese and chili. Nachos with cheese and chili cost just $4 and the trip to the condiment bar is free.

“We have some experts here that know how to get the most out of their four-dollar nachos,” said Coley McAvoy, Pala’s marketing and promotional manager, with a laugh. “Food and beverage does a great job with the quality of the food, the flavor of the food and the quantity that you get.”

In addition to killer nachos, Pala offers the following during its MNF parties: a full plate of chicken wings for $4, carne asada street tacos for $2, foot-long hot dogs with chili and cheese for $6, chips and salsa for $3, and popcorn, candy, cookies, and brownies for a buck.

The wings are meaty and very tasty by themselves but if you want to “kick it up a notch” ranch dressing and buffalo wing hot sauce are available at the condiment bar.

The street tacos are loaded with flavorful meat, fresh chopped onion and cilantro and served with slices of lime. If you’d like to transform your street taco into a “super taco,” the guacamole, shredded cheese, salsa, etc. is available gratis at the condiment bar.

People attending the MNF parties at Pala also have the opportunity to win great prizes while the watching the action in high definition on several giant HD TV's. McAvoy, who does a fantastic job as host of the football bashes, raffles off gifts during extended stoppages of play from kickoff to the end of the third quarter.

“Every time out, every commercial break and quarter change, whenever we have a break in the action, we’ll try to do at least one drawing,” said McAvoy.

Fans age 21 and older receive one free drawing ticket upon arrival. Patrons can earn additional drawing tickets through food and beverage purchases, or by purchasing the featured beer (Bud Light or Coors) of the week.

Pala’s MNF parties feature two themes – “Fan’s Night” and “Tailgate Party” – that alternate each week and offer different prizes. The Oct. 3 game was a “Fan’s Night” and the extensive list of raffle prizes distributed included NFL-licensed jerseys and custom watches of the two teams playing (the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants), an NFL Wilson football, and a $100 cash drawing. On “Tailgate Party” nights, raffle gifts include snack helmets, stadium chairs, tailgate coolers and two tickets (“great seats” says McAvoy) to a San Diego Chargers home game.

Four steak and crab dinners for two, with VIP booth service, are awarded at every MNF game, as are two complimentary admissions to Pala’s celebrated buffet, Choices. NFL hats and key chains of the competing teams are also awarded each week, as are three pepperoni pizzas before the end of the first quarter.

Between the food, fun and the prizes, it’s not surprising Pala’s MNF event has a loyal following.

“At least 60 to 70 percent of them are regulars,” said McAvoy of the enthusiastic MNF crowd. “We always get new people each and every week because the regulars are so excited to bring friends out. They want them to experience it. It's become a domino effect. We have seen our regular base of customers grow and grow and grow each and every year.”

After experiencing my first MNF party at Pala – complete with nachos, wings, tacos, nice cold beverages and the great camaraderie of fellow football fans – I can certainly see why. Touchdown Pala!