As the New England Patriots move into the final stage of what could be an unprecedented perfect 19-game season, fans are staking out places to cheer on their team and local bars are preparing themselves for large crowds and the Boston Police are just hoping for a championship night free of mass riots.

For some, the Super Bowl is more about the business than the football game. Stadium Brew Company employee John Brewer said he is not a Patriots fan, but he is looking forward to the game because he expects a packed house and high sales on beer.

“People come in around 2 p.m. just to reserve a spot,” he said.

Other bars and restaurants plan to go all-out with celebrations. Brian Peterson, an employee at The Place Bar and Grill and a self-proclaimed Pats fan, said the bar will be throwing a beach-themed party in honor of the Super Bowl with free drinks and a raffle. If the Patriots win, they will play dance music through the night to celebrate, he said.

T’s Pub will have a 12-foot screen projector and about 10 other plasma televisions screening the event.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime game,” said T’s Pub employee Sean Hickey. “I think this is bigger than the Super Bowl itself because it’s something you rarely ever see . . . It’s a much harder achievement today than it was back [in 1972 when the Miami Dolphins went undefeated].”

Boston Police Department spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said though many of the police officers are long-time Pats fans, the Super Bowl will be a day of heightened safety precautions and stern responses to fans who celebrate inappropriately.

“We were very pleased with the tactics we used for the World Series and plan to follow a similar course of action,” she said.

These preventative tactics include high police visibility all around the city and reminding students that failure to respond to orders will result in criminal and academic punishment.

While bars and police prepare for large crowds, many Patriots fans are staying home, putting out snacks and watching the game with friends.

Boston University College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Eddy Belsignore said he has been a die-hard Pats fan his whole life.

“I’m putting on my lucky Tom Brady jersey and watching the game in my apartment,” he said. “If they win, I’m definitely going to the streets to celebrate. I mean, first the World Series, now the Pats, even the Celtics are on top of the Eastern Conference — this is like the best year of my life.”