Fewer fans are splurging on Super Bowl parties

Allen Channel’s house is usually party central on Super Bowl Sunday.Not this year. With a new baby and a worsening economy, the 39-year-old office manager decided to cancel the get-together he has put on for friends and family for the last eight years.He’ll still watch as the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals fight for the Super Bowl title -- but not at his Fullerton home. He’ll be at his brother’s house in Oceanside, where the bash will double as his birthday party. It’s quite a change from the up to $500 he used to spend on food and drinks for game day.’We’re trying to squeeze every cent that we can out of this,’ said Channel, who works for a small real estate company in Santa Monica. ‘Usually I go all out for the Super Bowl, but I don’t think I can afford that this year.’