Billy Laberge of Billy's Sports Bar in Manchester has never opened his restaurant at 5:30 a.m. on a weekday.

His chef has never made a hotdog omelet before, either, but then again, the Red Sox have never opened the baseball season in Japan.

Fans have long considered Opening Day an unofficial holiday, but setting their alarm clock for the first pitch is certainly a new twist. In Manchester, the undisputed sports capital of New Hampshire, at least five sports bars will be preparing for work at the crack of dawn tomorrow when the Red Sox play the Oakland Athletics at the Tokyo Dome.

Because die-hard fans don't rely on TiVos and DVRs.

A young fan uses a pair of binoculars to watch Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka before last night’s exhibition game between Boston and the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo. (AP)

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"At first I thought it was going to be kind of quiet, but we keep getting calls, and now I know it's going to be busy," said Laberge, who'll open the Tarrytown Road bar at 5:30 a.m., flicking the power switch on 55 TVs.

Patrons will be rewarded with prizes every inning, leading up to a pair of Red Sox tickets given away as a grand prize. A "Grand Slam" breakfast, featuring enough food to last through extra innings, will be priced at $9.75.

Alcohol cannot legally be served until 6 a.m., but there are no restrictions on popcorn, peanuts and Cracker Jack.

"I come from a sugaring family, and I can tell you they did an outstanding job," said Wild Rover co-owner Jim Batchelder, whose family used to tap more than 200 trees in Randolph.

Additional money will be raised through a silent auction, thanks to New England Picture of Manchester, which donated Red Sox photos and memorabilia.

The crew at Wild Rover has gotten used to opening so early. Last week, they opened at 5:30 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day.

"I'm sure it will be very festive," said Batchelder, "but people will have to wait until 6 o'clock for our world-famous Bloody Marys."

"¢ Varick's Restaurant & Sports Bar. Patrons will find the least-expensive breakfast at 24 Depot St., where Varick's opened last August. Fans can eat for $1.25 and drink draft beer for $1.50 as part of the Opening-Day celebration.

"Everyone wants to watch the game, and now we have a good excuse to get up at 5:30," bartender Vicki Lee said. "Instead of our customers having their eggs and coffee somewhere else, they can come right here and watch the game."

The game will be shown on several TVs and three big screens, including an 11-footer. Raffle prizes will be given away courtesy of Budweiser, and sportscasters from WGAM Radio will be on hand to liven up the party.