Best plan for the home opener is honestly to stay away from the popular destinations. Start with a pint at the dive bar across from your hotel...the Imperial Pub. Go upstairs to the library, don't worry about the smell and make sure you punch a douchebag hipster (It's all part of the Imperial experience). Anyway near the dome if you get there early enough (3 or 4) you can get anywhere...but after the work crowd gets out places like Loose Moose or Jack Astors will be so packed that you'll see your waitress once in an hour. Shoeless Joe's is huge but it will end up packed too, same for Grace O'Malley's but at least you'll get beers quicker. The bars on the esplanade will be crowded but manageable as well. Tilted Kilt or Fionn McCools will be fine. Those are your mid-scale places (except for the Imperial). All the places are about 5 to 10 minute walk to the Dome.