What, you mean the $265 million Uptown arena has not sparked a huge surge in business at Uptown eateries and bars? No kidding. How could it?
Building an arena and filling it with events does not, cannot, create more disposable income for a community. That is more or less fixed. What’s more, once you spend money on arena tix, you are left with less money to spend outside the arena. This matters a great deal as the comments from bar owners saying that Checkers games do seem to help drive people to surrounding establishments somewhat. What is it about Checkers tix? They are cheap, meaning you can go to a game and still have spendable cash left over. Not so with the Bobcats or most other events.
Plus there is the fact that the arena directly competes with bars and restaurants by selling its own food and drinks. Did anyone not understand this?
In an effort to grab an even bigger chunk of that food and drink money, the Bobcats are starting their games at 7pm this year, 30 minutes earlier than last year. This means pre-game, post-work dining will almost have to happen inside the arena. Oh, and the city is also cutting back on the number of police officers it is paying to direct traffic after games.
Should be fun times in Uptown this winter.
