LSU fans might not like the fact that the Tigers aren’t playing a night game in Tiger Stadium against an SEC opponent for the first time in 76 years, but most owners of businesses who depend on football season to boost sales aren’t complaining.
“These 2:30 (p.m.) games are great, and actually they’ve significantly helped us” says Jack Warner, co-owner of Last In Concepts, which owns Walk-On’s, The Roux House, Happy’s Irish Pub and Schlittz & Giggles. “We’re up about 15%. This is our best year by far, and I think a lot of it has to do with the afternoon kickoffs.”
At all of Last In Concepts’ businesses, but especially Walk-On’s near Tiger Stadium, Warner says, more customers are coming in following the games than they usually do for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
“It’s even good for Walk-On’s and Happy’s on Coursey (Boulevard), because people who live out that way go home after the game, get cleaned up and go back out to their neighborhood bars and restaurants,” Warner says.
Business at Bengals & Bandits, which sells LSU-themed clothing and accessories just outside the North Gates of campus, is also up this year, says owner Eric Hedrick.
“It doesn’t bother my business at all,” he says of the afternoon kickoffs. “People want to buy just as much LSU stuff at 8 a.m. as they do at 9 at night. Our numbers are up.”
Also, Hedrick says, the earlier kickoffs are giving his staff and him the chance to close up a little earlier than they do during night games. Because the store remains open after games end to capitalize on walk-in traffic from the stadium, the staff generally isn’t done with work until around midnight for a 7 p.m. game. On a typical Saturday with a 2:30 p.m. kickoff, the staff is able to close up around 8 p.m.
Scott Michelet, Baton Rouge Lodging Association board member and Holiday Inn-South general manager, says lodging association members are not complaining about the earlier kickoffs. Though he doesn’t have occupancy numbers, Michele says there has not been significant decreases in room nights on home game weekends.
“Sometimes you rob Peter to pay Paul, and you might have fewer on Saturday night but you get more on Friday,” he says. “Only during the Kentucky game, which had the 11:20 (a.m.) kickoff, was there a noticeable decrease. Most of the hotels usually max out for quite a few games during the season. I don’t know if they’re maxing out for as many with the 2:30 (p.m.) games, but occupancy is still very good.”
