Downtown Buffalo was jam packed on Nov. 28 with a combination of sporting events, special events, musicals and live performances.
Now, leaders hope that can re-created during December - and beyond - thanks to a new, collaborative public and private sector campaign 'Holidays in the Heart of Buffalo' aimed at attracting more people into downtown's Theatre and Entertainment Districts.
"Downtown is event-driven," said Rocco Termini, developer, businessman and owner of Tappo restaurant on Ellicott Street. "You have to give them a reason that they would want to come to downtown."
Shea's Performing Arts Center just did that with a three-week run of "Wicked" that attracted more than 57,000 people to venerable downtown theatre and those patrons left behind an economic impact of more than $20 million - outside of ticket sales - said Brian Higgins, Shea's president and CEO.
In December alone, there are 66 scheduled performance within Theatre District venues. Officials hope that is enough of hook to have more people venture into the central business district.
That number doesn't include home games by the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bandits, hockey games at the LECOM HarborCenter or concerts at venues like Electric City, the Mohawk Place or Town Ballroom.
The new campaign has been put together by a recently-formed alliance between such venues as Shea's, MusicFare Theater, the Chippewa Alliance, Visit Buffalo, Termini and Buffalo Place Inc.
"We want to get people thinking about the positives while creating new activity in downtown Buffalo," said Randall Kramer, MusicalFare executive director.
The long term vision to continue to promote downtown and Theatre District venues and events to help bring more people not only to the destinations but also restaurants - and maybe return to work downtown or live in the central business district.
"It's very intentional," Higgins said.
Case in point: Tappo's roof-top igloo dining experience is attracting lots of diners including many from the suburbs, Termini said.
"People want something different and very special," Termini said. "You can find that across downtown."