Buffalo, NY (WBEN) With the Buffalo Sabres back in the Stanley Cup playoffs, downtown businesses are seeing something they haven't seen in years: packed houses for games downtown.
Jason Sunshine of the Draft Room says business was enormous last Sunday and Tuesday. "It was the amount of fans that came out to go to the game and also just to come hang out here at the draft room, was just amazing," says Sunshine of the turnout. "It is just more than we could have ever hoped for and wished for, just with the amount of guests that we've had through the door in comparison to other days, such as a normal Sunday or Tuesday."
Sunshine says the playoffs are not just big for his business. "A lot of guests that haven't been downtown in quite some time are now making their trip downtown just to go to playoff games. And with that, the visibility different locations that have been opened, over in the Cobblestone District," notes Sunshine.
Just steps away from KeyBank Center is Southern Tier's downtown restaurant. Joe Creegan says he expected a Bills-type vibe when the Sabres made the playoffs. "Honestly, it's kind of blown our projections out of the water with it," says Creegan. "We've been really huge in trying to get crowds in here, especially with everything going on at Canalside as well. So it kind of brings some great foot traffic directly from the arena right in front of our store."
Creegan says the environment has been better. "Unfortunately, we've been used to seeing a lot of the away team crowds in the years that (the Sabres) haven't been playing as good kind of come in here being that we're connected to the hotel, but seeing a lot of the Sabres fans truly pack in this place has been a lot better. It's really exciting to see," notes Creegan.
If you're thinking of watching at Southern Tier, Creegan suggests getting here early. "Usually about two hours before a game is when we fill up and people are already coming in and camping out. I've seen a lot of people outside already in Sabres gear, checking out the area, checking out where they're going to be watching and trying to come back later on," notes Creegan.
Both are hoping for a deep Sabres playoff run. "I feel pretty confident in the way confident in the way that they've been playing, you know, even last game, just seeing how how they did in the final few minutes there, I think is kind of pretty typical of what we'll be able to see," says Creegan. Sunshine has bigger expectations. "You just don't get in the playoffs, just to get in the playoffs, to get in the playoffs in order to win the Stanley Cup. And right now, I believe that we have the team, the unity on the team, the coaching, the front office, everybody in position in order for them to make that push. I think anything going forward is just it's just going to increase our visibility, the visibility of the cobblestone district and downtown Buffalo even more."
Managers say people are returning to downtown to watch games
Managers say people are returning to downtown to watch games
