For a few days in the fall, Cody Atkinson's job gets a little crazy.
Atkinson, an employee of Gator Shop in UF plaza, works every Game Day.
"It's a mad house in here," he said. "The whole staff has to work. It's hard to even walk."
Gator Shop, like most of the stores and restaurants near UF, sees a huge boost in business on days when the Gators play at home.
According to Gator Shop manager Joi Bass, the store does about 60 percent of its business for the entire year on the six or seven days of Gators football games.
Gator Shop makes most of its money selling T-shirts, but the store also has a variety of souvenirs and other merchandise.
Even with the rain Saturday, the store had lots of business.
"The rain [doesn't] hurt us at all," Atkinson said. "People need ponchos and still come in to shop."
But the demand doesn't stop at orange and blue shirts and fan hands.
According to barista Mary Holden, Leonardo's by the Slice doubles or triples its normal business on game days.
"We're always slammed on game days," she said.
With Gators game attendance nearing 100,000 at times, Gainesville is flooded with hungry and souvenir-seeking fans on game weekends. But it's hard for economists to measure the true effect on the local economy.
UF economics professors Roger Blair and Mark Rush are trying to figure it out.
According to Blair, national studies show the impact game days have on the economy is not as significant as people think.
Blair said a large portion of the money spent ends up leaving the local area.
"Say you fill up your tank with gas for $3 a gallon," he said. "The guy who owns the station paid $2.90 for it, and that money goes back to Jacksonville or wherever it came from."
However, because Gainesville is so small, all businesses are still better off on game days, Blair said.
"People are milling around, walking around, buying souvenirs, going to lunch and having a great time," Blair said. "Clearly people are spending money."
"If 60,000 people go into New York, it doesn't make a dent," he said. "But in Gainesville the percentage increase in population is enormous."
For the Gator Shop and most other stores, night games are the best, Bass said. Big games, rivalry games and especially the Florida State University game are always huge moneymakers, too.
Without fail, game days are always successful - even when the Gators are not doing well, Bass said.
"Gator fans are fans regardless," Bass said. "They still shop when we're losing."
