The success of the Gators men’s basketball team may also lead to increased success for local businesses.
Jeff Hickey, managing partner of Tall Paul’s, said the Gators’ March Madness bid has enthused downtown and boosted overall dynamics.
“Anytime the Gators are doing well, it brings an energy to the town and people go out more,” Hickey said. “They get more excited to go out, stay out and spend some money.”
Nicholas Smith, general manager of The Swamp Restaurant, said he has noticed a similar influx of business at the sports bar as the Gators advanced through the season.
“Especially when games are far away ... people have to go watch it,” he said. “People want to enjoy sports with their friends.”
Smith said since the basketball season started, he has seen a transformation in the restaurant’s dynamics.
“It’s just a change in atmosphere,” he said. “It gets them excited, gets them coming out. It gets them to us.”
Retail stores are benefiting, too.
Christina Rodenwoldt, manager at Gator Plus, 1620 W. University Ave., said March brought an increase in sales of Gators-themed gear.
“We are seeing a lot of interest,” Rodenwoldt said. “Especially if there is a home game or right after we have won. The fact that we got into the Final Four, there is definitely an upswing of people calling Internet orders, coming into the store.”
Andrew Poe, general manager of Rockeys Dueling Piano Bar, said although the venue is not a sports bar, it always does well in spring because of fans who want to enjoy downtown Gainesville.
“As far as Gator basketball, we are peaking right now as far as NCAA Tournament and SEC Tournament, and it is spring,” Poe said. “Downtown Gainesville is peaking at the exactly the same time. So, it’s like with Gator athletics doing so well and this naturally being a good time for businesses in downtown Gainesville. It’s a good formula.”
The Gators’ win against Dayton last Saturday unleashed crowds of people wanting to celebrate downtown afterward, Poe said.
“It was such a big deal — we were going to the Final Four,” Poe said. “Everyone got into their cars and headed from wherever they were watching the game to downtown to celebrate it, and we saw a tremendous positive effect from that.”
[A version of this story ran on page 5 on 4/4/2014 under the headline "Gators basketball success shifting downtown business dynamics"]
