Downtown businesses benefit from extra Irish home game

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- An added Notre Dame football home game is like an extra present under the tree for businesses in downtown South Bend.

The local chamber of commerce estimates that the average ND home game weekend brings in around $36 million in revenue for the city, so adding another home game makes for an extra profitable weekend.

Breakfast spots downtown like Peggs or Chicory Café tend to have a rush in customers the day after big games, and this past Saturday was no exception.

The time a game kicks off also plays into how well a business will do. Night games typically lead to a better breakfast crowd the next morning with more fans staying in town.

Some businesses also expect a smaller surge in customers on January 2nd, the day after ND plays Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, with fans coming in from out of town for local watch parties.