Notre Dame home opener to bring increased business to South Bend

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Local businesses are gearing up for the big weekend - Notre Dame’s home opener.

Every season, Notre Dame football brings in big crowds to South Bend and boosts the local economy, bringing in nearly $6 million a weekend, according to the St. Joseph County Chamber.

As local hotels and restaurants near the university prepare for the busy weekend, it is hard not to notice the multiple ‘help wanted’ signs strung outside multiple businesses, especially along Eddy Street, right next door to campus.

But for those businesses that know what’s in store for a typical Saturday during the football season, they know to prepare and staff up months in advance. Either way, the first home game weekend is always the toughest.

Amber Goddard is the General Manager of O’Rourke’s restaurant at Eddy Street Commons, who says they are ready for the influx of businesses. She adds that they’ve “loaded up on everything. We are fully staffed in every area of the restaurant.”

I also spoke with Tom Erlandson, co-owner of The Oliver Inn, a privately-owned bed and breakfast in South Bend, not far from campus. He says his staff have been preparing for the big game for weeks now.

He also pointed out that it’s not the hotel’s first rodeo, and they “have enough staff to do the work that we have to do”.

The big game is Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Stadium.