Local college basketball fans aren’t the only ones celebrating the unlikely success of the city’s two big basketball programs.
“We’ve had a record week,” said Brian Jones, the general manager at Home Team Grill in the Fan.
Jones, like other bar managers in Richmond, said that having two local teams in the Sweet Sixteen is about as big a boost for business as could happen this time of year. And when both teams play Friday night – that could be one for the record books.
Jones wouldn’t disclose exact figures but noted that the tournament has brought in at least an extra $10,000 for this past week.
Jones said between that between St. Patrick’s Day and the NCAA games, they’ve seen a tremendous increase in business.
“Friday night we had to keep people from coming in,” said Jones.
“We have a lot of connections with VCU. It’s a relationship that we’ve cultivated.
John Sweeney, owner of Mulligan’s Sports Grille in the Fan, said that sales have been up 60 percent because of the tournament and that weekend games have been huge for business.
“For sports bars, this is the best case scenario,” Sweeney said.
“With UR and VCU winning, it’s been a great combination for us.”
Sweeney said they haven’t had to do much to promote the games because locals are excited to have two Richmond teams in the running.
“Its what you expect when you have local teams — great crowds, a lot of alums, people following VCU,” said Sweeney.
Sweeney said the VCU win over Purdue University this past weekend was their best turnout of the year, with a mix of VCU and UR supporters.
“We were at capacity,” he said.
“It’s been good. UR supports VCU and VCU supports UR. Everyone is excited to have two teams from Richmond, and I think that’s what we will see Friday,”
Sweeney said they will have some specials Friday for people to enjoy as they come in for the games.
“It’s a dream come true for the city. It’s giving us a lot of recognition,” Sweeney said.
T-Miller’s Sports Bar and Grill inside the Marriot Hotel in Richmond is a popular hangout for VCU students and alumni and the local college crowd.
The hotel served as the offical headquarters for the 2011 CAA Men’s Basketball Championship, which was at the Richmond Coliseum March 4-7.
Restaurant manager Joe Mann said the sports bar has been slammed since then with a steady flow of people coming to watch the NCAA tournament.
“We’re always packed, and with basketball we’re at capacity,” said Mann.
Mann said sales are up 15 to 20 percent on game days and usually draw a crowd of more than 500 people.
He added that each year they try to top sales for March Madness, this year doing more than $25,000 a day in sales, a $9,000 increase from what they were doing last year during this time.
“We expected $18,000 to $20,000,” said Mann.
“It blew us out of the water.”
Mann said he was expecting a younger crowd and more VCU students, but the turnout has been mostly VCU almuni.
“It’s a good mix, a couple groups or younger kids, but a lot of it is alumni that come and stay in the hotel,” he said.
Local college basketball fans aren’t the only ones celebrating the unlikely success of the city’s two big basketball programs.
“We’ve had a record week,” said Brian Jones, the general manager at Home Team Grill in the Fan.
Jones, like other bar managers in Richmond, said that having two local teams in the Sweet Sixteen is about as big a boost for business as could happen this time of year. And when both teams play Friday night – that could be one for the record books.
Jones wouldn’t disclose exact figures but noted that the tournament has brought in at least an extra $10,000 for this past week.
Jones said between that between St. Patrick’s Day and the NCAA games, they’ve seen a tremendous increase in business.
“Friday night we had to keep people from coming in,” said Jones.
“We have a lot of connections with VCU. It’s a relationship that we’ve cultivated.
John Sweeney, owner of Mulligan’s Sports Grille in the Fan, said that sales have been up 60 percent because of the tournament and that weekend games have been huge for business.
“For sports bars, this is the best case scenario,” Sweeney said.
“With UR and VCU winning, it’s been a great combination for us.”
Sweeney said they haven’t had to do much to promote the games because locals are excited to have two Richmond teams in the running.
“Its what you expect when you have local teams — great crowds, a lot of alums, people following VCU,” said Sweeney.
Sweeney said the VCU win over Purdue University this past weekend was their best turnout of the year, with a mix of VCU and UR supporters.
“We were at capacity,” he said.
“It’s been good. UR supports VCU and VCU supports UR. Everyone is excited to have two teams from Richmond, and I think that’s what we will see Friday,”
Sweeney said they will have some specials Friday for people to enjoy as they come in for the games.
“It’s a dream come true for the city. It’s giving us a lot of recognition,” Sweeney said.
T-Miller’s Sports Bar and Grill inside the Marriot Hotel in Richmond is a popular hangout for VCU students and alumni and the local college crowd.
The hotel served as the offical headquarters for the 2011 CAA Men’s Basketball Championship, which was at the Richmond Coliseum March 4-7.
Restaurant manager Joe Mann said the sports bar has been slammed since then with a steady flow of people coming to watch the NCAA tournament.
“We’re always packed, and with basketball we’re at capacity,” said Mann.
Mann said sales are up 15 to 20 percent on game days and usually draw a crowd of more than 500 people.
He added that each year they try to top sales for March Madness, this year doing more than $25,000 a day in sales, a $9,000 increase from what they were doing last year during this time.
“We expected $18,000 to $20,000,” said Mann.
“It blew us out of the water.”
Mann said he was expecting a younger crowd and more VCU students, but the turnout has been mostly VCU almuni.
“It’s a good mix, a couple groups or younger kids, but a lot of it is alumni that come and stay in the hotel,” he said.