Opening Day A Homerun For Business In Baltimore
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Only three days until Opening Day! The Orioles are once again having a huge economic impact on the city, providing a boost to restaurants, shops and hotels.
Linh Bui reports.
As the weather gets nicer, more people go out or come visit, so baseball season definitely means big business for Baltimore.
Opening day is a homerun for local businesses, marking the unofficial start of Baltimore's tourism season.
"You just feel this energy downtown that you don't get the rest of the year. So we're really excited about Opening Day and we're really excited about the O's team," said Tom Noonan, President and CEO of Visit Baltimore.
The Rusty Scupper at the Inner Harbor estimates at least a 50 percent boost in business Monday.
"The Red Sox are in town? We are extra busy. And if we win, we're extra, extra busy," said General Manager Ed Prutzer.
They've got game day specials on food and drinks like many restaurants in the city.
"They'll come out for lunch, they'll take the shuttle over to the game, then they'll come back and enjoy happy hour afterward," Prutzer said. "Some of the guests will have dinner afterward. So it's like a big event we plan for every year."
If the Orioles have a winning season, shops, restaurants and hotels in our area will continue benefiting.
Red Sox fans are trickling in at the Hotel Monaco on North Charles Street.
"We are ready for baseball season to be here, no question. It's a great time of the year for the city and really a great time for hotels," said Joe Pagone, Hotel Monaco Baltimore.
The hotel expects a ten percent increase in occupancy compared to this time last year.
"You get a lot of people that travel in and want to spend a weekend or a weeknight and enjoy the city," Pagone said.
Before the O's take the field, local businesses are already winners.
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