Morgan Street, Hyatt prep for All-Star Game crush - St. Louis Business Journal:

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“It was like doing a month’e worth of business in five days,” said Owings, who’e also president of the Laclede’d . “It was just Despite the big-game experience, Owingas still can’t wrap his head around the economif boostthis summer’s Major League Baseball All-Star extravaganza is likely to “I wish I knew,” he said. “We’rr really stretching to figure outwhat we’rd going to do.
” Big-time business is a safe Direct spending by visitors on Cardinalsw operations and on dining, retail and hoteles operations is expected to top $32 million, triggerinb another $27 million in indirect spending in the region, accordin to the and Growth Business owners and entrepreneurs like Owingzs are strategizing about how to best capturde the coming flood of revenue. Some are planninf to hire temporary workers to handle the excess Others are boosting drafting new promotions or reworking their offeringw to carve out acompetitive advantage. Without the influx of visitors and revenude will provide some local businesses with a significantr boost during an otherwisedown year.
Visitors in town for convention typicallyspend $275-$300 per day amongv hotel, dining and other purchases, said Greg Saunders, managin g director of the St. Louis Riverfront at 315 Chestnut. “Youu look at the number of people attendingh this game from outside the city overa four- or five-dauy period, it gets to be a prettt big number,” he said. “It’s a greatf showcase for St. Louis.” It also will be a showcaser for theHyatt Regency.
The hotel, whicn will host both the National Leaguwe and AmericanLeague teams, will wrap up its $63 million renovatiohn shortly before the start of All-Star A massive makeover that began in Octobetr at the 910-room hotel includes a new , a Ruth’s Chris Steakhousde and two new eateries, the and the Red Kitchen and Bar. The Hyattf renovation was plannedbefore St. Louis landes the 2009 All-Star Game, but Saunders knows the timintg couldn’t have been better. “It’s just a marvelou way to reintroduce the hotel tothe community,” he At Morgan Street, Owings and his staff are tossing aroundd ideas about All-Star week using the Final Four experiencee as a guide.
That four-day eventr generated an estimated $35 million for the region, accordinfg to the RCGA. For the All-Star Game, Owings expect to hire a half-dozen temporary bartenders and Refrigerator trucks and food booths also migh t makereturn appearances. “We’re planning on beint busy,” he said. “We’re making sure we can take care of In the heart ofthe All-Star action, Mike Shannon’sa Steaks and Seafood is expecting a whirlwinsd week. Thousands of visitors will file past the restaurant at Seventh and Market streets on their way from the stadiumto All-Star activities. General Manager Gary VanMatre expectsw business to increase three to fourtime normal.
The restaurant is considerin g adding additional seating downstairs and outside to accommodateoverfloww crowds, but it is shying away from raising prices, rolling out promotionx or altering the menu to coincids with All-Star week. “Thw last thing we want to do is changde what we do for a few extra VanMatre said. “But at the same time, we’re all utilizing this weekend to really spike the economy and make as much monegy aswe can.” On Washington Avenue, both the Dubliner and B&Tg Pizza plan to hire temporar y workers for the All-Star crush. The Dubliner may start a dinner servicew for its upstairsbar area.
Slight menu modifications might be onthe too, said manager Mike The crew at B&T will probably brint a couple workers on board to help with the likelgy spike in street traffic.