Section B·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, October 1, 1999
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Homecoming
Jayhawk memorabilis is displayed in the front windows at the Palace, at 8th and Massachusetts streets. The Palace is one of many local businesses anticipating the arrival of homecoming visitors. Photo by Carrie Julian/KANSAN
Businesses expect weekend rush
Game crowds bring big bucks for merchants
By Meghan Seifert
Kansan correspondent
Jayhawk fever strikes every year as University of Kansas alumni, parents, friends and, of course, rivals come to Lawrence for the homecoming game. However, the football team isn't the only one counting on visitors for the weekend.
Homecoming Weekend brings booming business for local restaurants, bars, hotels and retail stores.
Many fans meet before the game and catch up on lost time at bars within walking distance of the stadium such as The Wagon Wheel Cafe, 507 W. 14th St., The Jayhawk Cafe, 1340 Ohio St., and The Crossing, 618 W. 12th St.
Alumni congregate in huge numbers at these bars, which are popular today as well as when many of the alumni attended the University.
"Homecoming is my favorite day of the year," said Rob Farha, KU alumnus and owner of The Wagon Wheel Cafe.
He spends most of Homecoming Day shaking hands with the many alumni and students he knows. Signs and banners both outside and inside his restaurant bar welcome them. Farha said The Wagon Wheel Cafe was a place where parents who went to school here can come back and have a good time with their children who attend the
University today.
He is happy that the game is at 1 p.m. this year because he will have a crowd both before and after the game. Last year's 6 p.m. game upset many restaurant and bar owners who lost business because the game was at night. When Memorial Stadium empties this year, the restaurants and bars will fill up again.
On Sunday, the shops and restaurants in the Lawrence area again will benefit from homecoming visitors. Massachusetts Street features many unique and interesting stores and is a popular place for visitors to relax and enjoy their weekend.
Megan Brouillette, Overland Park senior, used to work at the women's clothing store, Spectators, on Massachusetts Street.
"Last year during homecoming I was swamped with customers all day," Brouillette said. "Most of them were alumni who had shopping at Spectators before. It was fun to see visitors enjoy their weekend in Lawrence."
Visitors from across the country will be in Lawrence for the weekend. As a result, many hotels will be accommodating more guests than usual.
The Eldridge Hotel, 701 Massachusetts St., is one of these hotels. Ginger Ray, a manager at the Eldridge Hotel said that although graduation and Parents Weekend were the hotel's busiest weekends of the year. Homecoming Weekend would be booked with many alumni and other out of towners.
For many fans, no visit to the University would be complete
without a souvenir, and they end up taking their college spirit home in a red-and-blue sweat shirt or a stuffed Jayhawk.
"Every game day is big business for us, homecoming in particular," said Marian Wroczynski, a manager at the Jayhawk Bookstore, 1420 Crescent Road.
Mark Armbrister, the Chamber of Commerce's consumer and sports sales manager said that the City of Lawrence did its part to promote business for every home game. It sponsors Big Blue Weekends and encourages people to make a weekend out of every home game. Organizers want fans to wear blue because the University is the only Big 12 school with blue in its colors.
Big Blue Weekends get businesses involved by promoting tailgate parties. Among those offering game-day specials that start three hours before every game are Johnny's Tavern, 401 N. Second St.; Old Chicago, 2329 Iowa St.; and the Ramada Inn, 2222 W. Sixth St. A bus then takes fans to and from the game for $2.
Jesse Schwartzberg, who works at Johnny's Tavern, said that tailgating was a great idea. "Every game, we get good business from people who come in to eat and drink before the game," Schwartzberg said. "It's fun, and people have a safe ride to the game."
In addition to fun, Homecoming also generates business for Lawrence.
"It brings a lot of folks back because they forge how great Lawrence is and how much we have to offer," Armbrister said.
- Edited by Allan Davis
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