Columbus rumored to become temporary home for NFL team; Here’s how Columbus restaurants could be impacted
In case you haven’t heard—according to a report released yesterday by NEOTrans Blog—the Cleveland Browns and the city of Cleveland are preparing to announce the details of a plan that would see the team rebuild Cleveland Browns Stadium at its current location.
This would mean the team would need to play its home games during the new stadium’s construction at a different site, and the original story from NEOTrans Blog tapped Columbus as a “likely” location, citing Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam’s ties to Columbus.
While other reports have since claimed the Browns have shot down the idea of temporarily playing games in Columbus, with no firm answer in place yet, we can still hope. 614Now spoke with a handful of local restaurant owners to see how the potential of an NFL team temporarily coming to Columbus might impact their businesses.
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Eateries in direct proximity to Ohio Stadium, like The O on Lane, stand to benefit the most, it seems.
According to The O on Lane owner Ed Gaughan, home Ohio State game days are a cornerstone of the concept’s business, and doubling the city’s slate of football games could mean a lot more business for the eatery.
“Game days are huge. Thousands of people all around us and in the parking lot and bar,” he said. “Twice as many game days would be phenomenal, as it would also lead to crazy exposure.”
Lisa Bui, owner of 6-1-Pho, which is in the University District but still several miles from the stadium, said restaurant traffic slows during games, but overall days with games are a net positive for the spot.
“Fall brings us biz and game days are slow depending on if it’s a night game or not. Everyone wants to warm up after if it’s a day game,” Bui said, adding she would “definitely” be in favor of the Browns playing home games in Columbus.
Speaking of traffic, Gaughan did note that Gameday crowds create logistical hurdles for the eatery, such as parking shortages and finding employees to work longer hours on these days, but overall he said home games are “all good for business.”
For other local concepts that aren’t directly tied to the OSU campus or aren’t located in direct proximity to Ohio Stadium, things are a bit murkier. One local pizzeria owner pumped the breaks on the idea that more home games simply means more business for everyone.
According to Sexton’s Pizza co-owner Joey Sexton, sales at the pizzeria are inconsistent during OSU football games.
“Buckeye games depend for us. Typically sales are not up,” he said. “I’m sure it helps other businesses out with big sports games, so I’m for them coming. Plus, I’m a Browns fan.”
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