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Anticipation Rises for Padres’ Postseason

Anticipation Rises for Padres’ Postseason

Ballpark Businesses Planning for Possibility of October Playoffs

By PAT BRODERICK

Business around Petco Park in August continued to produce everything from delight to despair, as the big question looms: Will the Padres make the playoffs?

If they do, in early October, some area businesses are getting ready to handle the stampede , one way or another.

“We’re in the pre-planning stages of events in case that does happen,” said Ed Netzhammer, the general manager of the Omni San Diego Hotel, “maybe a pre-game party, recognition events for the team.

“We’ll probably buy some extra tickets from the Padres and do some packaging of the playoff games. Playoff tickets will be pretty difficult to get.”

Netzhammer said the fans’ anticipation is growing.

“There are a lot of optimistic Padre fans out there,” he said. “We probably have about 20 reservations on the books already. And we’re getting calls from people who want to hold the space, do an event, have a party.”

But with that optimism, he said, comes risks.

“If we don’t get into the playoffs, those guys are going to cancel,” he said, adding that October normally is a very busy corporate month.

While the Omni would get left holding the bag, said Netzhammer, “The bag’s not too full right now.”

As the time grows closer, Netzhammer said he expects to get more corporate bookings, which have proven to be a popular incentive tool for employees and associates during the baseball season.

“So, I would expect that to be even more popular if we make it into the playoffs,” he said.

Since the ballpark opened, Netzhammer said the Omni has carved out a solid niche with Padres fans.

“We’re selling out on regular dates, so if there is a playoff, we definitely expect to be full,” he said. “The season ticket holders already have experienced the hotel, so we’d see enough business to fill the hotel. It wouldn’t take much marketing. The Padres would have done that for us by getting into the playoffs.”

Abe Mac Neil, manager of PJ’s Caf & #233; & Coffee Co., also said he’s ready for the playoffs.

“We definitely would put together some promotions,” he said. “We now have pizza and a pint for $5 and sushi and saki for $7, so we’d probably do something similar to that during September or October.”

Sadness, Sorrow And Pain

– & #8201;Splash Wearable Art Inc. , One ballpark businessperson who will not be celebrating the playoffs , or any Padre games period , is Nilofar Mirhaydari, owner of this Gaslamp Quarter dress shop.

“The ballpark has been nothing but sadness, sorrow and pain,” she said. “There isn’t much good happening with the ballpark, not for me. Before they came along, we were doing so well. I have stayed in business for 15 years; now I often think about closing down.

“The crowd that comes with them is not the crowd that buys from me, they don’t come here to shop. These are people with no class. When they drink and get out of control, they puke on my sidewalk, all the time. I have to get my hose and rinse it off with the water. This is not a good thing.

“The saddest thing is that when they are around, my regulars don’t come around. They know there is no parking. This is what the ballpark has done for me.”

Friday and Saturday nights, said Mirhaydari, used to be her best nights.

“But now, when there are games, my business is dead. So, we have decided to take a little vacation when there are games.

“I cannot afford to pay my employees,” Mirhaydari said. “It’s a waste of time. A couple of days, I made below $20. That doesn’t even pay for my cigarettes. I end up smoking too much when they are around.”

Get Happy

– & #8201;Yard House , While Mirhaydari is cutting back her hours, this restaurant and bar at Broadway and Fourth Avenue is bumping its up.

“We pushed our happy hour back to 6 p.m. in the past month due to the increase in business,” said Scott Young, the general manager of the Yard House. “People don’t leave here until about 6:30, so we wanted to give them more value.”

Business on weekdays before the game has increased from 35 percent to 40 percent, he said, primarily because his patrons now seem to be comfortable with the parking.

“Now they know it’s not an issue,” said Young, adding that he’s also enjoyed a rise in business after the games.

“It’s guaranteed, about 20 minutes after a game, we’ll get a rush of another 100 to 200 people coming through the door, depending on the game,” he said, “about a 20 percent increase.

“We get a lot of out-of-towners and players, too.”

Parking Plus

– & #8201;Omni San Diego Hotel , Netzhammer also mentioned an easing of parking problems at his hotel, mainly due to the opening of the 6th and K Parkade, where the Omni has 230 spots.

“Business has been great,” he said. “It’s been very, very successful for us.”

Business at the Omni’s main restaurant, McCormick & Schmick, he added, continues to get “better and better, and August will be a great month for them also.”

“We have had a capacity crowd every time there is a game, regardless of the day of the week,” he said.

Ace Is The Place

– & #8201;Ace Parking , John Baumgardner, the chief executive officer, also heralded the opening of the 6th and K parkade as a great stress-reliever for ballpark patrons.

But, he said, he wishes they would consider alternate routes to ease congestion Downtown.

“The only challenge that keeps coming up,” he said, “is the people coming in on 10th and coming out on 11th. They’d be better off getting on side streets. There are a lot more ways to get Downtown.”

It’s particularly a problem, said Baumgardner, when the game is heating up and there is a sellout crowd.

“Everyone stays in their seats until it ends,” he said, “and then everyone migrates at the same time. With 45,000 fans leaving at the same time, there will be some traffic congestion.”

To relieve the crunch, he said, “People need to get adventurous” and search out new routes.

“Over time, people will figure it out.”

As for the playoffs?

“Go, Padres!” said Baumgardner.

An August Month

– & #8201;PJ’s Caf & #233; & Coffee Co. , “August has been my best month ever,” Mac Neil said. “All of the games have done us really, really good. We’ve had excellent business off of every single game this month. I don’t know if it’s because we are finally establishing a name with the ballpark crowd. We’ve had a lot of regulars stopping by for hot dogs, beer, then going to the game. A lot of people, when they come in, they say, ‘I’m going to remember this place and I’m coming back.’ ”

Mac Neil said he realized a $12,000 increase over July, and overall a 35 percent boost on game days.

“It’s getting a lot busier earlier,” he said. “Day games are fantastic, our best games. We’re seeing a lot of loyalty from the season ticket holders.

“There are nothing but kudos and smiles from my end.”

Little Europe

– & #8201;Le Travel Store , For Bill Keller, owner of Le Travel Store in the Gaslamp, the ballpark hasn’t directly affected his business.

“We don’t sell beer, so we didn’t expect a huge increase in sales,” he said. “We’re more impacted by world trends. Our customers are going to Europe, Asia, Africa, so the ongoing instability in world affairs affects us.”

But, said Keller, he’s noticed changes in his own behavior and that of his employees since Petco Park opened.

“The biggest change for us has been how much easier and more fun it is to go to ballgames,” he said. “I think we’re typical of many people who work Downtown. We can walk from our stores and in less than 10 minutes be at seats in the ballgame.”

Keller said he also likes to enjoy the trip to the park.

“I love the whole experience of having mini-season tickets, going to a caf & #233;, having some tapas and wandering into the ballpark,” he said. “It’s such a joy.

“My hope was that San Diego would develop into more of a European city. And it’s amazing how that has occurred.”

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