Patriots game, hockey tournament lead to economic boost in RI
By Bianca Buono
@BBuonoABC6
Football fans from across the country traveled to New England for the big playoff weekend and many of them chose to stay in Rhode Island.
"It’s been great. Went out last night. Had good dinner. We actually stayed in Providence and drove down here so it’s been a good time,” said Blake May who flew in from Kansas City for the game.
It’s not just fans. The visiting teams usually stay in Providence as well. This year the Chiefs landed at the Omni.
"We always have the visiting teams staying at this hotel. We rarely see any of the players but we have lots of family and lots of friends of the Kansas City Chiefs,” said Paul Nolette, the Manager of Centro Restaurant & Lounge inside the Omni Hotel.
"Teams prefer to charter into Green airport. It’s an easier charter for them. Downtown Providence is closer to Gillette Stadium than Downtown Boston,” said John Gibbons, the Executive Director of RI Sports Commission.
But the Pats game is just a fraction of this lucrative period in Rhode Island that’s estimated to bring in $4 million of direct spending in the state economy.
The JW Kennedy Memorial Hockey Tournament is also underway. It’s set to make $1.3 million alone.
"They’ll book 3,000 hotel rooms in the state. They’re playing on almost literally every sheet of ice from URI up to Mount Saint Charles. It’s a great event. Great impact on the entire state,” Gibbons said.
And it doesn’t stop there. All of those out–of–towners are going out to eat in the midst of Providence’s Winter Restaurant Week.
Those in the hospitality industry couldn’t be happier because this is typically their slowest time of the year.
"We’ve been counting down the days for this because obviously after the first of the year it just dropped off,” Nolette said.
"Anytime we can get business like this at this time of the year it’s just a home run for everybody,” said Gibbons.
The big spending period is expected to continue next weekend. There is a cheerleading competition that’s expected to bring in more than $2 million and Providence’s Winter Restaurant Week continues until January 23rd.
