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Phils' loss impacts local bars
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Citizens Bank Park
The idea for this article struck me the morning after game 6, after reality started to set in. Last year's win truly made lifelong memories for us dedicated Phillies fans, but again I wanted to know how it affected our local economy. This article could have gone in one of two directions; did the lack of riots and chaos put local bars at ease or did the loss at the registers hit them harder?
I spoke with managers from an array of bars and pubs south of Market Street to ask what differences they'd seen between the turnout and behavior of Phils fans this year versus last year. Clearly the biggest difference was the loss of traffic due to the World Series parade. Having stood in a sea of nearly two million people on Broad Street last Halloween, it was one of the most impressive and exciting moments in Philadelphia sports history, particularly to a generation who had never experienced a win before. The excitement couldn't be contained and though the city was buzzing again this year, it didn't all carry over as exuberantly into the 2009 Series.
The general consensus from bar management is that the fans were a little more nervous and less confident than last year. William Penn's curse had been broken, and quite possibility that's all some Philadelphians (fair-weather fans) needed. Tim from Fado Irish Pub explained that excitement was much greater in 2008, particularly to the fan who threw a planter through their front window during the parade. Woody, at O'Neal's said they didn't sustain damage but fans didn't come out to watch each playoff or World Series game like they did the year before. Instead they waited till the later games of each series to come out and partake in the excitement. When the games were over, they didn't linger either, they headed home. The decreased crowd flow resulted in much lower October profits for bars throughout the city.
Pete at Finn McCool's Ale House wondered if it was a result of the economy. He noted that crowds were consistent but it was not as busy as 2008. He even noted that the usual Yankee fans weren't out in force either, however I'm not sure that can be blamed on the economy or defensive Phillies' fans. At any rate, having experienced the outcome of a World Series win last year, Philly's popular watering holes were prepared this year, with more servers, plastic drink ware and multitudes of projection screens.
Having suffered this year's loss, here's hoping fans may regain riotous momentum when we reach the Series next year. As a matter of fact Philadelphia, keep celebrating, we had the joy of baseball from April to November, thanks Phils!
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