The Arizona Diamondbacks are helping to free local businesses from an economic rut by bringing a surge of customers to downtown, a Diamondbacks spokesman said at a Walter Cronkite School event Tuesday night.
A crowd of 15 students gathered at the Cronkite School to listen to Graham Rossini, the senior director of special projects and fan experience for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who led a discussion about the impact the baseball team has in Phoenix. Rossini’s discussion launched ASU’s new 10-week Discover Phoenix series, which is aimed to expose students to aspects of the surrounding downtown community.
“The impact the Diamondbacks are having in the downtown area is huge,” Rossini said. “The All-Star Game alone … had a $70 million economic impact on our city (and) was a tremendous boost.”
Rossini said the team is trying to create an economically friendly fan experience that will inspire people to visit the downtown Phoenix business sector.
“We want to bring people to Phoenix the best that we can,” he said. “We (try to) communicate to the masses that you can bring a family of four, or college students can come out to the ballpark and have an affordable evening, and if you’re on a budget that’s fine; we still want you to come to the ballpark and have a good time.”
Rossini cited the value menu at Chase Field where guests are able to purchase hot dogs and soda for $1.50, and beers for $4.
The Diamondbacks are currently in first place for the National League West.
Restaurants around the Diamondbacks’ ballpark are reaping the benefits of the team’s good standings.
“It’s nice when (the team is) in town,” said Toby Albersold, operations manager at the Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery, located three blocks west of the stadium. “When they are doing better it seems that people are in a better spirit and want to come out and spend more money.”
Albersold said the Tilted Kilt and other near-by bars are trying to use the team’s success to inspire ASU students to visit the area.
“With a few more bars in this area it could be a spot where people from the (Tempe) campus will (visit),” Albersold said.
Rossini said a large upcoming budget attraction for college students will be on September 23 when the Diamondbacks play the San Francisco Giants, who on Wednesday were in second place in the division, six games behind the Diamondbacks.
“It’s going to be a really intense, high-energy weekend, with a playoff appearance on the line and we’re offing $5 tickets for college students,” Rossini said.
Rossini said the Diamondbacks are working with organizations including the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Phoenix Partnership to “showcase Phoenix and bring people downtown.”
Hard Rock Café Manager Bill Smith said the restaurant industry in downtown Phoenix survives on events like Diamondbacks games.
“Downtown Phoenix is event driven,” Smith said. “The restaurants (and) the businesses that survive down here are really driven on events.”
Smith said the customer turnout depends on who the Diamondbacks are playing against, and when the game takes place. Games against the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers typically draw a large crowd, he said.
The Diamondbacks’ Rossini said the franchise is preparing for a consistent surge in attendance in September as the end of the season leads into the playoffs.
The next Discover Phoenix will take place next week on Tuesday, Sept. 13 with restaurant critic Howard Seftel of the Arizona Republic.
Contact the reporter at tdmcknig@asu.edu
