After COVID-19 weighs on Arizona’s economy, Phoenix Suns’ playoff run is helping revive it. PHOENIX – After the NBA finals, the impact of the Phoenix Suns playoffs is having a huge financial impact, say small business owners and tourism experts. The Super Bowl always makes a lot of money, when March Madness is in the Valley, it’s a money maker too. As the Phoenix Suns played in the Valley Western Conference Finals and NBA Finals, they helped bring lots of business to almost bars and restaurants. Just an NBA trophy would have made this month a better month for PHX Beer Co. When the Suns won the final of Game 6 in Milwaukee, fans lined the streets of Phoenix and watched the game in restaurants, bars and breweries. “Have fun, have a lot of excitement. I wish the game had gone differently last night, but we just love seeing how we can get things started and capitalized on them,” said Adam Wojcik, PHX Beer Co. Brewery Director . And it’s time to get back to business. The COVID-19 has knocked some companies down and others wondered how they’d make it another day. So the economy of a great basketball in the Valley could not have come at a better time. “It got everyone excited about the Suns. It got people to try new restaurants, new breweries, whatever the Suns was supporting at the time, and it was a huge step forward from an economic standpoint,” said Wojcik. Joshua Coddington of the Arizona Office of Tourism says this playoff run couldn’t have come at a better time. “The suns deserving of a place at the center of the sporting universe really couldn’t have come at a better time for Arizona’s tourism recovery,” he said. It’s too early to calculate how much money was pumped into the Valley’s economy as a result of that Suns run, but Coddington says we’re talking millions of dollars. “We certainly can’t thank the suns enough for deserving this. Because games here in Arizona bring visitors, but also Arizonans, to the city center and there is no doubt that these restaurants and companies now really appreciate and need this support. “Said Coddington. Phoenix Beer Co. is doing so well now that they sold out their Shazam Brew in just 12 hours. Just one more sign of the success the Suns brought downtown businesses. “We have a lot of new faces now, that was a huge bonus for us and really exciting,” said Wojcik. How important are these things to the Valley economy? Coddington says 5% of overnight visitors have come for sporting events in recent years. That is above the national average of 3%. Related Stories: Tune on FOX 10 Phoenix for the latest news:
[ad_2]
