COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Businesses around Ohio Stadium are optimistic Saturday's big first-round College Football Playoff Game between Ohio State and Tennessee will also mean big business.
“We’re pumped. I think it's going to be electric," said Scott Ellsworth, owner of Threes Above High and two other campus area bars.
Usually, his bars are closed for a couple of weeks at this point in the year since most students are home for the holidays. Saturday's game is the first December home game at Ohio Stadium, so his establishments will be open. He's expecting a boost in business.
“It’s an early Christmas present. It's going to be exactly like a home game and then some," Ellsworth said. "It’s probably 100% at least for us. I bet it's 100% more of what we would normally do in the month of December just because of that one game."
The team at Varsity Club, a bar and restaurant just a block away from Ohio Stadium, also expects more business thanks to the game.
“We live on Ohio State football here at the Varsity Club, so it's a big week for us, it's kind of a bonus week because we’re usually, there’s nobody on campus this time of year," said Tony Mollica.
While thousands of Ohio State fans will be watching the game inside Oho Stadium or bars nearby, some will be watching in Knoxville, TN, the home of the Tennessee Volunteers.
“They’re optimistic but I think you know for Ohio State and us Buckeye fans, we’re optimistic as well," Cory Sobas said.
Sobas and his wife were both on Ohio State's cheer team in the nineties. They cheered at the Citrus Bowl in 1996, the first time the Buckeyes and Volunteers played. Now they lead the Ohio State Alumni Club in Knoxville.
“Just everyone is excited for a good game and hopefully the Buckeyes will come out on top," Sobas said.
