The 2024 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament kicked off on Thursday in Springfield, drawing hockey enthusiasts from far and wide to Downtown Springfield. The influx of fans was a welcome boost for local businesses, with bars, restaurants, and shops in the area seeing a surge in customers as they headed to the arena for the games.
Local businesses have been enjoying the business brought by the NCAA hockey tournament. Signs in their windows have been welcoming hockey fans in, with establishments like Theodore’s Blues, Booze, and Barbeque seeing fans from all four hockey programs dine in. Co-owner Keith Makarowski expressed his excitement for the upcoming games and the support from fans of UMass and UMaine. He also noted that local businesses were thrilled to see the community come together for NCAA hockey and were looking forward to the continued influx of visitors.
The first night of tournament hockey was just the beginning, with more games scheduled for Saturday night at MassMutual. Fans were united in their need for food before heading to their seats, with Michael Sacenti highlighting a UMass meetup at the MGM. The Black Bears had contacted Makarowski directly, promising to bring customers his way despite his allegiance to Maine. The tournament is set up to be an exciting finale on Saturday as local businesses look forward to more opportunities for growth and community engagement through sports events like these.