Kansas City’s Union Station was the epicenter of excitement last year during the 2023 NFL Draft. Local businesses were given a prime location to experience all the thrill, and Jayaun Smith, owner of Sauced, says that being a part of the NFL Business Connect Program helped his business grow exponentially.
Smith, a native of Kansas City, was thrilled to be selected as a personal chef for the draft. He describes it as an amazing experience that put his business on the map and increased gross profits significantly. Fridays are now their busiest days, thanks to the increased foot traffic and exposure brought by the event.
On the other hand, Alex Pope, co-owner of Local Pig and Pigwich in City Market, did not see the same boost in business during the draft. While their restaurant saw an increase in customers, their meat market was much quieter than usual, only at about 5% of a normal week in April. Pope advises businesses in future draft locations to consider how people will leave the event and plan accordingly to avoid perishable products going to waste.