Many business owners seeing green over Cincinnati Reds success

CINCINNATI - The 2010 success of the Cincinnati Reds is producing a lot of green dollars for many Greater Cincinnati businesses.

That's especially true heading into the three game series with the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Great American Ball Park. Near sellout crowds of 42,000 fans are expected each night.

A prime example is the Cardboard Heroes store at the Florence Mall.

"Normally right about this time the Bengals season is going on and we kind of push the Reds stuff back a little bit," said Manager Amanda Russ. "This year we're definitely keeping the Reds stuff going."

The front of the store is jammed with Reds t-shirts, jersey and a host of other baseball-related merchandise.

Russ said sales of the Reds gear have doubled as the team continues to play well.

"Some people like the $20 t-shirts. Others like to go for the jerseys. Some people buy both," said Russ.

Robbie Smith from Columbus shopped there Monday to get items for himself, his son and his wife to attend the Reds/Cardinals game.

"It's refreshing to see them still in the race this late in the season," he said. "I've been a Reds fan since I was a little kid, so it's nice to have me and my son have the experiences I did when I was his age."

It's the same story at the Reds Gift Shop outside Great American Ball Park.

Anything with the team logo and colors is literally flying off the shelves, according to Tim Martin, Director of Operations for Delaware North, which runs the shop plus stores inside the stadium.

"Our sales have increased by 30 to 50 percent depending on the game and depending upon who's in town," he said.

Martin noted that some of the better selling items are logo bands and a number of items priced below $15.

"We really want to give every say an opportunity to bring home a piece of the game so we have a number of different price points -- from novelties below $15 to custom-made jerseys," he said.

Downtown Cincinnati hotels and restaurants are getting their share of Reds fans' dollars.

Room bookings are up at the Westin Hotel at Fifth & Vine Streets and other downtown hotels due to the team's success, according to General Manager Wayne Bodington.

"I don't think there's any question whatsoever that with the Reds playing as well as they are, it's generating additional downtown hotel stays," Bodington said.

Nearby at the Rock Bottom Brewery, the bottom line is getting a boost from baseball.

"Anytime you get an extra 40,000 people downtown it's good for business," said General Manager Keith Maloy, adding that sales are up perhaps 25 percent because of the Reds.

Bodington pointed out that it's important to remember that visitor spending injects new dollars into the economy that benefit everyone.

While the Reds are getting people into the Cincinnati area, work is underway behind the scenes to keep them in the region as long as possible.

"We're pulling out all the stops this year trying to make sure that these fans hang around," said Steve Stevens, President of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. "People are offering specials and things like that."

Stevens added he feels the winning Reds are boosting the morale of the entire area.

"Everyone likes a winner," he said. "Everyone wants to support somebody that's really got an opportunity here and I think these guys are going into October so it's really going to keep us going for a while."