Stadium Village businesses are expecting a spike in sales when Super Bowl LII comes to Minneapolis next weekend.
Super Bowl ticket holders will flock to the Stadium Village light rail station on game day. The Green Line stop will be the check-in point for ticket holders boarding nonstop Metro Transit trains to U.S. Bank Stadium.
“We’re all expecting the entire week to be ridiculously busy, especially with the check-in point so close to our place,” said Jason Bolan, manager of Sally’s Saloon.
The Stadium Village to U.S. Bank Stadium light rail corridor and the entire Blue Line will be reserved strictly for ticket holders on Super Bowl Sunday. But Green Line stops from Stadium Village to St. Paul’s Union Depot will remain open to the public.
While the arrangement has received mixed responses from residents who rely on public transit, it’s gained nothing but support from some Stadium Village businesses.
Bolan said he expects large crowds at Sally’s Saloon, resulting in a boost in sales. He added that the bar won’t have any specials or deals that weekend.
Already a Stadium Village hot spot for students, staff of Sally’s Saloon expect the busy weekend will bring an increase in pre-game and post-game business.
Afro Deli manager Danny Herrera also expects a spike in sales during the Super Bowl, though they didn’t hear of the Stadium Village check-in point until recently.
“We weren’t told anything about [the light rail check-in] until just the other day, but we’re definitely expecting it to be busier because so many people will be in the area,” Herrera said.
Afro Deli won’t have any Super Bowl specials that weekend either. Still, some staff are anticipating owner Abdirahman Kahin to plan something the weekend of the event.
Herrera said restaurant staff expect more customers who aren’t attending the game to visit Afro Deli, as it is “right in the center of the action.”
Stub and Herb’s, which sees a lot of traffic during Gophers football games, is expecting a similar turnout during Super Bowl weekend.
“We’re expecting it to be busy, mainly with people looking to get drinks with friends either before or after the game,” manager Regan Haffele said.
