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Dayton Business Journal...
Retailers, sports bars upbeat for Urban Meyer era at Ohio State
by Ginger Christ, Reporter
Monday, November 28, 2011 

On Saturdays, throngs of scarlet and grey clad football fans crowd bars and restaurants across Ohio to cheer on the Buckeyes. 

The fervor reaches the far corners of the state, from Dayton to Ashtabula — the home town of new OSU coach Urban Meyer — creating a revenue stream that ebbs and flows with the team’s wins and losses. 

The Buckeyes, known not only for their decorated helmets but also for their prowess on the field, this year have struggled after a tattoo-parlor scandal led to the forced resignation of longtime coach Jim Tressel and the suspension of several key players this fall. But, with the addition of Meyer, who last year retired as head coach of the Florida Gators, OSU fans have hope their 500 season days are behind them. 

Dayton-area retailers are looking to cash in on that renewed sense of Buckeye pride. 

Kevin Kuntz, manager of the Dayton Mall Cardboard Heroes store, said he expects to see a bump in sales of OSU gear, which have lagged this season. 

“I think it will improve right away,” said Kuntz, who already has Meyer merchandise ordered. 

While he doesn’t think Meyer will bring in the same kind of individual sales as Tressel, whose iconic Nike sweater vest cost roughly $70, Kuntz does predict team sales will pick up. 

Likewise, Sarah Dobson, manager of the Dayton Mall Hibbett Sports, said she expects sales of Buckeyes merchandise to pick up by this weekend. 

OSU gear, typically a big seller, now primarily is being purchased as holiday gifts, she said. 

“The only time we sell it now is when it’s on sale,” Dobson said. 

The sale of OSU merchandise represents about 40 percent of total sales at both Cardboard Heroes and Hibbett Sports, according to the local store managers. 

For area sports bars, OSU games bring in a regular stream of customers. 

At Chammps in Centerville, usually up to 12 tables at the restaurant are filled with Buckeyes fans, according Adam Harkless, manager of Chammps in Centerville. Chammps has an affiliation with the Nebraska Huskies football program, regularly attracting 40 to 60 tables of Nebraska fans each Saturday. 

“Most of the local fans belong to one alumni association or another,” Harkless said. 

Other local eateries such as Buffalo Wild Wings    are packed each Saturday and on Sundays for the NFL, as football has become a big revenue driver for many sports bars in the Dayton region. 

Meyer, a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, comes to OSU after a year-long coaching hiatus, during which he served as an analyst for ESPN. Prior to his retirement, Meyer served as head coach of Florida, Utah and Bowling Green, establishing a 104-23 coaching record. 

He replaces interim coach Luke Fickell as head of the Buckeyes football program. 

Ric Moody, a Broker/Auctioneer for Dayton Commercial Realty LLC who heads up fundraising for Ohio State in the Greater Dayton area, said Meyer’s ties to the state and the school are a big plus. 

“Of all the available coaches, including the ones that currently are coaching somewhere else, this is the best fit for the program,” said Moody, who sits on several committees for the school including the Presidents Club Executive Committee. 

Read this and other articles at Dayton Business Journal

 


 
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