With UK, WKU, Morehead State and the Louisville women already eliminated, one might expect sports bars and restaurants to see a downturn in business this coming weekend. But Drake’s St. Matthews managing partner Bryce Campion tells WLKY News, because basketball fans in Kentucky are so passionate, he expects business to continue to be brisk.”If there’s anything I’ve learned about folks from Kentucky, they love basketball. And so whether or not you have UofL or Kentucky playing, I mean, we always have a really good group of people that are here and just want to watch basketball all day,” Campion said.Having customers like Beth Harrison helps.For the last six years, Harrison and a group of 30 friends, some from as far away as Minnesota, have gathered at Drake’s to live and die by the results of March Madness.”We spend the first two days, whether we have teams in the tournament or not, because we just like watch basketball,” Harrison said.In fact, Harrison likes to watch basketball at the sports bar so much, her face has literally become a fixture.A huge big head sticker featuring Harrison’s likeness is posted on one of the windows.Even with the Kentucky men and Louisville women making early exits from the NCAA tournament, Harrison says she’ll find new teams to root for and against.”Absolutely,” Harrison said. “We’ll cheer for the underdog. We like those guys (the underdogs), and then we cheer against certain teams.”When asked if she’d like to name names, Harrison replied with a laugh, “Duke, North Carolina, Auburn and whoever else we don’t like.”Having passionate fans like that meant Drake’s didn’t bother to increase their food and drink inventory for the weekend ahead.Campion said even with local teams eliminated, any college hoops on TV is good for business.”I do still think that we’ll have a really good crowd. Like I said, the tournament is awesome. The first weekend is always so much fun, so much basketball. People still want to come in and watch,” Campion said. The only local squad still in the big dance is the Indiana women’s team.The Hoosiers play their first game Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
With UK, WKU, Morehead State and the Louisville women already eliminated, one might expect sports bars and restaurants to see a downturn in business this coming weekend.
But Drake’s St. Matthews managing partner Bryce Campion tells WLKY News, because basketball fans in Kentucky are so passionate, he expects business to continue to be brisk.
“If there’s anything I’ve learned about folks from Kentucky, they love basketball. And so whether or not you have UofL or Kentucky playing, I mean, we always have a really good group of people that are here and just want to watch basketball all day,” Campion said.
Having customers like Beth Harrison helps.
For the last six years, Harrison and a group of 30 friends, some from as far away as Minnesota, have gathered at Drake’s to live and die by the results of March Madness.
“We spend the first two days, whether we have teams in the tournament or not, because we just like watch basketball,” Harrison said.
In fact, Harrison likes to watch basketball at the sports bar so much, her face has literally become a fixture.
A huge big head sticker featuring Harrison’s likeness is posted on one of the windows.
Even with the Kentucky men and Louisville women making early exits from the NCAA tournament, Harrison says she’ll find new teams to root for and against.
“Absolutely,” Harrison said. “We’ll cheer for the underdog. We like those guys (the underdogs), and then we cheer against certain teams.”
When asked if she’d like to name names, Harrison replied with a laugh, “Duke, North Carolina, Auburn and whoever else we don’t like.”
Having passionate fans like that meant Drake’s didn’t bother to increase their food and drink inventory for the weekend ahead.
Campion said even with local teams eliminated, any college hoops on TV is good for business.
“I do still think that we’ll have a really good crowd. Like I said, the tournament is awesome. The first weekend is always so much fun, so much basketball. People still want to come in and watch,” Campion said.
The only local squad still in the big dance is the Indiana women’s team.
The Hoosiers play their first game Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.