The 2024 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament kicked off in Springfield on Thursday, drawing fans from all over to the Downtown area. The influx of visitors has been a blessing for local businesses, with bars, restaurants and shops seeing an increase in customers as fans made their way to the arena for the games.
In the opening games, UMass Minutemen faced off against the University of Denver Pioneers, while Cornell Big Red took on the University of Maine Black Bears at the MassMutual Center. Before the games began, fans were united in their need for food. UMass fan Michael Sacenti spoke about a UMass meetup at the MGM, highlighting the camaraderie among supporters.
Bars and restaurants in Downtown Springfield have been thriving thanks to the business brought by the NCAA hockey tournament. Signs in their windows have been inviting hockey fans in, with establishments like Theodore’s Blues, Booze and Barbeque seeing fans from all four hockey programs dine in. Co-owner Keith Makarowski noted that tables were quickly filled after opening at 11 a.m., as fans got their pre-game meals.
Although Makarowski was wearing a University of Maine shirt, it wasn’t due to his allegiance to the team. The Black Bears had contacted him, promising to bring customers his way, leading him to represent UMaine. The first night of tournament hockey was just the beginning, with more games scheduled for Saturday night at MassMutual.
Makarowski is excited for the upcoming games and the support from fans of UMass and UMaine. He mentioned that local businesses are thrilled to see the community come together for NCAA hockey and are looking forward to continued influx of visitors throughout the tournament.
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