The FCS national championship week has turned into "NDSU Week" for bars, restaurants and hotels in the Frisco/Plano area. North Dakota State has been here seven of the last eight years and brings along 17,000-20,000 fans.
For bar/restaurant owners, it's turned into the most profitable week of the year.
[divider]EWU VS. NDSU
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"It’s New Year's, St. Patrick’s Day and 4th of July in three consecutive days," Jerry Elliott, owner of Ringo's Pub, Scruffy Duffies and VNYL, told HERO Sports. "It’s huge for the cities of Plano and Frisco."
Elliott's places, all located at The Shops at Legacy, have become the hot spot for Bison fans. He's gotten to know several Bison fans over the years and closely follows NDSU's season every year.
When the Bison clinch a spot in the national title game, bar owners begin preparing for packed places Thursday afternoon to Saturday night.
"It’s incredible," Elliott said. "The year JMU played Youngstown I still wore NDSU gear. The people from Fargo are incredible. It has become a holiday here."
"I remember Ringo's Pub being staffed like a normal Thursday lunch," Elliott added. "One bartender, one server. I received a frantic phone call. My brother (partner), mom and I were there within 15 minutes waiting tables, cooking and bartending for the rest of the day. We got our butts kicked, but the guests never complained. They chuckled at us thinking 'these guys have no idea what’s coming.' We learned our lesson. We feel that our bars have become the home bars for a lot Bison fans."
Frisco is the fastest growing town in America with new buildings and construction popping up everywhere. The city is investing a ton in sports with the Dallas Cowboys' headquarters, The Star, located in Frisco along with getting an FBS bowl game, the Frisco Bowl, to Toyota Stadium.
The success of the FCS championship game that's been held here every year beginning in 2010, helped by the number of NDSU fans flocking to town, has played an important role.
"It’s a huge boost for the area," Elliott said. "We have no other team, event, concert, etc. that has the economic impact of the NDSU fans."
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