End of MLB lockout a major relief to bars and other businesses near Yankee Stadium
NEW YORK -- Major League Baseball returns next month after the league and MLBPA reached an agreement Thursday to end the lockout.
Mets and Yankees fans were thrilled, but so were local businesses that depend on the season, CBS2's Nick Caloway reported Friday.
"Baseball is the best for the Bronx," Ty McPherson said.
"It's great for the area, for the community," Jeannie Ray said.
Springtime means baseball in the Bronx. But the lockout threw a curveball to people who work in and around Yankee Stadium.
"I'm glad that the players and owners were able to work something out, that we're going to pretty much start on time," said Joe Bastone, who owns Yankee Tavern.
Around the corner, Joseph Abbadi manages Ballpark Sports Shop. He said the last two years were brutal for business.
"We're still recovering from COVID, and hearing that there wasn't going to be any baseball, not only because I'm a manager here, but because I'm also a baseball fan, it was sad for everybody," Abbadi said.
He's grateful the lockout is over and a full 162-game season is on deck.
"When we heard the news yesterday that they reached an agreement and baseball is back, everybody was up screaming, jumping, happy. As a baseball fan, I'm really excited," Abbadi said.
Yankees home games have a tremendous impact on the local economy.
"It's huge," said Trey Jenkins, executive director of the 161st Street Business Improvement District.
According to Jenkins, some businesses in the neighborhood get 80-90 percent of their revenue on days when there are events at Yankee Stadium.
"So now that baseball is coming back, it's going to help a lot of the businesses who struggled with the recovery from the pandemic," Jenkins said. "It's going to hopefully bring more people out and spring is coming. So it's going to uplift the neighborhood a lot."
Opening Day is April 7.