Economists: $200M Lost In Local Revenue If NBA Lockout Persists
MIAMI (CBS4) - It was suppose to be our year.
The year the Miami Heat was posed to compete for an NBA championship.
Instead, the American Airlines Arena is dead.
Parking across the street is just $3, to see what is unclear.
Tourists like Duran Minkler are wandering looking for something to do.
"If the Miami Heat were playing tonight would you be going to the game?" CBS4 David Sutta asked Minkler.
Minkler responded "Absolutely the best trio in the league, Bosh, Dwyane Wade, King LeBron, I'd totally go."
But with no games the only place he's going is back to his hotel.
The lockout becoming a washout for not just fans but the service industry.
"These guys want to make more money, but they are totally messing with mine." Chris Pereira-Ignacio, a bartender at the Doral Buffalo Wild Wings told us.
While Pereira may be miles from the American Airlines Arena, but the Heat playoff run last year meant a 12% increase in sales.
"Last year for the NBA it was crazy. It was full house at capacity it was great."
That now appears to be gone.
Economists estimate the Miami Heat, and its trio of superstars, meant up 200 million dollars a year for our economy.
"We have 50-60 TVs in each restaurant, people are here to watch the games," Buffalo Wild Wings franchise owner Seth de Kanter said.
When he heard the devastating news today he thought about the 200 employees working at his three restaurants. He's hoping to avoid sending people home.
"Be creative," said de Canter. Maybe spend a little more on marketing to try to let people know that we are here. We still have great service. We still have great food."
