MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - It was a storybook run to the playoffs for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2010-2011 basketball season. Don't expect a sequel. The entire 2011-2012 NBA season is in jeopardy and that's got businesses, which thrive on the home game crowd, on edge.
“As a business owner it was scary because that's a lot of revenue for the street,” said Ty Agee.
Businesses on Beale were singing the blues as negotiations between NBA players and team owners unraveled. Now the entire season is on shaky ground.
“I really hate it for the city because I feel like last year it really brought us together,” Agee told abc24.com.
Agee is the president of the Beale Street Merchant's association and owns Miss Polly's Soul City Café. He told abc24.com, when the Grizzlies found their stride last season, every home game brought big business with it.
“I'm a small place so it's worth 30 up to 40 percent increase in sales for the day on a Grizzlies game,” said Agee.
Without them, Agee told abc24.com every restaurant; every watering hole will likely take a hit.
Their saving grace will come with a sea of blue: Fans who pack out the FedEx Forum Tigers' games. Fans like Belita and Dan Vowel from Cordova.
“Look what they did this morning, over 16,000 people packed in there and that's a day time game so I think it's just going to continue to grow the enthusiasm is going to grow and the tigers are a big draw and they're going to have to step up and fill some big shoes now that the NBA is out of the picture,” said Vowel.
