ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – St. Louis is feeling March Madness. It’s not just the games taking place on the court in the Gateway City; the Saint Louis University men’s basketball team drew many eyes Thursday night as the Billikens faced Georgia in the NCAA tournament.
Across the street from SLU’s campus, Humphrey’s Restaurant and Tavern hosted one of many watch parties for the game.
“It’s absolutely electric. I mean, people are just screaming. It’s shoulder to shoulder in here. You can’t get a table,” said Teddy Thornberry, a Humphrey’s ambassador and SLU senior, describing the atmosphere during the season.
Humphrey’s has enjoyed crowds during SLU basketball games this season.
“I would say it’s pretty much the spot to be,” said Nora Sullivan, a Humphrey’s assistant and SLU student. “When we beat Dayton a month or two ago, the coach came to Humphreys and he was serving people behind the bar and it was really fun.”
Trea Kinlaw, Humphrey’s Restaurant and Tavern Kitchen Manager, said, “Very exciting. Looking to be busy, keep us going.”
Many employees are also students, so they’re cheering on the team while working, including Thornberry behind the bar.
“It’s kind of like a fairy tale, almost,” Thornberry said. “When I first came to SLU, like basketball wasn’t really our thing. But now, as a senior, I get to witness it and see, like, what’s happening.”
“I think the tournament and making March Madness is a fantastic opportunity to just bring everyone together and have a great time and celebrate our school,” said Fiona McNeill, a Humphrey’s HR employee and SLU student.
Humphrey’s Restaurant and Tavern Lead Cook Jake Pollock said, “I think for me it’s been really interesting because I remember last year and the years before trying to get a basketball ticket for the game. They would send out things that would, like try and get you to come, but this year there’s lines, and you can’t even get a ticket. So the energy is there, and it’s high.”
The excitement is also growing for Friday’s action, when teams hit the court inside the Enterprise Center. That includes Mizzou fans, some in St. Louis.
“This is neat, and I hope it gives them an extra home court advantage to be playing in the city where they have the most Mizzou alums,” said Todd Hartstein, a St. Louis Mizzou fan. “It means the world to me for a diehard Mizzou fan like me. I bleed the black and gold, so I’m very excited to have them here playing in March Madness.”
That type of excitement downtown, reflects the type of activity city leaders are looking to support with a downtown sports and entertainment community improvement district. The Board of Aldermen has a final vote on the bill this Friday. If passed, it will go to Mayor Cara Spencer for a signature.
“Generate money that we can be able to tap into on the state level to bring those dollars back down. To help with events such as, like, we have March Madness coming up, you know, we have the Olympics coming up in the next few years,” said Rasheen Aldridge, St. Louis Board of Aldermen Ward 14.
Aldridge is one of the bill sponsors. If approved, the city would have access to $2.5 million in state funds for downtown, different from other CIDs. It’s funding meant to address infrastructure and security.
“If it’s safety, if it’s beautification, and what’s really, I would say, amazing about this is a lot of times, Jefferson City don’t pass legislation to help St. Louis,” Aldridge said.
He added, “It’s like being able to have a little bit of extra money in your pocket never hurts, right? And in the same light, that’s what we’re doing. We’re being able to create a fund that does not take away from residents, as far as like taxing them more on sales tax or property tax, but generates money from the state.”
Aldridge said that frees up money for other city needs and neighborhoods and could help change the perception of downtown.
“Downtown is an economic engine of the city of St. Louis. It’s an economic engine of the state. You know, if downtown goes, the rest of our communities go,” Aldridge said. “If we’re able to supplement some of the money that we’ll be putting downtown from this entertainment district, maybe we can use those funds in other areas that also are around downtown, because it takes all communities to come together to make a St. Louis as strong and as safe that it possibly can be.”
The CID will be overseen by a board that include representatives from major sports teams and economic developers. Aldridge said part of the discussion too was representation from residents.
The eyes of the nation will be on the Gateway City over the next few days.
“I think tomorrow downtown is going to be really, really hopping,” Hartstein said.
As many hope for a win, not just for St. Louis, but their team.
McNeill said, “There’s a lot of enthusiasm and energy, and yeah, I’m super excited to see how far we’ll go and where we can take it and what we can do with the opportunity.”
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