NFC Playoffs: Influx of fans, money

Updated: Monday, 09 Jan 2012, 10:21 PM CST
Published : Monday, 09 Jan 2012, 5:41 PM CST

GREEN BAY - Sunday's Giants-Packers playoff game has area businesses preparing for what should be a boon to business. Big money from the Big Apple is expected to flood into the Green Bay area as New York fans come to town.

"The heavy hitters coming here on a private jet, they're probably here, spending more money," said Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Brad Toll.

During a regular season, home football game, around $8.2 million is spent in the Green Bay area.

With the upcoming playoff game, the Convention and Visitors Bureau can only speculate, it’s expected that number million will go up, considerably.

"All of these (tourists) are out, enjoying our restaurants, they're shopping in our stores, they're spending money at gas stations,” said Toll.

“So those dollars get spread throughout our community, and a lot of times, in places people don't even think of."

From the moment Eli Manning's knee touched the ground, people from New York started calling Jet Air â€" an aircraft services operator at Austin Straubel International Airport â€" looking for spots to park their private planes.

“All six (phone lines) have been ringing since the game ended," said Al Timmerman, Chief Operating Officer of Jet Air Group.

Timmerman says Jet Air can handle around 100 planes on their runway ramps and expects the now-empty ramps to be filled, come Sunday.

"New York is one of our popular games here,” said Timmerman, “We have a lot of people that fly in from New York."

Austin Straubel International Airport is also preparing for the influx of fans, bringing in more workers to handle the increase in traffic.

And traffic means money.

"They have a huge following that goes with them when they hit the road,” said Tim Miller, Director of Austin Straubel International Airport.

“So we're expecting a rather large contingent to come to Green Bay next weekend," said Miller.

And that giant contingent of Giants fans will also be looking for tickets.

"We sold a bunch online, right after the Giants won," said Josh Anderson, manger at TicketKing, an Ashwaubenon ticket broker dealing in sports, concert and theatre tickets.

As of Monday afternoon, Green Bay area ticket brokers were seeing tickets for Sunday’s game sell for around $200.

They expect those prices to go up.