Texas A&M hosting the NCAA Super Regional, businesses are preparing for an influx of customers

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – The Aggies punched their ticket to the NCAA baseball Super Regional after sweeping their way through the NCAA Bryan-College Station Regional this past weekend.

The Number 4 seed Aggies will play Oregon at 1 p.m. at Olsen Field, just hours before the Brazil vs Mexico game at Kyle Field at 7:30 p.m.

Fans and local businesses are getting excited and can’t wait to celebrate when the event-packed weekend rolls around.

The owner of Carney’s Pub and Grill, Barry Ivans, says this past weekend they were up 35% in occupancy compared to a normal weekend at their location in Bryan, and next weekend he’s expecting that number to grow.

Ivans owns both Carney’s Pub and Grill off South College Avenue and the Corner Bar and Rooftop Grill on Northgate and saw the first-hand effects of the NCAA Regional.

“We saw a lot of regulars with people from out of town so the groups of 4 to 6 ended up being 8 to 12,″ said Ivans. ”The first weekend in June this past weekend was much better than what we saw last year in June, we were up quite a bit and I can only imagine what this weekend will look like compared to last week when we got the Super Regional as well as the soccer game,“ said Ivans.

In a month that’s usually slow for business in town, it’s now all hands on deck.

“All the servicers are making money so everybody and every staff is working this weekend,” said Ivans. “When you see the hotels fill up, like we get a lot of the Stella staff here so they are all going to make great money here in the next two weekends and we’ll get to see them, and then our staff will get to make money and they’ll spend it at Shipwreck and it kind of keeps trading out to each other and helps everyone’s business.”

With both the Super Regional and the Mexico vs. Brazil soccer game happening on Saturday, the manager of the Corner Bar and Rooftop Grill on Northgate, James Walls, is expecting to be just as crowded as home football weekends.

“We have DJ’s on all 3 floors after the game on Saturday night, so we’re expecting a lot of people to come out after the game whether they win or lose,” said Walls.

The Corner is expecting so many people, they’ll open early on Saturday.

“Saturday we are expecting it all day because the Mexico versus Brazil game is not until 7 p.m., but we’re opening our doors at noon just getting ready for the crowds coming in,” said Walls.

Fans are excited to continue supporting the team after an exciting season.

These events are attracting locals and out-of-towners alike, bringing lots of people into town during the usually slower month.

“I think it’s cool because it makes it feel more like an actual city not just a college town, you know, so I think it’s good to bring more events and stuff like that nearby,” said student Jason Salazar. “Gig ’Em aggies! Whoop!”