When Astros win, so do park vendors
For Minner Ford, the economic impact of the Astros is simple.
“If we win, they spend,” said Ford, a veteran beer vendor with a prime spot behind home plate.
Fans are not the only ones deeply affected by wins and losses at Minute Maid Park, where the Astros can hold people’s emotions in the palm of their glove — offering euphoria with a bat-crashing home run or despair via a bobbled pop-up. Inside and outside the ballpark, people involved in keeping the sports and entertainment enjoyment going say the outcome on the field can certainly change the outcome on their bottom line.
“When they are winning, we do better,” said Larry Cleary, who for almost 20 years has hiked beer up and down the Minute Maid stairs.
Cleary estimated a 3-5% swing in sales, comparing wins and losses. In the postseason, as crowds and the excitement swell, that difference grows — along with the pocketbooks of the crowd.
Leads often lead to a little more of a chill affair, Cleary said, attributing some of the increased sales to eased nerves.
“When they are winning, especially if they are up more than two runs, people are relaxed,” Cleary said. “If they are losing, I think their focus is more on the game, knowing they need to catch up.”
Vendors, meanwhile, often talk about the moments in the game that can make a difference, or the need for the team to strike early to get the crowd into the action.
“We’re talking about it around the table,” Cleary said. “To be ready.”
That’s just smart salesmanship no matter the sport, he said. Winning is a winner.
“It happens at the Texans games and it happens at soccer games with the Dynamo,” Cleary said.
Ford has seen a lot of winning over a 33-year career stretching back to the Summit, shortly before the Rockets brought Houston back-to-back titles — and likely some good tips for Ford.
“Sports is entertainment, people want to have a good time,” he said shortly before setting up at his prime spot behind home plate.
Astros fans agreed the beer flows a little more freely when it’s a reward for victory.
“That drowning your sorrows away, nope, that’s not me,” said Paul Feldman, 56. “I’m not going to be sad and pound a beer … but if they win, I will.”
When the games end, that spending spills into downtown Houston, where musicians said a win or loss can also mean a difference in their tips.
“The friendliness never changes to me because they still enjoy the music and give high-fives and fist bumps and compliments,” drummer Loran Bailey said. “But there is a difference in tips.”
Bailey, a mainstay along Crawford right outside the Minute Maid exit, often draws a crowd with his percussions as part of Conchshell Rhythms.
Postseason games can also draw larger crowds with more time before and after the games.
On a winning night, such as Game 1 of the division series with the Minnesota Twins, Bailey was buttressed by numerous people willing to keep the party going. During losses, such as on Sunday night to the Texas Rangers, dejected Astros fans mostly file by.
They’re down, but not out of hand, Bailey said.
“Astros fans in general are always very friendly,” he said.
After all, that is the whole point of coming to a game, win or lose.
“They come to have a good time,” Ford said.