SOUTH BEND — Huge crowds filed into South Bend Friday, as Notre Dame prepared for this weekend's big matchup with USC. This year, fans have two options for Football Friday parties, and some are concerned events near the Irish Green may be drawing "green" away from downtown South Bend.
ND alum Danny Smith made the trip to the Irish Green from Chicago Friday, meeting up with his dad Jim from Washington, D.C. and his friend Steve from San Francisco to take in the sights and sounds of the Friday before a big game.
"This is different than the past few years with USC," he said. "This feels like the 2005 season again. The energy level is just so high."
So was the excitement from the crowd at Notre Dame's pep rally on the Irish Green in front of DeBartolo Hall. The event was moved to the outdoor site this year as renovations to the Joyce Center continue.
Most fans seemed to enjoy the change in scenery.
"We love the new format for all this with the pep rally," said Paul Schuler, who drove to South Bend with his two sons from New Jersey. "We put this on the map last year and said--this is the year to beat USC. We had to be here, and it's been a lot of fun."
"This is fantastic. This is great," agreed John Guyet, also of New Jersey, surveying the growing crowd on the Irish Green. "There's a lot going on."
"They expected 20,000 people out here tonight," said South Bend/Mishawaka Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Lynn Kachmarik, manning a tent on the Green's west side.
For her, the crowd meant one thing: opportunity.
"We pushed a lot of people to downtown South Bend. A lot of people come up to our tent, and we'll tell them-- hey--after the pep rally, get down to the downtown block party. And that way, not only can they experience new Eddy Street (Commons), but we can get them downtown for the block party and the atmosphere there."
They even made it easy to get there.
A free Transpo trolley ran from 5pm to 10pm between Eddy Street Commons and downtown South Bend. Organizers said they were satisfied that riders were taking advantage of the service.
But, early trolley trips showed many were only going "one way" toward Eddy Street from the downtown area. Some riders WSBT spoke with said the trolley was a convenient way to get to the block party at Eddy Street Commons or the pep rally on the Irish Green without having to search for parking near campus.
Meanwhile, by 6:30pm, a crowd of about 50 people were out enjoying live music, food and drinks at the DTSB Football Friday event in the parking lot next to the College Football Hall of Fame--far different than the record setting crowds approaching 1,000 people for Notre Dame's first two home games against Nevada and Michigan State.
So, are the events closer to campus to blame for the drop-off?
DTSB's executive director says no.
"I think weather is the main factor for people choosing to do something different in an inside venue, or they're just staying home," said Marco Mariani, standing outside the Football Friday stage. "It's a little chilly tonight. So, that tends to dampen the enthusiasm for people coming out and about."
While large crowds did turn out for Notre Dame's outdoor event, Mariani says the crowd on the Irish Green may have a different mindset.
"The (DTSB) event is really a local, regional type draw. And it always has been. The Irish Green is something new. And my guess is, most of the visitors at the Irish Green are from out of town that are coming to have a campus experience. That's where they're staying, and that's fine. Because, this is a local event with our block parties. And, we certainly have our crowd that comes to downtown South Bend," Mariani said.
It's one reason why Mariani says he doesn't view the Eddy Street or Irish Green events as competition.
"It's unfair to judge this event and this turnout--which isn't bad--to anything else. Because, the weather certainly affects it," he said.
Still, unfair or not, the low numbers do have some downtown businesses concerned.
"It does (concern us) because we're used to getting a lot more business in the fall and we make a lot more money," said Amber Brown, Shift Manager at South Bend Chocolate Cafe.
"Right now, it's just at a concern point. We're not seeing a huge hit in the bottom line. But, I am mostly seeing Notre Dame people come in here. Usually, it's a lot of tourists coming in (on a home game weekend). We're hoping that picks up Saturday," Brown continued.
Kachmarik is convinced it will.
She's also convinced both events can be successful at the same time.
"I think the new-ness of Eddy Street Commons is playing a big role still. And, I think, in time, it's going to balance out and we'll get more people down there," she said.
They'll only get one more shot at it this season--next week when Boston College comes to town. After that, weather becomes too big a factor to compete with.
But, even if chilly temperatures keep crowds away from DTSB's event next weekend too, Mariani says "Football Fridays" will continue next year--even with the College Football Hall of Fame likely on its way out of town.
"We are committed to having a football Friday event on home game weekends," he said. "We have the full backing of the downtown businesses, and I think there will be lots of good things to come."
