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Craig Harris Bill Smith, the fan, would love to see the Phoenix Suns win four straight games against the Los Angeles Clippers and advance to the Western Conference Finals in the NBA playoffs. But Smith, the downtown Phoenix restaurant owner, wouldn't mind another seven-game playoff series. That is if the Suns win. "I jokingly say I bet $10,000 on each (playoff) game, because that is what a good night of revenue is," said Smith, owner of Stoudemire's Downtown. advertisement The playoffs have been good to Phoenix and not just for sports fans. Downtown merchants take in about $221,000 in revenue from fans attending Suns home playoff games. That total comes from the estimated 8,325 fans who attend the game and wine, dine or shop heading to or coming from the game, according to a study by the Downtown Phoenix Partnership. After tonight's sixth home playoff game in US Airways Center, basketball fans will have spent roughly $1.3 million, according to the business group that represents an area called Copper Square. "Financially, having a seven-game series is a good deal," said Brian Kearney, president and chief executive of the partnership. "These are big nights for us. It's a great feeling on the streets when you have all those people walking around." Kearney said about 45 percent of the fans who attend games in 18,422-seat arena spend money downtown before and after games. If the series against the Clippers goes seven games, the Suns would have two more home games for this round. Playing in the Western Conference Finals and NBA Finals would guarantee at least four additional home playoff games. Two of those fans were Candy and Ron Ryan of Scottsdale, who were looking for a restaurant before Monday's second-round game against the Clippers. "When there are playoff games, we can't get in (a restaurant) unless we come down 30 to 45 minutes earlier," Ron Ryan said. Business has been so hot during the playoff run that the Hard Rock Café, across the street from the arena, has turned away some fans. "It's frustrating when that happens," said Larry Rodriguez, Hard Rock's general manager. "We are packed." Rodriguez said if the Suns make the playoffs again next year, his restaurant will be better suited to handle the crowds because the restaurant is expanding from 167 seats to 200 seats. Entrepreneurs also have made a buck on the Suns' success. Michael Calmese, a sales representative for True Logo Fan Inc., said the Phoenix-based firm sold 150 T-shirts before Game 7 on Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers, and the company would be selling $10 orange shirts during the series against the Clippers. "It's spontaneous spending. People will spend $10 on a shirt. It's for the true fans, and the price won't kill them," said Calmese, who was selling at the corner of Second and Washington streets. And, of course, the playoffs are a financial windfall for the Suns. The team will gross in excess of $1 million for hosting each home playoff game, according to Rick Welts, Suns president. Welts declined to disclose the team's net revenues. But he said the league also takes a cut, and if there's an odd number of games during a playoff series then the visiting team also gets a portion of the revenues. "There are a lot of hands in the till," Welts said. back>>
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