Grizzlies baseball spells good business for Downtown Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Baseball season for the Fresno Grizzlies is exciting not only for baseball fans but local businesses are celebrating opening day as well.

When the Grizzlies hit the ball out of the park, Rick Roush says it helps everything outside the fence.

"As I say, all boats rise in a rising tide," Roush said.

He owns the T.W. Patterson building on the Fulton Mall and he's been waiting for a season like this to bring people back to Downtown Fresno and the businesses around the stadium.

"The Astros came in and we won the national championship, which was long overdue," he exclaimed. "And to have it coincide with the opening of the mall, so the renaissance has finally happened after all these years."

His tenants are ready too. Casa de Tamales is new to the building, and even with construction happening outside to open up the mall assistant manager Mariela Barragan says business is good.

"The construction workers also have to eat so they'll be definitely visiting us down here," Barragan said.

And she also believes that opening day will bring even more business.

"I'm hoping it really does attract more business down here for everyone around us," she said.

Michael Cruz is the president of Tioga-Sequoia Brewery and he says the beer garden, across from the park, gets more popular every year. And this time around, he's expecting record numbers.

"As attendance, sales and things going on," Cruz said.

And to complete the cycle, it's a home run for businesses that Roush says will be a home run for the Grizzlies.

"This is what the team has needed for a long time," he said.