they call it the Hudson River rivalry a showdown between the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers in the playoffs the Devils taking the lead in the series last night with a four-nothing win over the Rangers bringing them 3-2 in the series but the Devils aren't the only winners in the Rivalry the city of Newark is seeing crowds flood its downtown and as Ted Goldberg reports that could change the game in the state's largest city oh the devil's first playoff trip in five years has brought more hockey and more excitement to downtown Newark let's go Devils yeah it's also big for Rangers fans in New Jersey who don't have to cross the Hudson River to watch their favorite team it's freaking awesome man let me tell you right here with some good people you know it looks like a good time I can't wait I'm going to game six at the Garden I'm having black it's a great feeling to have playoff hockey just to have our boys out there on the ice okay enough about that guy some hockey fans traveled a little further than just a few counties uh Texas we went to the airport really early like we got up at like 4 30. um and then it was like a two and a half like two and a half hour flight and then we got here and it was like an hour drive from New York for local business owners these playoff games have led to a nice boost in Revenue we have a full crowd every home game literally we're noticing more business with the playoffs and it actually starts earlier people are coming to come into the site here a lot earlier during the day now instead of coming at like five o'clock people are getting here around four o'clock and eating and then going over there it's been good for business John harrindo is the part owner of Ellie's Bistro a stone's throw away from the Prudential Center they started selling pizzas two years ago when kovitz still crippled local businesses and kept crowds away from the rock they were aren't even open when we first opened then they started taking PR I think allowing like 20 capacity and then just kept adding as as it went on City Hall wasn't even open when we opened up part of it is the capacity of the Arena the other part of it is the Public's trust and going out to restaurants places of gathering indoors in particular that that it affected us it was a significant uh loss of business for us Kevin hussaini is a co-owner of American whiskey a bar sitting right next to the home of the Devils they've been open for two years and I've seen the Devils put together one of the worst records in the league only to turn things around and finish this season with the third best Mark in the NHL you can guess which led to higher sales positivity leads to people coming earlier staying after uh uh we always want the guests to be happier and it shows in our sales it shows in our attendance and it shows in morale businesses have a positive impact when teams make playoffs runs there's watch parties people are excited they go for a social aspect to be around other fans but there's also people hosting friends and family not large watch parties in their own homes so it has a positive impact on the local restaurants as well even the the takeout Market Josh lupinek is an associate professor of Sport Marketing at Montclair State he estimates that each home playoff game brings 100 to 200 thousand dollars for the city of Newark a credit to New Jersey's hockey fandom and the Devils organization as an organization the Devils have been uh wonderful in gearing up you see a lot of different things that they're doing outside the Prudential Center and hopefully that continues in their run as this first round playoff series comes to a close either Saturday or Monday it might be hard to know who's cheering louder for the devils devils fans or newark's local business owners in Newark I'm Ted Goldberg MJ Spotlight news support for the business report provided by the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey working for economic Prosperity by uniting business and Community leaders for 150 years membership and event information online at chamber snj.com [Music] [Music]