Business & Tech
Rugby Tournament Kicks Off Spring Boost for Businesses Around Glen Farm
The Beast of the East rugby tournament brought extra revenue this past weekend to businesses around Glen Farm.
This weekend, rugby fans and players alike brought hustle and bustle to many locations surrounding during the Beast of the East Tournament. The event drew around 5,000 to 6,000 people to watch the 78 teams in competition, but it was nothing that the local businesses couldn’t handle.
According to chef and previous owner of , Rocco Jweinat, rugby draws a large crowd every year, but it is comparable to polo season and soccer tournaments, both which are played on the same fields.
“We had a few more people on staff than normal, but our team is pretty capable of doing big orders and turning over tables,” said Jweinat.
Find out what's happening in Portsmouthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Rocco’s definitely saw an upswing in sales regardless. “Saturday and Sunday were equally packed and the parking lot was full with people who were heading to the tournament," he said.
“I didn’t know about the tournament till I started talking to the tables,” said employee Kim Sheffield.
Find out what's happening in Portsmouthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
According to Sheffield, the restaurant is very busy on a daily basis. However, unlike normal days, out of the 20 tables she served this Saturday, around 12 were coming from the tournament.
“The parking lot was pretty packed,” said Sheffield, who also noticed that there were many people from out of town looking for places to shop in the area while they waited for certain teams to play.
Unlike Rocco’s and Fieldstones, the didn’t feel the effects quite as much.
“We didn’t notice a huge difference,” said John Wood, owner of the Green Grocer. “We noticed more grab and go traffic. People were in the store picking up prepared foods, fruits and beverages.”
According to Wood, this behavior is normal around the season. “Last year, during the rugby tournament, it was the same and when polo and soccer are in season, it’s all about the quick purchases.”
Though there is increased traffic, the impact isn’t great. “It is our regular customers that do their weekly shopping here who are our bread and butter," he said.
Many more events will be held this spring at Glen Farm, bringing much more traffic and customers to local businesses.