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Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp play important role in downtown success, local brewery says

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are back and downtown is beginning to buzz, but what’s the overall impact it brings to local spots?

Well– one brewery says more fans, more customers.

Last season was cancelled due to COVID-19 and while it’s great for fans to have baseball back, it’s even better for the city.

Action News Jax spoke to Bold City Brewery who said on game days, sales get at least a 20 percent sales bump.

With the team now being a AAA affiliate, the brewery believes it could get as high as 30 percent and that puts it at nearly the same boost the brewery told Action News Jax it gets when the Jaguars play.

Will Frazier is the manager for Bold City Brewery and says the Jumbo Shrimp bring a much-needed crowd.

“People will have their gear on, stop by and say, ‘we are heading for the game’ or we just left the game, it’s something that’s definitely noticeable,” Frazier said.

With new limited seating, a sellout crowd is about 3,300 fans. Opening day bought in 3,469 people while game two brought in 2,565 fans - the home games this weekend are already sold out.

Frazier says downtown businesses rely on the sports team, adding that the Jumbo Shrimp play just as an important role to their business as the Jaguars.

“The Jumbo Shrimp, them having success is good because you get all this activity from the Jaguars, but the more popular they get the better it is for all of us,” he said.

The Shrimp are currently 3-0 on the season.

Frazier says with more vaccinations, people are comfortable with going out again and showing some love to downtown businesses.