SEATTLE — It will be a big sports weekend in Seattle, with a Seahawks game on Sunday night and the NHL’s Winter Classic matchup between the Seattle Kraken and the Las Vegas Golden Knights on Monday inside T-Mobile Park.
Just north of the ballpark is Pioneer Square, where businesses hope the big event will bring in some fans.
“We’re excited and hoping for it to be really busy,” said Claire Becket, a server and bartender at Muse Lounge in Pioneer Square.
The Winter Classic is one of a few big events that have helped bring business to some places like Muse this year, in addition to events like the Taylor Swift concerts and the MLB All-Star Game. But Becket said small events are helpful, too.
“There were some Christmas markets around that brought a lot of people in and it was really nice to see like how that brought people in and gave us more recognition,” said Becket of how events help Pioneer Square businesses.
Events give people more reason to come to the area, which Becket, who has worked at Muse since it opened a year and a half ago, said struggled with issues in past years. She thinks the area has been revitalized and that this summer people noticed the positive changes that had been made.
“I think people are starting to realize that the places around here are like fun to go to and it's not like, a scary place anymore,” said Becket.
Other businesses in the area say they love having big events nearby, but that they have not always brought in the anticipated crowds.
“We all expected the big bang with the MLB [All-Star Game] and that turned out to be a huge bust,” said Angela Morello-Williams, owner of Luigi’s Italian Eatery. “So everyone is approaching this very cautiously because it can go either way.”
Luigi’s Italian Eatery has been in Pioneer Square for over 30 years. While Morello-Williams said improvements have been made in the neighborhood, she said more year-round efforts are needed by the city.
“You can't live on the one-offs,” said Morello-Williams. “You've got to have a steady and consistent base in order for any business to survive.”
The Alliance for Pioneer Square said there have been 30 new business leases in the neighborhood in 2023 and that they have seen an uptick in foot traffic, return to the office, and tourism.