“For the most part, we just stock up for all the games,” Smaby said.

Smaby said the fact that this year’s Homecoming game is at night could increase Campus Street Sportswear’s business throughout the day, and also pump up the crowd a bit more beforehand.
“We’re just excited for it — I wish there were more home games and that there were more night games,” Smaby said.

“Everyone seems to be more into the night games.”

With the Homecoming night game matchup coming up Saturday at Spartan Stadium, businesses are making appropriate preparations and anticipating different models.

Dan Kirby, manager of Spartan Hall of Fame Café, 1601 W. Lake Lansing Road, doesn’t expect to see the typical business trends of big business on football weekend change for this year’s Homecoming game — just the timing of when the customers will be there.

Kirby said the crowd from the U-M game last weekend likely are indicative of Wisconsin’s crowd, but more alumni might come in large groups, and they might show up at the eatery during different times of the day.

“There was an electric crowd during the (U-M) game — standing room only,” Kirby said. “The timing is a little bit different, but we still expect a great turnout and a fun day.”

To anticipate for the extra business, Kirby said the restaurant opens early on afternoon game days and stays open later during night games.

Brian Lee, a front office supervisor at the East Lansing Marriott at University Place, 300 M.A.C. Ave., said the Marriott and many other area hotels sell out during high-profile football games.

During homecoming, however, Lee said more of the crowd is alumni-based, whereas other large games — such as the MSU and U-M matchup last weekend — draw a largely student-based customers.

“Primarily for the homecoming day you’ll see a lot more alumni,” Lee said. “There’s plenty of people that flock into town.”