Last year, the 2023 NFL Draft was held at Union Station in Kansas City. Local businesses were thrilled to be in the heart of all the action and saw significant benefits from being located near the event. Jayaun Smith, owner of Sauced, credited the NFL Business Connect Program for helping his business reach new heights. When Smith received the call from the program, he described it as an unreal moment that filled him with excitement.
Being in a prime location during the draft significantly boosted Sauced’s visibility and profitability. Smith noted a substantial increase in gross profit, allowing him to hire more employees and expand his operations. The surge in orders and foot traffic on Fridays following the draft has been a significant blessing for the business. For Smith, being selected as a personal chef for the draft was a dream come true, especially as a native of Kansas City. Seeing his business benefit from the draft experience made the whole event even more special for him.
On the other hand, Alex Pope, co-owner of Local Pig and Pigwich, had a slightly different experience despite being located along the streetcar route. While Local Pig’s restaurant saw more customers during
