When alumni, families and friends visit for Ball State University's Homecoming, they leave after the weekend celebration. But their money stays behind.
There are two things all Homecoming visitors must have - food and a bed to sleep in. While some people stay with friends or family, many check into local hotels.
"All the hotels end up selling out Homecoming weekend," Holiday Inn Express manager Chris Willhite said.
The Holiday Inn Express has been booked for three months, he said. The hotel is 75 percent full during the week and completely full Friday and Saturday.
Lee's Inn and Suites also fills quickly, but manager Jeremy Lorance said rooms could still be found online at higher rates. While many alumni, family and other people are in town for Homecoming, he said only one-third to one-half of guests were in Muncie for the festivities.
Willhite estimated about 80 percent of his guests were Homecoming related.
Local restaurants also plan ahead to accommodate all the visitors eating out. Some restaurants, such as Applebee's Neighborhood Bar and Grill on McGalliard Road, expect an increase in business because of its location.
"We are always busy, and so is everyone else on the main drag," Miss Williams, Applebee's manager, said. Based on their sales last year, Miss Williams said she expected a 10 percent increase in sales, which is reflected in the weekend schedule. Employees work more hours, and she said she expected a busy weekend.
"It's pretty exhausting, but afterwards you are like, 'Yes!'" Miss Williams said. "And the kids make good money tip-wise because people are happy. Everyone is happy and giving, and everyone has fun."
Scott Craddock, general manager at Scotty's Brewhouse, said it had a similar atmosphere. Being located near campus and on the parade route puts the restaurant in the middle of Homecoming festivities. He said the restaurant was busy all week long, and can do twice its normal business Homecoming Saturday.
"We just bulk up our staff," Craddock said. "We've been doing it for so long now we know how many people we need at each position. It's a good day, and we actually get a lot of requests to work that day from the employees. It's a fun day for everyone - the staff has a lot of fun and so do the guests."
In celebration, Scotty's opens at 9 a.m. today to serve breakfast. Craddock said alumni and families usually line up out the door because they are waiting for the parade to start. He said Scotty's also gets some students looking for breakfast before tailgate.
The business is heavy all weekend, but Craddock said he enjoys it even though it is busy.
"It's been good to us over the years," Craddock said. "It's just neat to see some of the same people come back every year - even if it's just to have a drink, they at least stop by."
Scotty's is located down in the Village, where many visitors go to spend time, grab a bite to eat, or find Ball State souvenirs.
TIS Bookstore manager Keith Williams said the store does about four times its normal business on Homecoming weekend. Most people coming in are alumni or families looking for Ball State apparel, he said.
"Probably 80 percent-plus of sales would be clothing," Keith Williams said. "We will sell a lot of shot glasses and different things like that, but it's primarily clothing people look for."
Homecoming visitors not only enjoy their weekend, but they support Ball State - and the Muncie economy.
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