Some of the biggest names in gymnastics, including Suni Lee, Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles, are taking their talents to Hartford's XL Center for the Core Hydration Classic.
This competition will be her last chance to qualify for the USA Gymnastics Championships, a stepping stone to this summer's Olympics in Paris. With all the star power, Hartford is in the spotlight this weekend.
“This is huge. You can't underestimate how important something like this is to downtown,” said Erin Sweeney of Bones Public House on Pratt Street.
According to people who work in the area, this type of event at the XL Center is a huge deal for businesses on Pratt Street and the surrounding area.
“We get people who aren't regular regular flyers,” Sweeney said.
The senior women's division opens Saturday with a lineup that includes Biles, Lee and Douglas. These names alone are enough to generate buzz for local business.
“It's just exciting. It's great. We're preparing our guys for it. It's going to be a great weekend,” Sweeney said.
Experts say the heavy foot traffic and renewed focus on the downtown scene is impacting not just restaurants and bars, but all businesses along the street.
“It's great for restaurants and retailers to have people walk through the doors and see for the first time what Pratt Street is really going to be like,” said David Griggs of the Metro Hartford Alliance. he said.
Gentle Bull Shop, right next door to Vaughan's, also just noticed an increase in car traffic on Friday.
“I noticed a lot of people walking up and down the street,” said store owner Gabriel Rodrigue.
She said the XL Center has had a string of big events that draw people, including the recent Bad Bunny concert and the UConn Championship Parade.
“Whenever there’s a big event at the XL Center, there’s always more people,” Rodrigue said.
She said whenever there's an attractive place downtown, it's worth swinging the doors open.
“Depending on the situation, some people come back even though nothing is going on, just because they want to come see us,” Rodrigue said.
