Detroit Tigers games increasing business at Mount Pleasant bars

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The Detroit Tigers’ rollercoaster run to the postseason sparked business two-and-a-half hours northwest of Comerica Park.

Bars around Mount Pleasant have seen a bump in business as a result of the chase for first place between the Tigers and Minnesota Twins in the American League Central Division.

Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar, 1904 S. Mission St., has seen an increase in customer traffic due in part to recent Tigers’ games.

General Manager Michael Miller said the division race has already helped out business during the evening hours.

“Most of the games are at 7:05 p.m. — the middle of our dinner rush – and most people stay and watch most the Tigers games, as long as they’re not getting blown out,” he said. “If it’s a good or close game, they stay.”

Should Detroit clinch the division title and make it into the playoffs, Miller expects to see a larger clientele of regulars and college students, especially if the team advances past the American League Division Series.

The situation

The Tigers and Twins both won Sunday, leaving the two tied at 86-76 in the division. Detroit has had at least a share of the division lead since May.

Because the Twins won the season series (11-7), Detroit will play at Minnesota at 5 p.m. Tuesday for the A.L. Central division crown. The winner of Tuesday’s game will face the New York Yankees on Wednesday to begin a best-of-five series.

“What’s really going to decide it is if they can get past the first round,” Miller said. “If they make it past the first round, you’re probably going to have everyone jump on the bandwagon; just like for hockey or football, and we’ll be really rocking, then.”

Miller said Buffalo Wild Wings has plans in place to increase wait staff, bartenders and cooks.

Meanwhile, downtown, Marty’s Bar & Grill, 123 S. Main St., also has experienced an increase in foot traffic.

“We’ve had quite a few people in here for the Tigers’ games and expect more,” said Courtney Snodie of Marty’s. “We get quite a collective crowd in here; we get some college students, we get older people, we get variety.”

Snodie said the bar atmosphere is something not found while watching the game at home.

“It’s fun for people to be around other people. If you can’t be at the ballpark, then you can be (at the bar) with a group of people enjoying the game,” she said.