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Omaha feels the impact from record breaking crowds at CWS

Posted at 10:57 PM, Jun 27, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-28 15:24:19-04

Another huge crowd filled T.D Ameritrade Park Tuesday night for game two of the championship match-up between LSU and Florida at the College World Series.

Tuesday night broke an attendance record from 2015 with 357,646 fans attending the games this year. This comes after the tournament saw a decrease in fan attendance at the ballpark last year.    

SEE RELATED: Attendance for 2017 College World Series dramatically improves from last year

“It sure seems like there is something going on,” said t-shirt vendor John Brovold, he had ideas for the increased number of fans. “The team from LSU, the fans from LSU, there is no better college baseball fan base than LSU.”

“This is my first time here and has been absolutely wonderful,” said LSU fan Angle Avcock.

The LSU fans love supporting their baseball, and they love coming to Omaha and checking out the local hotspots.

“Blatts is right there we went to Blatts that is wonderful,” said Avcock.

“We got here Sunday and went to Barrettes and got in and no one was there, and I asked where all the LSU people where, and within a half hour the place was packed, everyone knows about Barrettes,” added another LSU fan.

The crowds definitely help the vendors.

“They are just great fans and the greatness of the fans transfers over to them buying merchandise to support their team,” said Brovold.

“This is really as good as it gets,” said Randy Thelen with the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.

Thelen said the CWS is the time to show off our city.

“Any time you host a party at your home, you want as many people to show up,” said Thelen. 

Thelen said last year the CWS has a  $70 million economic impact but this year might reach a record $100 million economic impact if the series goes to a third game.