Millions of dollars and thousand of jobs ride in part on the dedication of the fans to their hoopsters. During the lockout months of October and November, Duke's closed for renovation and reemerged with an Italian theme as Duke's-La Palina. Restaurant manager Norris Bacho says the renovation timing was no accident. We wanted to make sure we reopened before they settled. He has no doubts the lockout was bad for business.
Every time there's a home game, it's like New Year's Eve.
Those games drive our sales. But it's not just his staff that's excited. He says the vendors who deliver staples like bread and wine are perking up as well. They're tickled pink. When our sales go up, their sales go up.