The axiom is true: Any event held at UD Arena means big money for businesses in the area

DAYTON — The success of Red Scare, the University of Dayton men’s basketball alumni team, is another example of a tried-and-true axiom -- any event held at UD Arena means big money for businesses in the area.

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That axiom is paying huge dividends this summer because Red Scare has reached the quarterfinals of The Basketball Tournament, all while playing in the friendly confines of the arena.

“It has been a welcomed change. It’s kind of the dog days of summer and then now you’ve got this,” Larry Adkisson, general manager of Milano’s on Brown Street, told News Center 7′s James Rider on Thursday.

“Obviously a basketball town, [it] kind of all adds up. It just keeps getting better and better the more they keep winning.”

Fans and hoops lovers have filled the restaurant to watch the TBT games, which have been televised on the ESPN network and streamed on Sling, and to chat it up with the players who can still evoke the excitement and the good memories of their days playing for the university.

But Friday night, when Red Scare takes on Best Virginia (West Virginia Mountaineers alumni), you’ll be out of luck for a seat at Milano’s if you’re not going to the arena.

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“We’ll be standing room only Friday night for the game,” Adkisson said. “People will come, they’ll eat before the game.”

Contributing to the ringing cash registers is the Dayton Celtic Festival, which will begins Friday night at RiverScape MetroPark in downtown Dayton after a COVID-forced hiatus.

“We’re glad to be back,” festival Co-Chair Shawn Kain said. “Last year we had something called a Celtic Knot over the weekend.”

While not many festival goers venture to Milano’s, businesses closer to the festival in terms of location should see a handsome boost in revenue as a huge turnout is anticipated.

“Usually around 90,000, give or take,” Kain said. “We’ve had a lot of feedback from people throughout the community wanting our festival back, we’re expecting a good crowd.”

Thrown in this weekend’s CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show, at Dayton International Airport on Saturday and Sunday, and it’s a full go on the throttle for fun.

“The biggest thing is that they win,” Adkisson said of Red Scare. “It makes everybody feel good. The business we make because of it that’s just a byproduct, that’s great. I just like seeing good things for the city.”

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