Haley Jacobs
•6/13/2026
ESTERO, Fla. (WINK) — As the Florida Everblades continue their push for another Kelly Cup championship, local business owners say the excitement isn't staying inside Hertz Arena.
With thousands of fans packing the arena during the Kelly Cup Finals, nearby restaurants and businesses say they are seeing more customers before and after games — providing an economic boost during a typically slower time of year in Southwest Florida.
The series is tied 2-2, with Game 5 set for Saturday night in Estero. It is the last home game of the series before the finals shift to Missouri for Games 6 and 7, if necessary.
For the Estero Chamber of Commerce, the impact of a deep playoff run extends far beyond the rink.
"People come in early for the games, so there are a lot of businesses that definitely benefit from the hockey team doing so well," said Cliff Brand, president and CEO of the Estero Chamber of Commerce.
Brand said fans often visit nearby restaurants, bars and retail centers before heading to the arena, helping drive traffic to businesses throughout the area.
At Mario's Sports Bar & Grill, located just minutes from Hertz Arena, owner Carlos Velez says Everblades games bring a noticeable increase in customers.
"We have fans coming before the game and after," Velez said. "So yes, definitely, when there is a game, we are beneficiaries of that."
Velez took over the family-oriented restaurant about five months ago and says playoff hockey has introduced new customers to the business through word of mouth and game-day traffic.
The added business is especially important as Southwest Florida moves into its summer months.
"Even though we are in a low season time, the games always bring people to us," Velez said.
For longtime customer Dory Levy-Johnson, Mario's is more than just a place to grab a meal.
At 93 years old, she visits frequently and says the restaurant feels like a second home.
"This is my wonderful escape from being home," Levy-Johnson said.
She credits the welcoming atmosphere created by Velez and his family for keeping her coming back.
"Carlos and his family are like family," she said.
Business owners say that while a championship run can create a short-term surge in customers, they hope those first-time visitors become regulars long after the playoffs end.
And with Saturday night's game marking the final guaranteed home game of the Kelly Cup Finals, many businesses are hoping to make the most of the crowds while they can.
For fans, the focus may be on what happens on the ice.
For businesses across Estero, the playoff run is also creating opportunities off of it.
