Bar profits from Hawks stellar performance

This last month, suburban residents have seen the impact sports and entertainment can have on local businesses.

First it was "American Idol" star Lee DeWyze. His concert at Arlington Park drew 41,000. The racetrack's food court was packed. Vendors wished he could play there every weekend as fans eagerly bought merchandise and packed the stands.

Last weekend, the Blackhawks advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals and Friday's game 3 versus San Jose was the busiest day ever for Bannerman's Sports Grill in Bartlett. Owner Murray Friedman said more than 500 showed up and it was standing room only.

Getting fans into the bar while the economy has been slumping has been a challenge for Friedman.

The Bartlett village board panned an idea for the bar to host mixed-martial arts fights. Palatine's village council then went ahead and approved fights for Durty Nellie's, a bar in that village.

But the Hawks deep playoff run has given Friedman something to grab. The bar spent $1,000 buying a goal horn that sounds after each Hawk score. He invested in laser lights to simulate the players' intro at the United Center.

The more games the Blackhawks play, the better for Friedman. For game three, the bar when through 100 cases of Miller Lite bottles and ran out. Normal Fridays, they only go through 35. But more games isn't exactly what Friedman wants.

"I'm probably the only bar or restaurant owner wishing for a sweep," he said. "I wanted to guarantee the Stanley Cup; we don't need them playing five or six games."