Fort Collins businesses pull out the stops for Colorado State stadium opener

Thousands of Ram fans — and a few Oregon State boosters —  will christen CSU's new stadium on Saturday, but Fort Collins' businesses hope to score, too. 

From Old Town to Midtown, retailers and business groups are ramping up for the big game, offering drink and food specials, giveaways, free breakfasts and shuttles.

Businesses are hoping for the best but admittedly don't know what to expect. Big events don't always translate into big business.

"We are a little nervous, I'm not going to lie," said Nate Haas, owner of Krazy Karl's pizza, which has locations in Campus West and Timberline Road. "It's going to be fun."

More:Where to catch a shuttle to the on-campus CSU football game Saturday

Krazy Karl's is opening early, offering food and drink specials and hoping to bake a record 20,000 pies. Haas hopes some people will come to watch the game, too, not just get food for carryout or delivery.

The Boot Grill near the Colorado State University campus and Lucky Joe's in Old Town Square will both open for breakfast, hoping to lure customers before kickoff. 

Lucky Joe's will give away free T-shirts to the first 24 Ram fans who come in for breakfast. Bartender and server Krestienne Gaona said legendary CSU running back Kevin McDougal will be a guest bartender during the first game-day breakfast.

Jeff Bostic, general manager of The Boot Grill, hopes to fill his 200-seat restaurant and rooftop patio throughout the day.

He is doubling his workforce on Saturday, serving free breakfast — scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon and biscuits and gravy — to provide a hearty send-off for those going to the game and fans who want to support the Rams in absentia. 

"We want to be the tailgate spot since we are close to the stadium and a big supporter of CSU," Bostic said. 

More:CSU stadium: Game day parking, shuttles and bus routes

The Boot will also have giveaways and free shuttles "to get customers safely to and from the game," he said. 

Just down the street, Pickle Barrel owner Brenda Smith says Saturday will be business as usual. The popular sandwich store was busy during the stadium open house, but "the stadium has never been on campus before so it's a whole new world," she said. "I don't have anything to judge it against." 

Snack Attack, a new sandwich eatery at College Avenue and Stuart Street, is in the pedestrian path to the stadium and MAX, the city's bus rapid transit system. 

"We have no idea what the expect," said co-owner Lauren Storeby. "We hope to be busy. We are gearing up to be busy." 

Snack Attack is offering drink and food specials and participating in Get Your Green On on Friday. Customers wearing green shirts will get 20 percent off their order. 

The Downtown Business Association has launched the Downtown Fort Collins GameDay Experience campaign to paint downtown as "the place to be" on home-game weekends, said DBA Executive Director Jason Dennison. 

The DBA is working with CSU to paint the town green by having artists create Rams sidewalk chalk art beginning Friday morning downtown. Banners already hang in Old Town Square, and green and gold lights illuminate the square's fountain.

More:Tickets available for CSU's sold-out season opener, but they'll cost you

Pre- and post-game opportunity

Businesses on Saturday could see three different crowds: pregamers who stop to tailgate, those watching the game on TV, and postgame revelers who want to keep the party going long after the final whistle. 

"Hopefully we will have people coming to watch the game, too," said Katie Schaefer, manager of Black Bottle Brewery, which will host a pregame tailgate party on an extended patio three hours before every home game. 

As one of the closest bars to the stadium, Black Bottle hopes fans will bike or take MAX to the brewery, Schaefer said. "Hopefully people are MAX(ing) or biking in early and coming to tailgate. Hopefully it will not be too much of a drunk mess afterward."

Black Bottle will open at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and 10:30 a.m. for the Sept. 9 game. 

More:What you can eat and drink at the new CSU football stadium

Shuttle services

• Maya Cove will offer game day shuttles for every CSU home game this year. Shuttle tickets cost $25 and include round-trip transportation to and from the game, a pre-game snack off of the Alabama bar’s smoker, and a drink at the bar before and after each game. Shuttle tickets can be purchased in advance or on game day at Maya Cove, 2100 W. Drake Road, or by calling 970-484-0181.
• The Boot Grill, 130 W. Laurel St., will offer shuttle service for the home opener. Information: 970-682-2652. 
• Is your business offering a shuttle? Email citynews@coloradoan.com with details and we'll add your information.