BRISTOL – The Eastern Region Little League Tournament is officially underway, and Bristol’s businesses are cashing in on tourists who are in town to cheer on their teams.
However, the series is shorter this year, much to the dismay of business owners like Kevin Fuller of Dunphy’s Ice Cream .
“We lose four or five days,” Fuller said of the change. “I’m not a fan of it because we do lose a little bit of business from it.”
A new promotion by the city and Bristol Chamber of Commerce might help. It’s called “Round Bristol’s Bases.” People are invited to swing by businesses in four categories: local restaurants, ethnic eateries, dessert places and cultural centers. Customers hit a base for every category. If they make it home--or to a business in each category--they're entered into a lottery for a grand prize, including a hotel stay and Lake Compounce adventure.
Dunphy’s, which sits around the corner from Breen Field, is participating, as is the New England Carousel Museum, which is more than three miles away.
“We’re really excited. We hope that we’ll get some extra business this year that we wouldn’t normally get from doing this program,” said Dori Green at the New England Carousel Museum.
“I think it’s really good because it spreads promotion around so it’s going to hit more than one place and promote more than one place all at once so it benefits all of us in the city,” Green said.
The promotion is available to residents too.
“There’s some places I would go to already on there. It wouldn’t be out of our way," said Marcella Jalbert who just learned of “Round Bristol’s Bases.”
Jeremy Hammerman agreed. “It’s like a fun little thing I think the town’s doing. We always drive by the Little League games, so it’s probably a good money maker,” said Hammerman.
Fuller hopes so, because he said long lines at Dunphy’s could make up for the short series.
“The promo is going to hopefully offset the days that they’re not here,” Fuller said. “I think if I got 30 or 40 [customers from “Round Bristol’s Bases”] that’s a very successful campaign.”
“Round Bristol’s Bases” includes a 15 percent discount at all participating places. It runs until August 16. Learn how and where the promotion works here.