CWS 2024: Vendors say business is booming inside Omaha Baseball Village

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Severe weather comes with the territory when hosting an event in the middle of June in the heartland. On Tuesday night, CWS officials didn’t mess around, and pushed the game scheduled for 6 p.m. game to Wednesday morning.

When a game starts at 10 a.m. it doesn’t leave much room for tailgating. Those without tickets gathered around a TV, so any cheers they hear from inside the stadium would make more sense.

For business owners, a triple-header offers challenges on how to plan the day.

‘We had no idea how to prepare,” said Matt Baughman with Greek To Me. “We were ready at 8 a.m. but we didn’t get much of a rush.”

This is the second year that Greek To Me has planted its food truck in the hearts of the Omaha Baseball Village.

“There aren’t a lot of options besides hot dogs and hamburgers, so the gyro has been very popular,” Baughman said.

The food truck is serving up authenticity. Some customers even gave them an informal quiz as a test.

“We’ll have Greek people come to the truck and speak Greek,” said Chris Antonopoulos. “Our wives will say, ‘I don’t know what they’re saying,’ so I’ll come to the register and start speaking Greek.”

Nitro Ice Cream has been serving up food downtown since the final days of Rosenblatt Stadium. At the halfway point of the CWS, business has been strong.

“It’s been crazy,” said Tony Rinn with Nitro. “We ran out twice. It was a lot of fun.”

Especially during Saturday’s four-hour rain delay.

“It was a record Saturday for our food truck,” Antonopoulos said. “It was absolutely wild. Our sales were up about 25 percent this year.”

And if you can’t find what you’re looking for in the merchandise tents, just ask one of the workers. Maybe it will work as a gift.

“I have a cupholder here in my apron just in case after we’re done working I want to grab a beer,” Rinn said. “I have a bottle opener, too, just in a case I have a neck bottle.”

The footprint around Charles Schwab Field keep growing every year, in addition to new attractions for fans. Next year will prove to be one of the biggest celebrations yet, as Omaha recognizes 75 years of hosting the Greatest Show on Dirt.

Copyright 2024 WOWT. All rights reserved.