The highly anticipated Chelsea-Wrexham clash at Kenan Stadium was just over 24 hours away on Tuesday night and Franklin Street was bustling for a mid-summer night.
Many Chapel Hill business owners are seeing a bump in business as those fans are renting hotel rooms, eating out and shopping. Check Valve For Sump Pump
Aaron Nelson, president of The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro, is hopeful about the economic windfall the area is seeing from the game.
"We're expecting to see over $15 million in economic impact." Nelson said. "And that's going to be spent on traveling to get here, staying in your hotel, buying swag and checking out some of our local merchants in Carrboro and Chapel Hill."
Chelsea and Wrexham coaches both spoke with the media on Tuesday.
"The University campus is just amazing," said Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson. "The facilities are incredible. All the lads are kind of blown away by it."
Wrexham players and coaches went to UNC Children's Hospital on Monday to visit with patients.
Chelsea plays Wrexham Wednesday in Chapel Hill in part of the 2023 FC Series.
It's the first game in the U.S. for Wrexham. Tickets are sold out and many surrounding hotels are booked up. estimated the game will pump $15 million into the local economy, especially good during a slow tourism time in middle of July.
"It's been a frenzy since the announcement in May," said Laurie Paolicelli with the Chapel Hill and Orange County Visitor Bureau. "Tickets were purchased in all 50 states and across the waters internationally."
"We have extra staff, we have extra people behind the bar," said Osvin Gonzalez, the front manager of Carolina Coffee Shop. "I know there's going to be a good amount of drinking before, during and after the game."
The game dovetails with the end of UNC soccer camp, which brought Ian Gourley and his 13-year-old daughter, Poppy, to Chapel Hill. And these soccer fans definitely have a strategy.
"She's got both tops in her suitcase," said Ian.
"If I see any Chelsea players come around I'm just going to put the Chelsea top on," said Poppy. "If I see Mullen or any Wrexham players I'll put the Wrexham top on."
And it's fans like the Gourleys who are driving the excitement and pumping the cash into the local economy.
"I think it will be fun," Gonzalez said. "We don't normally get a big crowd coming in over the summer."
Screw Pump Working If you're going to the game, city organizers said it's important to make a plan to get there early.