With All-Star weekend finally here, Downtown students can expect as many as 20,000 guests in town for the event.
David Roderique, president and CEO of the Downtown Phoenix Partnership, said the direct economic effect is expected to be between $30 and $40 million, but could be as large as $100 million with the multiplier effect, which is when direct spending — money spent on hotels, restaurants and retail goods — moves back into the local economy.
“While not as large as [last year’s] Super Bowl, which was like $400 million, it’s still a very big number concentrated in a relatively small area over the course of the weekend,” Roderique said.
Students commuting from Tempe to Phoenix can still expect light-rail trains every 10 minutes during the day and every 20 minutes after 7 p.m., Metro Light Rail spokeswoman Hillary Foose said.
And though Metro will still run its normal 17 trains, there will be additional trains ready should they be needed, Foose said.
“If the crowds do become large enough, we can insert additional trains into service, which would help with increased frequencies,” Foose said.
In addition to providing for people using Phoenix’s public transportation system, the downtown area will also see an increase in police presence over the weekend.
“The Phoenix Police Department is going to have a very significant force out here,” Roderique said. “There’s a master security plan, and the NBA even coordinates with the FBI and makes sure there are no terrorist attacks.”
Roderique said the two big public events for people who want participate in the All-Star weekend are the NBA All-Star Jam Session and the All-Star Block Party.
The NBA All-Star Jam Session will house 400,000 square feet of exhibits and activities at the Phoenix Convention Center and is open every day until Monday. Tickets cost $20 for adults and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
The All-Star Block Party, located on the corner of Jefferson and Second streets, runs every night until 10:30 p.m. through Sunday. TNT will broadcast live from the location, and there will also be live performances, including Kevin Rudolf and Soulja Boy, Roderique said.
“You can watch players being interviewed and celebrities and so on,” Roderique said. “That one is free, so that’s a great way to go out and be able to participate at no cost.”
Approximately 70 students have volunteered to help the NBA, ASU spokesman Marshall Terrill said in an e-mail.
“Those efforts include participating in rehearsals at U.S. Airways for player introductions, half-time show plotting, dunk contest and general staging to aid in properly setting camera lights and audio,” Terrill said.
Construction management junior Geoffrey Adams, a Copper Square ambassador, will work from Friday to Monday, along with all other ambassadors assisting visitors, Adams said.
“Even the people that have days off on the weekend are all going to be here,” Adams said. “They’ll probably be putting a couple of us at one corner because it’ll be so busy, and that usually never happens.”
Adams, who said he hopes to meet last year’s slam-dunk champion Dwight Howard, also said he enjoys helping people from out of town.
“[People from out of town] listen to what you have to say, and if you tell them how to get where they’re going, they’ll do exactly what you say,” Adams said. “Other people try and argue with you.”
As all eyes focus on Phoenix, Roderique said he hopes the weekend goes well.
“Hopefully we really shine for the entire country,” he said.
Reach the reporter at snrodri2@asu.edu.
