Crashed Ice Brings $15 Million To St. Paul

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- It's a big weekend for St. Paul. A lot going on translates into a lot of city business.

"It's really a huge weekend," Adam Johnson, vice president of marketing with Visit St. Paul, said.

Johnson said people attending Crashed Ice bring an extra $15 million to the city.

"We're talking restaurants, we're talking people staying in hotels, parking, all those things that go into a big event," Johnson said.

Businesses like Zamboni's on Seventh Street have been prepping all week.

"We plan on going through about 300 pizzas today. That's quite a bit for a small shop like us," Greg Awada, Zamboni's owner, said.

Another expected boost for business? The 50 degree temperatures in February.

"We doubled our beer orders as soon we saw the forecast last Monday, when it first started popping up in the upper 50s," said Awada.

Samantha Konrad of Lakeville said the weather may persuade some people to check out the event.

"It's really nice out today," Konrad said. "Especially for Crashed Ice because it's so much nicer to be standing outside."

So even if attending Crashed Ice is free for spectators, the big crowds will bring big bucks for St. Paul, no matter how you slice it.

"It's February and it's 60 degrees out, it's going to be a phenomenal day," Awada said.