Hotels, boutiques, and restaurants across College Station and Bryan are preparing for what they describe as their most profitable time of the year. The surge in activity coincides with Texas A&M’s upcoming season opener on Saturday.
Jackie Doss, owner of JD Ranch Boutique, noted that game day weekends form the foundation of her business. Her shop recently relocated to a larger space and is experiencing its first football season there. Doss stated that foot traffic increases significantly during home games, creating high energy among customers.
"It’s definitely our busiest time of year," Doss said. "I’ve had the business now for six years, and it’s always my biggest sales and biggest revenue maker."
The economic impact extends beyond apparel retailers. In Bryan, the LaSalle Hotel reports increased activity across multiple departments during game weekends. Brayton Watson, the hotel’s sales manager, explained that both room operations and restaurant services benefit from the influx of visitors.
"Not only does our rooms operations benefit from it, but so does our restaurant operations as a whole," Watson said.
Joe Soto, the hotel’s food and beverage supervisor, added that the game day atmosphere encourages people to leave their accommodations and spend money locally. He noted that the financial influence of the football season lasts well beyond the weekend itself, shaping the hotel’s budget allocations for months.
