Colts' wins boosting business in downtown Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - It seems everyone is talking about the comeback Colts – and that’s good news for downtown Indianapolis businesses.

“So happy for the team, fans,” said Randy Collins, owner of the Blue Crew Sports Grill on 96th Street in Indianapolis. “It was a tough year last year, but the Colts are back.”

For his business and others who bank on the enthusiasm surrounding the team, this year’s unexpected success is a boon.

“When the Colts are doing well, it affects everything,” said the Colts Grille’s Adam Bianco. “… You see people wearing more jerseys out, you see our lunch business during the day much busier because people are excited to come back.”

And the momentum can only build from here, Collins said, expressing hope that the team’s good performance this year will lead to more primetime matchups next season.

“One o’clock games are tough. … Any sports grill or bar owner in town knows that it’s hard to get people out at one o’clock,” he said.

But with each win, fans get a little more hopeful.

“We could end up playing Peyton in Denver,” said Gary Houston, referring to the Colts former star quarterback Peyton Manning, who now leads the Denver Broncos. “That would be just unbelievable.”

The Broncos, who are 9-3 on the season, have clinched their division, the AFC West. The Colts, with their 8-4 record, are in the lead for the AFC wildcard slot. If the playoffs started today, the Colts would face the Broncos in the first round.

But before that, the Colts must finish out the season strong. They face the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday. The game starts at 1 p.m. on WISH-TV.