Notre Dame - USC match-up boosting business for local limousine companies

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- With just a little over a day until the Fighting Irish hit the field against USC, local businesses says they are already feeling the game day rush.

That is because many fans will be going to the game in style. ABC 57 talked to several local limousine services today who say, starting Thursday, their limousines are booked up for the whole weekend.

Limousine companies say people like Regis Philbin, Joe Montana and other former football stars will be taking a sweet ride to Saturday's game. In fact, limo services say that this weekend they have actually had to turn people away.

"This is a huge weekend. We are very excited. We have been booked for several weeks," says Royal Excursions Director of Marketing Laura Dennison.

Dennison says their motor coach and limo service is seeing a boost in business because it is the first night game the Fighting Irish have had in years. Plus, Notre Dame's opponent is USC, which she says brings in a lot more than Hollywood stars.

"The USC game is unique. It draws in sports agents, talent scouts, and football recruits.”

Royal Excursions along with several other limo companies say that is one reason they believe business is up almost 60 percent from what is usually is on game day.

"We have got runs from the airport, we got people, all day long, tailgating. So, it's going to make for a very long day."

Dennison says it is the shot in the arm that the local economy has needed, and says local business owners are lucky to have a university like Notre Dame in their backyard.

"This community thrives off of Notre Dame. We get so much business because of the games and because of Notre Dame. We are very blessed to have them here."

Other business owners that I talked to say that because hotels all around South Bend are already book up, many companies are having to drive to places like New Buffalo and Cassopolis just to bring their clients in for the game.


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