Mavs Game Rakes in Big Bucks for Dallas Businesses

Dallas businesses are cashing in on Mavericks' two-game semifinals winning streak.

Tens of thousands of fans are planning to be outside the American Airlines Center before Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals Friday.

The AAC expects to be filled to capacity with 21,000 fans watching the Dallas Mavericks take on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Matt Miller, the owner of Dallas Woody's Sports & Video Bar in Oak Lawn, plans to rake in cash from Mavs fans who want to watch the game in his bar.

He said high gas prices have kept some fanatics at home, but the NBA playoffs are bringing them back.

"I think people do look at how far their money goes when it comes to gas prices," he said. "'Where am I going to go? Am I going to drive to downtown Dallas, am I going to drive to Oak Lawn, am I going to drive to Uptown? Or am I going to stay at home and actually watch the game?' But I think the Maverick fever that caught on will bring people to the bars."

Local fan stores have also benefited from the Mavericks success so far in the series.

The Dallas Mavericks Ultimate Fan shop at NorthPark Center had to restock to keep up with the heavy traffic it saw Friday.

Manager Clarence Brooks said business is great when the is winning.

"Business has tripled today," he said. "It’s been outstanding."

Many shoppers spent more than $100 on shirts for friends and family. 

"People coming into buy anything that you can imagine today -- car flags, T-shirts, foam figures -- anything that you can imagine, we are selling it all today," Brooks said.

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