Last year, the 2023 NFL Draft was held at Union Station in Kansas City. This provided local businesses with a unique opportunity to be in the heart of all the action. Jayaun Smith, owner of Sauced, was one of the beneficiaries of this location. He attributed his business’s success to the NFL Business Connect Program which helped him reach new heights.
Being in a prime location during the draft significantly boosted Sauced’s visibility and profitability. Smith noted a substantial increase in gross profit, allowing him to hire more employees and expand his operations. The surge in orders and foot traffic on Fridays following the draft has been a significant blessing for the business.
For Smith, being selected as a personal chef for the draft was a dream come true, especially as a native of Kansas City. Seeing his business benefit from the draft experience made the whole event even more special for him. However, not all businesses experienced positive outcomes from the draft. In City Market, Alex Pope, co-owner of Local Pig and Pigwich, had a slightly different experience. Despite being located along the streetcar route, Pope found that
