Tim Tebow: An Answer To Small Businesses' Prayers

With their hometown Broncos missing the playoffs for the past several years, cutting into their bottom line, sports-related businesses in Denver are mounting a fourth-quarter comeback -- thanks to Tim Tebow. The Denver Broncos quarterback has owners of sports bars, restaurants and merchandise stores Tebowing for another miraculous win against the New England Patriots on Saturday. Whether or not the Broncos can pull that off, Tebowmania has already been a huge win for small businesses, which are still bouncing back from the recession and the recent NBA lockout.

Ron Vaughn, co-owner of Denver-based Argonaut Wine & Liquor, has seen a significant increase in business this season, particularly last Sunday before the wildcard playoff game against Pittsburgh, when business increased by about 1,000 customers. "It's been sort of a mass euphoria here in Denver," Vaughn said. "Tebow is the biggest topic of conversation. That's what people are talking about while they're shopping in the store -- how unbelievable it is that they won six games in a row."

Vaughn is attracting customers throwing football parties by running ads and sales, like his "Beat New England" beer specials. Tebow "has been great for business, great for the city," Vaughn said. "There was debate over whether Tebow was the right or wrong guy, but you can't argue with success. And as far as the debate over whether he should keep his [Christian] beliefs private or talk about it as much as he does, as long as he wins, I think he can talk about whatever he wants."

While Jackson's, a popular Denver sports bar, has valiantly fought the recession for three years by getting aggressive with specials, general manager Scot Minshall said the business started noticing a true turnaround as soon as Tebow came to town. "We saw an immediate impact on sales, which have gone nothing but up over the course of the season," Minshall said. According to Minshall, sales during games this season were up 100 percent over last season, and in the wildcard playoff game, sales were up 150 percent. Jackson's had to open two additional rooms last Sunday and is preparing for another big night on Saturday. "We have an all hands on deck mentality," Minshall said. "We're ready."

Minshall also traces the business boom to Tebow. "I'm for the guy. I think the country needs more guys like him who are purely good people," he said. "It's a change of pace, and I think that's the attraction. Instead of cheering for the guy who killed dogs or the guy who's been accused of domestic violence, you're cheering for an all-American, just a great guy, and that's refreshing."

"The Broncos have been awful for going on seven years," Minshall added. "Can you call him the savior of the football team? To some degree, yeah. Is he saving our business? No, but he's making it a lot better, and a lot more fun."

Comments

[JHKH]

03:23 PM on 01/16/2012

STOP IT. This story was lurking around on HP since before the weekend. Now you are leading the Business section with it??? He lost -- didn't you watch the playoffs this weekend? Tebow might attract some business, but if I see his name, face, or anything to do with him on anything, I'm turning off, turning around, and going to the competition. Good for business? Yes, and No.

[Karlus60]

12:02 PM on 01/16/2012

God has spoken....and he put his bet on the Pilgrims!

[NVLady007]

10:55 AM on 01/16/2012

The only sad thing about Football being over is I won't get to see Tebow on my TV Screen so much... He is hot... God sure blessed him there....

[mateoconifer]

06:33 PM on 01/17/2012

buy yourself a poster......support a small business!!!!

[yruright]

12:07 AM on 01/16/2012

Now that Tebow lost the last game many are saying negative things about his ability, BUT at this point in his career he is ahead of ALL the top rated quarterbacks in the league by every benchmark.

[WILLY BB]

10:00 PM on 01/15/2012

Lets get the Super Bowl over and maybe this stupid Tebowmania will die a natural death.

Talking about death, do you think that Tebow can ask his "God" to resurrect the 600 men, women and children recently drowned in their beds in the Indonesian floods a couple of weeks ago.
Now that would be a nice gesture; albeit I guess he could/ should have saved them in the first place ?
RIP.

BB.


.

[yruright]

12:08 AM on 01/16/2012

Maybe he can ask his God to get you to lighten up a bit.

[soldier123]

02:28 AM on 01/16/2012

You are a very mean spirited person. shame on you. You must be hurting inside very much.
Do a little evercise get away from the laptop and donate your time to help people.

[jlcolo]

08:44 PM on 01/15/2012

Tim Tebow is a great running back--no question about that. All the Denver Broncos need now is a great pocket passer for quarterback. It is very fortunate for the Denver Bronco organization that they have no Jewish, Muslim, Agnostic, Atheist, or other non-Christian fans.

[GoProfessional]

08:19 PM on 01/15/2012

All humor aside, it puzzles me as to why in a "so-called" Christian dominated society (USA) there is so much resentment towards Tim Tebow.

[Hopeful for the Future]

09:17 PM on 01/16/2012

The resentment comes from the person(s) who are so egotistical to think their opinion, and only their opinion is what counts! The normal, everyday American enjoys to hear of Tebow's success and most of all, he is a wonderful role-model instead of the weird-do's that seem to get all of the headlines!

[mateoconifer]

06:43 PM on 01/17/2012

Really? I think that it is strange that the media makes such a big deal out of this guy. He's not the first football player to pray on the field and he isn't the first football qb to make a comeback and like he said, the performance of the others on the team make him look better than he is. I will give him humility and grace, but if you as me, it's a weird to be so........prayerful at work.

[skippythepinhead]

09:30 AM on 01/15/2012

The headline on this website regards Tebow's failure. Hard to imagine a less relevant story line from either of yesterday's games.

[redfaux]

02:59 AM on 01/16/2012

Quite the contrary--anyone who attests to having the ear of God is sure to get a headline.

[Amalek]

09:29 AM on 01/15/2012

Attendance at evangelical churches is down 28% this morning.

[soldier123]

02:29 AM on 01/16/2012

and your point?

[Boo2You2]

09:21 AM on 01/15/2012

What the heck is this Tebow nonsense?

[mateoconifer]

06:49 PM on 01/17/2012

Just that, nonsense. It's simply the media doing their best to anesthetize americans so that we forget the greed and oppression that abound.

[jefe]

08:51 AM on 01/15/2012

Have you ever had a good meal in Colorado? I've been visiting there for many many years, and 9 out 10 meals are crap. There seems to be more drinkers/micro brewery's and such, where food is secondary to beer.

[gorgol]

08:15 AM on 01/15/2012

You see Mr. Tebow...your kneel without specific explanation of what you ask, has brought great attention to yourself...and with the loss a mockery to your personal beliefs. That's why its best to do such communication in private. Too many have gone your route, especially in the political arena, only to come crashing down and labeled hypocrites.

[BlackBuddha]

03:02 AM on 01/15/2012

Just stop it. Tebone. Is no better than Jesus. All good is His. All else is trials and tribulations.

[SteveDenver]

02:26 AM on 01/15/2012

So Tebowmania has been fantastic for booze sales: praise god!

[Joseph LeCompte]

01:39 AM on 01/15/2012

Sometimes top draft picks are made not based on talent but marketability. Tim is a tremendous athlete who can succeed at football. He was drafted to sell tickets and promised hope for a troubled franchise. The Denver/Colorado area is chock full of evangelicals. His religion was more than half the consideration in his selection.