Right after the Yankees clinched their 27th World Series victory, Michael Florio – who had been watching the game from Times Square – went right to a store and bought championship memorabilia like T-shirts and pennants.
The following day, Thursday, November 5, the Baysider was in the Douglaston Modell’s, buying more.
“I’ve been a Yankees fan my whole life, so it’s totally worth it,” “he said. “They’re worth every penny. I wish the season wasn’t over, I don’t know what I’m going to watch now.”
With extended hours – most open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. – the sporting goods chain saw shoppers almost immediately.
“They [fans] were already outside,” said Cindy, who was working at the Ozone Park Modell’s, which, she said, stayed open all night.
When asked how many people had been coming into the store, she joked, “too many.”
“I’ve been waiting for them to win so I can buy my husband his birthday gift,” said Joan Walsh of Flushing. “Everyone says they’re all about the money, but they’re the champs. They go out and they do it every year.”
And, some fans said, the new stadium might have proven a good luck charm for the team.
“I’m spending all this money because it’s the first year they won it in the new stadium,” said 17-year-old Astoria resident Angela Pagounidis.
With recession fears seemingly not a factor, many storeowners and managers hoped the Yankees win would be a “home run” for business.
“Hopefully it’ll be a boost to business,” said Mike, a manager at DePhillips Sports in Flushing.
“I’m buying the gear to support New York and all it’s worth it,” said Taryn Abrams, 18, of Bayside, who spent $25 on a hat.
Even John F. Kennedy International Airport got in the spirit of celebrating the Yanks – on November 5 the exterior of the New York-JFK air traffic control tower adorned in blue lights.
