Bright side to the rain delay

PHILADELPHIA - October 28, 2008 - Lashawn Conner, dining room manager at J.L. Sullivan's at the Bellvue, and marketing manager Kelly Keane welcome the extra business the hold on Game 5 will bring Tuesday and Wednesday.

"I just wish I had someone to field the phone calls!" Keane said. "We had more than 50 phone calls."

"Everyone's trying to make sure they get a spot inside, so we're pretty much doing first come, first serve," Conner said.

It's been one big party in places like this in the city since last week.

Even with last night's game ending early, J.L. Sullivan's was busier than it's been since it opened in May.

"There was a line about 30 yards long, it was my first place to go," said customer Cory Mizga of Philadelphia. "Then I went to three other places, and finally I snuck my way in."

The World Series has brought an additional 7,000 visitors to Philadelphia, who are frequenting the city's bars, booking hotel rooms, and seeing the sights.

According to officials with the city's Visitor's Bureau and Tourism Department, most will be staying an additional two nights in the area, which could generate an extra 1-to-3 million dollars in spending.

That's on top of the estimated $20 million already projected for the region's economy.

The estimated extra revenue for the area does not include what residents and the thousands of visitors will continue to spend on regular meals and sports memorabilia.

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