GAINESVILLE- Gatornationals starts its engines tomorrow.

 

More than a hundred thousand people are expected to drive in to watch the competition.

With so many people coming to north central Florida-- its going to be a major economic boost.

 

TV20s Alex de Armas tells us restaurants and hotels have spent months gearing up.

While teams at Gatornationals are hitting and twisting...Gainesville restaurants are filling up for the big weekend.

"Every year we look forward to the fans and the racers coming into town," said Greg Jasinski, Manager at Texas Road House.

 

Jasinski says their sales typically go up between 30 to 40 percent this week.

"It really boosts our business up and gives us a really good weekend," said Jasinski.

 

Jasinski says the restaurant buys about 30 percent more food and 40 percent more alcohol than usual.

 

Their preparations start three days before the races begin.

With more than one hundred thousand fans in the stands throughout the weekend… some say the race brings Gainesville more money than a Gator football game.

"Every hotel fills up," said Ron Gromoll, General Manager at Best Western.

Hotels in Gainesville are filling up with visitors... bringing their money with them. 

 

Rates go up--pumping revenue into the community.

"We'll start preparing for special events months, usually about half a year in advance," said Gromoll.

 

The manager at the Best Western on 39th avenue says when visitors and race teams stay in hotels throughout the weekend…the entire area wins.

"They have to eat at restaurants, they have to fill up their gas tanks, they're going to the local stores to pick up items so the whole community benefits,"  said Gromoll.

Although the economy has seen its ups and downs over the past few years, the managers at both the restaurant and hotel told me they can always count on Gatornationals to be a major moneymaker.