HONOLULU — Some businesses near the University of Hawaii’s Manoa campus are hoping the return of fans to home football games in the neighborhood will help revitalize the community.
Many local businesses in the Moiliili area have closed in recent years, from Bubbie’s to Tropics to Sushi King.
Beer Lab Hawaii owner Nicolas Wong told television station KHON that foot traffic used to rise when baseball and volleyball were played on campus. He’s looking forward to seeing what effect football games will have.
“We’re really excited to have UH football right in our backyard here,” Wong said. “We do have some high hopes that having UH football, having a lot of sports here is really going to bring that college feel, college culture, back to the university area.”
From 1926 to 1974, the football team played home games at the 24,000-seat Honolulu Stadium in Moiliili near campus. Starting in 1975, home games moved 10 miles away to Aloha Stadium in Halawa, which could fit 50,000 fans.
In December 2020, Aloha Stadium said it would stop scheduling new events because of coronavirus restrictions and budget issues. The university decided to add seating to its practice field at the Clarence T. C. Ching Athletic Complex on campus instead of playing in Halawa.
The Ching complex can now hold 9,000 football fans. So far this season, state and county coronavirus restrictions meant the Rainbow Warriors couldn’t have any spectators in the stands. Two weeks ago, they were allowed a limited number.
On Wednesday, Honolulu is scheduled to lift capacity limits on outdoor entertainment venues so long as attendees are vaccinated. That means Saturday’s game against San Diego State will be the first game the team gets to play before a full house in its new home.
The benefit to nearby businesses may be dampened, however, because Honolulu is still limiting restaurant and bar capacity to 50% due to COVID-19.
“We aren’t going to bring in and really serve and have that experience for a lot of the people coming in to stop and have a beer before or after the game,” Wong said.
The university expects a sell-out crowd. Parking is available on campus. The nearby Japanese Cultural Center is also offering parking and will sell food in a partnership with Pagoda Floating Restaurant.