Garth Brooks fever hits Las Cruces
The series of Garth Brooks shows will bring visitors from all over the borderland this weekend.
The City of Crosses is expecting anxious fans, a business boom and extra traffic.
As soon as the tickets went on sale the fans flocked to the ticket booths.
“People are crazy over Garth Brooks,” said one ticket holder.
“People kept texting … there’s another show … there’s another show,” another Garth Brooks fan added.
Garth Brooks fever is hitting Las Cruces.
“I haven’t seen him since I was 14 and I’m 34 now so I’m excited,” said one fan.
“Who know’s when we’ll get to see him again or when he comes back to Cruces,” said another.
The five shows bringing in 60,000 people is expected to generate $2.4 million and businesses are ready for it.
“We have specials, we over-prepped, we have a lot of food that’s made probably double what we do” said Vince Vicaro owner of Lorenzo’s restaurant.
Vicaro even set up a tent for those looking to enjoy a couple drinks before the show.
Employees like Toria Kovacs say the Garth Brooks phenomenon will make the work interesting for the next few days.
“It’ll be interesting just to see all the people that come from out of town,” Kovacs added.
And speaking of out-of-towners,
Bharti Lalloo, general manager of the Econolodge said, “I’ve been booked since tickets got sold on that day.”
Garth Brooks and wife Tricia Yearwood held a news conference Friday evening where Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima gave the couple a gift straight from the Land of Enchantment.
“We came back because you guys sing, you guys are loud and stay up way to late,” Garth Brooks said.
And 60,000 fans means more cars on the road.
University Avenue, between Solano Drive to Las Alturas Drive, will be closed to through-traffic from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
“We are asking the public to please bear with us. This doesn’t happen very often and we’re hoping everybody negotiates the traffic problems that there may be, with the best of attitudes,” said Dan Trujillo, Las Cruces Police spokesmen.
The Saturday and Sunday shows will be at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
