The return of hockey to Newark’s Prudential Center means big crowds and big bucks for local businesses.

There are many restaurants and businesses that surround the arena and thrive on its various concerts and sporting events. The NHL lockout that cost almost half the season has left some of them at a loss. John Tirch is General Manager of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. He says they focused on other aspects of the business to supplement the loss, but is thrilled for the season to resume.

“What’s exciting for Newark is that the people who are coming from both New York and New Jersey to view these games, when they see what’s happening here and are excited, and if they maybe can’t get in to get a table and they want to come in on an off night, it gives us an opportunity to showcase the fact that we’re here.”

To give you a sense of the economic impact of hockey in Newark, the 2012 Stanley cup playoffs brought in nearly $3 million in revenue to the city.