World Baseball Classic draws international crowds, a hit among Jupiter businesses

JUPITER, Fla. - The World Baseball Classic qualifier series wrapped up on Sunday night, capping off a week of baseball and business.

Roger Dean Stadium was one of four ballparks across the globe picked to host the preliminary rounds.

The games drew in teams from France, Spain, South Africa and Israel and brought crowds of international and local fans with them.

During a time when the area around Roger Dean Stadium is slow with minor league games over, the World Baseball Classic was a big hit among nearby businesses.

"The March baseball obviously are our busiest six weeks of the year but any events that they hold at the Roger Dean Stadium is great for business," said Ryan Witkowski, manager of J.J. Muggs Stadium Grill.

Witkowski estimates the restaurant saw as much as a 20% increase in sales.

"For just the five days a lot. It was definitely a big improvement it was like two or three grand a day, if not more," said Andrea Guter, manager of Jumby Bay Island Grill.

Some of the games had to be delayed dude to rain which some businesses said drew in even more crowds of people wanting to wait out the wet weather.