While the Giants worked hard on Tuesday to shutout the Phillies 3-0 in Game 3 of the NLCS, the same could not be said of many fans who watched the game.
Workers in San Francisco will probably accomplish less this week because of the series, according to a consulting firm that studies the effects of sporting events on workplace productivity.
But John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray and Christmas, said the Giants games could also be a plus for Bay Area companies since the loss of productivity is offset by a sense of camaraderie that comes with rooting for the hometown team.
"It does bring people together, and you look for ways to do that in today's business environment, where people are so much more isolated and short-tenured," he said.
There has certainly been plenty of camaraderie at bars around the ballpark, one of the few businesses that see an uptick in production on game days.
Mary Connolly, a bartender at O'Neill's Irish Pub near the corner of Third and King streets, said the bar "is always jam-packed during a game" but the crowds showed up hours earlier on Tuesday than during regular season games.
"People were a lot rowdier, trying to get pumped up for the game," she said.
Sports
The series continues with Games 4 and 5 in San Francisco Wednesday and Thursday. Both games are scheduled to start at 4:57 p.m.
If you scored tickets, bring a jacket. If you're stuck in the office, just make sure the boss doesn't notice you on nbcbayarea.com for the lates game updates. With Giants coverage like ours, who could blame you?
