Good afternoon.

My name is Frank Ford and I first want to thank chairman Sanders for this opportunity to testify to this committee today.  I am here today to voice my support for the New York Sports and Convention Center as a West Side business manager. 

I have been the manager of O’Farrell’s, a pub, for 7 years.   O’Farrell’s is located at 33^rd and 10^th Avenue directly next to the Hudson rail yards, and has been a business on the West Side for 9 years.

The New York Sports and Convention Center will help small businesses on the West Side by bringing out of town conventioneers and Jets fans to the neighborhood.  Currently our number one customer base at O’Farrell’s is comprised of conventioneers, and staff and employees of Javits Convention Center.  When Cristyne Nicolas testified last week that the convention and tourism industry brings in out-of-towners that spend close to $300 a day in the local economy, my restaurant is living proof of that clientele.  My business along with other West Side establishments is dependent on the convention and tourism industry and the New York Sports and Convention Center will only bring in more customers to West Side businesses. 

I know some businesses have been misinformed by opposing groups in the community that they will be displaced by the facility.  They hear the word ‘stadium’ and think that they’re getting kicked out of their business without realizing that finally someone has committed money to fill up the big whole in the ground.  I’ve heard that some are proposing a southern expansion of Javits, but where is the money for that?  And why settle for just a southern expansion of Javits when we can get an entire convention corridor that starts all the way from 40^th street? 

While I’m excited about my beloved Jets coming back and bringing excitement and pride back to New York, as a small business man, what I am most excited about is the convention aspect of this New York Sports and Convention Center.   There is no doubt that Jets fans will be tailgating at the local bars on the West Side, but that’s only 11 times a year at most.  It’s about tapping into the hundreds of thousands of people who will attend the convention events for more than 100 days a year. 

At the most local level, this investment will no doubt help my small business on the West Side and I think that’s what economic development is all about. 

Thank you.