As the Cleveland Cavaliers head into the playoffs, downtown businesses say they’re preparing for bigger crowds, longer hours, and a surge in customers.

CLEVELAND — Even before the Cavaliers tip off their playoff run Saturday, downtown Cleveland bars are already preparing for an influx of customers, longer hours and increased demand.

Business owners say the shift into playoff mode starts days in advance, with staff schedules, inventory and operations all adjusted to handle the crowds.

“You’ve done everything you can to get all the product in and get all the staffing, now you just go have fun with everybody else,” said Sean O’Donnell, managing partner of Flannery’s Pub.

That preparation often comes with challenges, especially when game times and details are finalized at the last minute.

“You just have to pivot… be really kind of nimble when you’re planning this stuff,” O’Donnell said.

Even with an early afternoon tipoff, O’Donnell said businesses are expecting steady traffic throughout the day.

“Despite having a 1:00 game on a Saturday, we’re still going to be slammed,” he said.

He added that playoff games bring a different kind of energy to downtown, drawing both local fans and visitors from out of town.

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“We’ve got to remember our… enemies just across the pond. So Toronto, they will travel and they will come in force. They do just for a regular baseball series, so for a playoff game, they’ll be here,” O’Donnell said.

Other business leaders say the playoffs are also an opportunity to highlight Cleveland to a broader audience.

“Just being ready to welcome everyone downtown so they can have a great time and go back to wherever they came from and tell them how awesome our city is,” said Chelsea Rice, president of operations for Hangry Brands.

Rice said preparation is key to meeting demand, from stocking supplies to making sure enough staff is on hand.

“Stock lots of ice so those beers stay nice and cold, have lots of people on board so we can welcome and take care of everybody’s needs, just be ready to go late into the night,” she said.

For some, the excitement brings back memories of past championship runs and the crowds that came with them.

“We finally just last week got all the beer scrubbed off our ceiling from when we won the championship in 2016… people lose their minds… with this team, I think hopes are high,” O’Donnell said.