College Football Season Could Make Or Break Norman's Campus Corner

The leaders in the Power Five conferences across the country are meeting Monday to discuss the future of college football. 

Due to the impact of COVID-19, there are talks of the season possibly being canceled. 

Local businesses said the potential of no season could be devastating.

“College football is something that gives the community an identity,” said Dan Schemm, executive director of Visit Norman. “It's what we're known for.”

But this season is in jeopardy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Conference officials are weighing their options and a there's a growing chance Saturdays in the fall may look empty.

“If we don't have football, it's going to really devastate our local shops and restaurants,” said Schemm.

One of those shops is Balfour of Norman located on Campus Corner. They said game day sales are a large percentage of their business.

“They're really important to survival of stores like ours and really all of campus corner,” said Jerry Hatter, owner of Balfour.

City leaders said OU's six home games generate more than $5 million of revenue on average.

“Those are people staying in our hotels, they're going out to eat at our restaurants, they're shopping at our shops,” said Schemm.

One bar owner News 9 spoke with said she's already taken a financial hit after she was forced to close for 10 weeks due to the pandemic. 

She said the lack of game day crowds could put them in a deeper hole.

“This will really be a hard hit on something that we were counting on,” said Yvonne Dorman, owner of Red Brick Bar. “To help us, somewhat, make some more money and keep our head above water.”