Why business should be Red with glee this weekend

OK, so this blog is meant to be about business and I don’t know diddly-squat about football.
But I’ll gladly face accusations of jumping on the bandwagon after Nottingham Forest finally hauled themselves out of League One and into the Championship.
Why? Well, it isn’t just Reds fans who should be going round with a mile-wide smile on their faces this weekend.
Nottingham businesses should, too – because Nottingham’s whole economy will benefit next season, and here’s why:
A higher division means bigger crowds from higher-profile teams. Just imagine what the city will be like when Forest play Derby next season.
Bigger crowds mean more money being spent on trains, buses, and car parks in the city.
Shops, bars, and hotels will also increase their takings for the same reason on big match days.
Sports shops should see an increase in replica kit sales because of Championships status.
Nottingham will attract more TV coverage and more headlines, raising the city’s profile.
It gives the city a feel-good factor, an intangible but proven factor in increased spending.
Championship football could see Forest attract some higher-profile, higher-paid players, who could spend more on big-buck purchases like property and cars.
Last, and certainly not least, Forest’s own revenues should increase substantially.
It could also raise the stakes in the debate about where Forest should be allowed to develop a new stadium. The proposed site off the A453 will seem a whole lot more attractive on the day the Rams fans stream into West Bridgford...
Amid the euphoria, let's not get carried away. Forest getting promoted isn’t the answer to all the city’s ills, and it certainly can’t counter that walloping great monster called the credit crunch.
But for business – for everyone – it’s a reason to be cheerful.