LAS VEGAS - Rebel fever is running wild in Las Vegas. The basketball team is on fire this season. The team's success is rubbing off on local businesses as well as fans.
It's the kind of excitement that's been lacking at UNLV in recent years, and businesses are taking notice.
Danielle Wilson is a server at Stake Out Bar and Grill off Maryland Parkway. She's seen an obvious uptick in business as the Rebel season progressed.
"Once they started to win, win, win, win, win, win, that drew people in. With UNLV selling out all of their tickets, it creates a lot of traffic right in the area," Wilson said. "The Rebels come in. They've gotten so phenomenal, people come over here, and we have happy hour right before the game starts. So, a lot of people come in and, so, just have a great time and eat the food."
A few blocks away, Cugino's Deli is doing just as well. The Italian restaurant and deli says business is rebounding from past years.
"Very good, very good, we get busy – very, very busy. People that come here to eat, or we bring stuff to the stadium. We deliver. It's very busy during basketball," Julie Pica with Cugino's said. "It allows me to be that awesome bubbly person that I am, so that helps with tips and makes it better with fresh air."
Cugino's customers also notice the difference.
"I work on campus. When I come here, this place is full, always full," said Cugino's customer Randall Williams. "I'm a New Yorker, so this is the closest to New York cuisine, food, pizza-wise that I found in Vegas."
If he wants to eat on game days, he's learning to order early.
"I come in on Saturday morning sometimes, Rebel Saturdays, this place is packed. The parking lot is full," he said.
The Rebels' next game is Saturday afternoon against Air Force. That game takes place at the Thomas and Mack Center.
