Businesses: slow start to Mardi Gras

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Beautiful weather and the start of Mobile's Mardi Gras was apparently not enough to get huge crowds out this year.

The Mardi Gras season kicked off with the first parade on Friday night. After a slow Saturday, some in the downtown area said they were expecting more of a turnout.

Dawn McAleer works at a downtown bar; she expected to be a lot busier.

"This is my first Mardi Gras where the first two days have been really slow like this," McAleer said.

McAleer has just one explanation for the slim crowd.

"It was very slow, very slow. I think because Senior Bowl’s going on at the same time," she said. 

Local vendor Joshua Bear agrees.

"The people love Mardi Gras, but they love football too," Bear said.

But not everyone was disappointed; Jennifer English and her boys caught plenty of parade goodies. 

"It was nice. Not too crowded. They enjoyed it. That's why we got so much," English said.

And apparently the Senior Bowl wasn't the only event competing with Mardi Gras this year. Tina Bullock and her family are in town from Hattiesburg.  They missed the early parade.

"I'm sorry. We were in the Civic Center at the Dance Competition," Bullock said.

But, most folks expect the good times will pick up once the Senior Bowl rolls out of town.

Of course, there will be more football to compete with Mardi Gras next weekend, which is Super Bowl Sunday.