Business owners are hoping the light-rail service, shown here in a July test, gets concert and sports fans to stick around after hours.

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PHOENIX — Light-rail service begins Dec. 27, and downtown business owners are hoping riders will stick around after sporting events and concerts.

Baseball, basketball, theater and live music regularly bring thousands downtown, but most people tend to arrive right before events and leave right after.

Light rail, plus the $600 million convention-center expansion, the $223 million downtown ASU campus, the $900 million CityScape development at the former Patriots Square Park and the $350 million Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel are seen collectively as downtown Phoenix's best chance in decades to become the region's downtown.

"I think light rail has the potential to have as positive an impact as anything that I can remember, and I've been downtown for over 35 years," said Michael Ratner, owner of Tom's Restaurant & Tavern.

To prepare for light rail, Tom's is refashioning the front of the restaurant to offer convenience items for light-rail riders like drinks, books and magazines.

Across the street from Tom's Tavern, construction is under way on the 1.8-million-square-foot CityScape.

Covering three blocks, it will feature condos, offices and shops.

The first phase of the project is under construction and slated to open in early 2010.

CityScape officials are also putting faith in their project's proximity to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and the State Capitol complex.

Meanwhile, Copper Pointe 2 Development LLP is still planning to build the $25 million boutique hotel that is set to open in December 2009.

Downtown business owners hope light rail draws people with an interest in night life, eager to sample the bars, restaurants, clubs and boutiques that have opened the past year and a half.

Light rail also offers a safe way around Arizona's strict DUI laws.

The current plan calls for the last full-length light-rail trip to leave the station at 11 p.m.

The first full-length trip across all 20 miles will occur at 4:40 a.m.