But if the athlete isn't around? Chances are the restaurant isn't going to last.

Jared Allen's Sports Arena and Grill in Kansas City is a prime example.

When the restaurant opened in March, its namesake was one of the most popular players on the Kansas City Chiefs roster. After Allen was traded to the Minnesota Vikings two months later, his partners tried to keep the place open, hoping his name alone was a strong enough draw.

No chance. Allen's restaurant closed about a month after the trade, a pile of trash in front of the shuttered doors where the player once stood greeting customers at the opening.