Economic Impact of the World Series

The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers met 12 times in the World Series.

That's more than any other two teams, starting in 1941, when the Dodgers still played in Brooklyn.

The 2024 World Series between New York and Los Angeles attracted more business for local stores near Yankee Stadium as tourists arrived in New York City.

After the Yankees secured a spot in their championship series, the mayor's office announced that each additional Yankees home playoff game could generate $20 million to $25 million in additional economic activity for the city.

Kym Johnson told NY1 that she came all the way from Paducah, Kentucky, for the World Series.

“The only thing we think about when we host sporting events in our city, here in New York City, is all the new money that will flow into our economy,” said Sarah Parker, senior research and strategy officer for New York City Independent Budget Office, explains.

“We have people locally who are going to spend more money on tickets, restaurants, transportation, souvenirs, all of that, any kind of new spending that we do in our economy is a boost for New York City,” Parker continued.

Economist Andrew Zimbalist believes that while businesses near the stadium could do well, “there will also be a cost to New York, there will be a sanitation and safety cost.”

When it comes to the economic benefits of the World Series, Zimbalist believes, “Given the size of New York's economy, these impacts will be very, very small and probably most likely negligible.”