What was the World Series worth to St. Pete?

Fans fill the stands at Tropicana Field during the Tampa Bay Rays' 2026 Opening Day. The team's three World Series home games later drew 121,391 spectators and generated an estimated $40 million economic impact across Pinellas County. Photo: BaiLeigh Carlson/Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. The Tampa Bay Rays’ World Series run brought an estimated $40 million economic impact to Pinellas County, nearly doubled hotel revenue during three home games and sent thousands of visitors into St. Petersburg businesses. The championship also required extra police, firefighters and emergency responders to manage more than 121,000 fans at Tropicana Field. While the city has accounted for nearly $59,000 in fire-rescue staffing, the full cost of police operations remains unknown. Figures released Friday by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater show an estimated $22 million in direct visitor spending during the five-day period from Oct. 25 through 29, which included the three World Series games against the Milwaukee Brewers. Hotel revenue across Pinellas County rose 95% during the games compared with the same dates in 2025. Revenue was also up 44% the day before the games began and 28% the day after they concluded. Countywide hotel occupancy averaged 79% over the five days, a 26% increase from the same period last year. Occupancy peaked at 85% on Oct. 27. Jason Latimer of Visit St. Pete-Clearwater said the destination welcomed approximately 34% more out-of-town visitors during the period, including roughly nine times as many visitors from Wisconsin. The figures cover all of Pinellas County, not just St. Petersburg. The $40 million estimate includes $22 million in direct visitor spending and additional economic activity, rather than money collected by local governments. The tourism figures put a dollar amount on the crowds that packed businesses around Tropicana Field. As previously reported , Ferg’s Sports Bar went through 42,000 chicken wings and 3,500 cases of beer and seltzer during the three games. At nearby Grand Central Brewhouse, sales increased 30% compared with the previous Monday through Wednesday and 85% over the same period in 2025. The games drew a combined 121,391 spectators, averaging 40,464 per game, more than twice the Rays’ regular-season attendance average of 17,469. Managing those crowds required a larger public safety operation than a typical baseball game. St. Petersburg Fire Rescue reported $58,880.25 in staffing costs for the three games, an amount Deputy Chief Brett Ciskoski said would be reimbursed by the Rays. The expenses included $15,496.71 for incident command and fire inspectors, $30,703.56 for medical command and emergency response vehicles, and $12,679.98 for the joint hazardous materials assessment team. Fire Rescue assigned 31 personnel to each of the first two games and 30 to the third. Those crews included command officers, inspectors, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and hazardous materials personnel. A typical Rays game requires four or five medical units and three inspectors, Ciskoski said. The World Series demanded additional crews and a larger command structure. Despite the crowds, Ciskoski said emergency calls were in line with expectations for games drawing more than 40,000 people. The Police Department also increased staffing, assigning approximately 100 officers to World Series operations across the three games, including security and traffic control around Tropicana Field. Department spokesperson Ashley Limardo said the operation involved local, state and federal law enforcement partners. The city incurred additional costs for outside officers assisting with traffic control, she said. St. Petersburg routinely provides police coverage for large events through its Special Events Unit, which schedules officers for assignments outside their regular duties. Under the department’s off-duty work policy , Tropicana Field assignments are coordinated by the city, and officers remain under department supervision. For Rays games, Limardo said the team covers the cost of officers working inside Tropicana Field. Traffic control officers are funded through the Downtown Partnership, which she said receives a percentage of ticket sales. The Police Department has not yet provided a total for World Series staffing and overtime expenses or the associated reimbursements. Fire Rescue expects to recover its reported $58,880.25 from the Rays, although the department has not confirmed whether payment has been received. The full cost of police operations, including how much has been reimbursed and whether any expenses will be borne by the city, remains undetermined. Share Tweet Share Related Topics: Baseball economic St. Petersburg Tampa Bay Rays Tropicana Field World Series Click to comment Subscribe to the Daily Spark Get the latest right to your phone Subscription Form Name Email Subscribe Subscribe to the Daily Spark Get the latest right to your phone Subscription Form Name Email Subscribe You may like