The Tampa Bay Rays' World Series run generated an estimated $40 million in economic activity across Pinellas County, according to figures released Nov. 6 by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater and reported by St Pete Catalyst.

The tourism agency estimated $22 million in direct visitor spending during the five-day stretch from Oct. 25 through Oct. 29, which included three home games against the Milwaukee Brewers at Tropicana Field. The $40 million estimate also includes $18 million in additional economic activity beyond direct visitor spending.

The figures cover all of Pinellas County, not just St. Petersburg. The total represents estimated economic activity, not revenue collected by local governments.

The spending surge came during a traditionally slower period for hotels and vacation rentals.

Hotel revenue across Pinellas County rose 95% during the games compared with the same dates in 2025, according to the tourism agency's data. Revenue climbed 44% the day before the games began and 28% the day after they ended. Countywide hotel occupancy averaged 79% over the five days, a 26% increase from the same period in 2025, and 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, where the Brewers are based.

The three home games drew a combined 121,391 spectators, averaging 40,464 per game. That was more than double the Rays' regular-season attendance average of 17,469.

Fans and businesses share in World Series activity

The excitement drew fans from across Pinellas County. Brian Morrison, 51, drove 40 minutes from Palm Harbor to Ferg's Sports Bar before one of the home games, according to the Tampa Bay Times. He ordered a burger and a Coors draft at the bar across from Tropicana Field, planning to soak in the atmosphere before heading home to watch the game.

Morrison was among thousands of fans who visited St. Petersburg businesses during the series.

Ferg's Sports Bar owner Mark Ferguson told St Pete Catalyst the bar went through 42,000 chicken wings and 3,500 cases of beer and seltzer during the three games.

In a separate report, Fox 13 reported that Ferguson estimated 45,000 chicken wings sold. Both outlets reported the same beverage total.

Ferguson said the business generated more than $1.2 million in revenue during the three-game stretch, its busiest three days in 34 years, according to Fox 13.

Nearby Grand Central Brewhouse reported a 30% sales increase compared with the previous Monday through Wednesday and an 85% increase over the corresponding period in 2025, according to St Pete Catalyst.

Vacation rental operators reported a similar boost. Troy Walset, co-owner of Azul Bay Vacation Rentals, told Tampa Bay 28 that September and October are traditionally the worst months for vacation rentals. Christine Mitchell, co-owner of the same company, said increased demand benefits more than property owners, generating work for cleaners, handymen and charter companies.

Although the tourism agency's figures cover all of Pinellas County, available reports do not establish how much of the estimated economic impact went specifically to Palm Harbor or Dunedin businesses.

What comes next

The economic boost comes as businesses across the county continue recovering from the 2024 hurricane season, which damaged Tropicana Field's dome and forced the Rays to play at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa during the 2025 season.

The team's return to St. Petersburg for the 2026 season restored baseball-related foot traffic to businesses near Tropicana Field.

The Rays are pursuing a roughly $2.3 billion stadium and surrounding development at Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus in Tampa. Tampa and Hillsborough County officials approved agreements for the project in August, according to St Pete Catalyst.

The team hopes to open the stadium in 2029, after its current agreement at Tropicana Field expires following the 2028 season. The project still faces financing and construction hurdles.

The World Series also brought additional public safety expenses.

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue reported $58,880.25 in staffing costs for the three games, which Deputy Chief Brett Ciskoski said the Rays would reimburse, according to St Pete Catalyst's report, also published by WUSF.

The department assigned 31 personnel to each of the first two games and 30 to the third, including command officers, inspectors, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and hazardous materials personnel.

The St. Petersburg Police Department assigned approximately 100 officers to World Series operations across the three games, including security and traffic control around Tropicana Field.

The department had not provided its total staffing and overtime expenses or associated reimbursements at the time of the report. Fire Rescue also had not confirmed whether it had received reimbursement from the Rays.

The full public cost of hosting the World Series therefore remains undetermined, even as tourism officials estimate the games generated $40 million in economic activity across Pinellas County.