What was the World Series worth to St. Petersburg?

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. (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.Ho