Downtown Phoenix businesses welcome World Series crowds and cash

By Christina Estes
Published: Tuesday, October 31, 2023 - 4:58pm
Updated: Wednesday, November 1, 2023 - 11:59am

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People walk around near Chase Field downtown
Christina Estes/KJZZ
Downtown Phoenix is busy before Game 3 of the World Series on Oct. 30, 2023.

Downtown Phoenix bars and restaurants expect to generate major league cash this week.

Adding staff and extending hours are the most common ways to serve tens of thousands of baseball fans. Downtown businesses are used to the crowds, thanks to Super Bowls, NBA finals and concerts.

Christina Estes/KJZZ
Downtown Phoenix restaurant Chico Malo extended hours during World Series games in Phoenix on Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2023.

Teddy Myers’ restaurant, Chico Malo, is not hosting formal watch parties but says that won’t hurt business, "We have enough TVs for the dining room to see, but everybody’s watching on their phones, watching updates. It’s just the atmosphere, you can feel it in the air. There’s something special when an event like that is going on just a couple blocks away from you.”

Chase Field holds more than 47,000 people, plus there are other events happening downtown. During last year’s World Series, Houston tourism officials said each game generated an economic impact between $12 million and $14 million.

Phoenix expects each World Series game to generate an economic impact of more than $10 million.

Christina Estes/KJZZ
A giant baseball surrounded by cacti provide a photo opportunity for World Series fans on Oct. 30, 2023 at CityScape in downtown Phoenix.

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