PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — For 30 days in October and November, the Philadelphia Phillies transfixed and galvanized the city and the Delaware Valley with their unlikely run to the World Series. That run stimulated a major impact on cash registers in the area, according to the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The PHLCVB said that the Phillies’ run, including eight postseason games held over three weeks at Citizens Bank Park, delivered a $78 million economic impact, with $49 million spent directly in the city.
That impact is multiple times the economic windfall of hosting NCAA Tournament games at the Wells Fargo Center, though it’s below the nine-figure economic impact of megaevents like the Super Bowl, Final Four and World Cup.
The bureau cited a Tourism Economics study saying that the Phillies’ home games also led to 34,000 visitors who spent 35,000 hotel room nights. Some of those included media members who took up 1,900 credentials, including some from 10 international markets.
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“This was a big win for Philadelphia and its tourism and hospitality sector, especially the city’s hotels, restaurants, and their staff who were positively impacted by the Phillies postseason run,” said PHL Sports Executive Director Larry Needle.
“Philadelphia truly is a sports destination, and we demonstrate time and time again how we excel at hosting the country’s largest sporting events.”
The playoff run was unexpected, as the Phillies earned the No. 6 and lowest seed in the National League playoffs, but swept the Wild Card round over St. Louis, defeated Atlanta in the NL Division Series and upended San Diego in the NL Championship Series before coming within two wins of a World Series title against the Houston Astros.
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“The Philadelphia Phillies postseason generated significant impacts in the local community as out-of-town visitors and national media that attended games also spent money at local businesses during their stay, including bars and restaurants, hotels, retailers and attractions,” Tourism Economics senior economist Greg Pepitone.
“What really made it a home run is that this new spending would not have occurred in the community unless the Phillies made their unbelievable postseason run.”
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Such is the economic spillover benefit that happens when teams like the Phillies, Eagles, Sixers, Flyers and Union make the postseason and play home games while contending for championships.
The city has a list of major planned sports events scheduled for the next few years that will bring visitors and economic impact to the region, including the Army-Navy game this December and again in 2027, the next two NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Final Fours, the 2026 FIFA World Cup — all at Lincoln Financial Field — the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, and the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball first- and second-round games at the Wells Fargo Center.