St. Louis Cardinals Advance to National League Championship Series, Set to Generate up to $32.4 Million for Regional Economy Thursday October 10, 2019 By Explore St. Louis Guest ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Cardinals are advancing to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) against the Washington Nationals after wrapping up the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves. And while the Cardinals continue their Red October on Friday, October 11th at Busch Stadium, St. Louis will see more green thanks to a potential $32.4 million economic impact on the regional economy. The total economic impact of the Cardinals playoffs depends upon the number of games played here in St. Louis says St. Louis Regional Economic Development Alliance Director of Economic Research Ruth Sergenian. Since up to four potential NLCS games could be played at Busch Stadium, the maximum total impact is estimated to be $32.4 million or $8.1 million per game. “St. Louis has always been a sports town, but between hosting the 100th PGA Championship last year and the PGA Tour Champions in 2020, seeing the return of professional football with the St. Louis Battlehawks, getting the first female majority-owned MLS team in franchise history, and watching the St. Louis Blues go from the worst team in the NHL to winning the Stanley Cup, St. Louis’ sports spirit is at an all-time high,” says St. Louis Regional Chamber President & CEO Tom Chulick. “This run to the World Series excites tourists, locals, and business owners and positively impacts the regional economy.” Sergenian calculates the $8.1 million estimated impact per NLCS game on the assumption that each game would draw 45,800 attendees. While out-of-town visitors historically constitute 40% of game attendees, postseason games are expected to increase out-of-town visitor attendance as well as the national media and Major League Baseball officials. Direct visitor spending and direct Busch Stadium operations are expected to reach a total of $4.3 million per game for the NLCS. The direct expenditures will ripple through the local economy to generate approximately $3.8 million in indirect and induced expenditures, to reach the total impact $8.1 million. This analysis uses the economic impact model IMPLAN, which measures how spending tied to an event has multiple impacts and spreads throughout a region, thereby benefiting local households and firms. The direct, indirect and total economic impact figures are based on estimates of visitor spending and operations expenditures at Busch Stadium. About the St. Louis Regional Chamber The St. Louis Regional Chamber is a broad community of leaders united for economic prosperity throughout the entire St. Louis bi-state region. Our aspiration is for St. Louis to be one of the Top 10 U.S. regions in prosperity. Our one purpose is to inspire a greater St. Louis. Together, we will make St. Louis a more attractive place for people to live, work and invest. For more information, visit www.stlregionalchamber.com. Share
