With Spring Training knocking on the door and the swing of bats about to stir the warm Arizona air, tourism experts are abuzz over the forthcoming influx of baseball aficionados. According to a report by AZFamily, the Arizona Office of Tourism is projecting another banner year for the state, in no small part due to the allure of two World Series contenders, the Diamondbacks and Rangers, taking to the fields this season.
Statistics from previous outings have shown that an impressive 60 percent of spectators are visitors, eager to shake off winter's chill for the promise of Arizona's sun-soaked stadiums. "One of the reasons we are expecting a really good season is that it’s springtime; spring training is a highly anticipated end to cold weather for visitors from all other states," said Josh Coddington of the Arizona Office of Tourism on AZFamily.
With 1.5 million people having descended upon the Cactus League last year, generating a whopping $700 million in economic impact – on par with the Super Bowl – the expectations are high. Restaurants, bars, and local businesses stand poised to reap the benefits from the patronage of baseball enthusiasts gathering in the vicinity of the stadiums. Moreover, international attention is piqued with the addition of global baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani donning the Los Angeles Dodgers' colors for the first time, hinting at the prospect of an even broader demographic.
With the regular season looming on March 30, the USA TODAY reports that, while hope springs eternal, the World Series odds tell a tale of underdogs and favorites. Teams like the Washington Nationals linger at the bottom of the barrel, with a mere 0.20 percent chance to clinch the ultimate prize, according to odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook.
