Chicago and Cleveland: They’ll Always Have Bragging Rights

Chicago and Cleveland don’t often get much attention when it comes to baseball — but with the World Series part of the American fabric, even the intangibles are cherished.

Heightened attention for these two cities may result, even so, in some modest awards for each metropolis — final tallies won’t be in until well after the series concludes. The two teams play Game 7 tonight for the title (7 p.m. ET).

The biggest bucks are so far going to baseball gear.

At the grassroots level in particular, many Americans take up the cause of each host city. Most sports economists agree that sales of baseball merchandise for each city increase. After all, in a city like Chicago — which has disappointed its baseball fans for decades — this may turn out to be a once-in-a-lifetime event. Usually, it’s the local merchants at or near the ballparks who benefit most as fans rush to hop on the bandwagon.

[lz_ndn video=31547334]

The hospitality industry in each city will also see an increase. Because there are so few games, the revenue generated isn’t massive, but it is a nice little cherry on top of the typical seasonal revenue. To that end, Airbnb proprietors should see some extra pocket change.

The typical median price for an Airbnb rental in Chicago is $100, spokesman Benjamin Breit told the Chicago Sun-Times several days ago. But for listings this past weekend in Wrigleyville, the average cost ran more than $600. The most expensive listing was nearly $9,000 — for a home that could accommodate up to six guests.

Locally, sports bars historically see upticks in attendance during major sporting events. However, having a home team in the championship encourages even more attendance — even from fans playing hooky from work. That’s a great thing for local businesses.

Sports economist Michael Leeds, of Temple University in Philadelphia, cautioned that the World Series isn’t having a giant impact on the economy as a whole, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The biggest bucks are so far going to baseball gear.

Leeds’ words are generally echoed by others. The Chicago Tribune pointed out that the few million dollars brought into the economy by the event amount to statistical noise when compared to the billions each city operates on every year.

[lz_infobox]Estimated value of the Chicago Cubs: $2.2 billion, according to WalletHub.com. Estimated value of the Cleveland Indians: $800 million.[/lz_infobox]

However, these two cities get enhanced media coverage, and individuals who may be curious about these cities now may be persuaded to visit them. Chicago, of course, is already well-known. Its history, architecture, art, food and more place it in the top five of American’s best-known cities. Cleveland, for its part, has one of the largest theater districts in the country. It has beaches (thank you, Lake Erie). It has a world-class art museum and an orchestra that is the third most-recorded in the world.

Related: Indians Fever Runs High

One thing is for certain: The World Series is America at its finest. The spirit of competition, American exceptionalism, and the goodwill of sportsmanship dominate. The two cities that earn the right to host the series each year are worth paying attention to — for they showcase the many wonderful places in this country that deserve the public’s attention.

Just for kicks, here are a few other fun figures connected to the series, courtesy of WalletHub:

• $714 — minimum price for a ticket to Game 1 of the World Series this year, on VividSeats
• $2,474 — average resale price for tickets to the games in Chicago/Cleveland
• $525 — cheapest ticket for Game 5 of the World Series last year (the Kansas City Royals won the series last year, beating the New York Mets)
• $1,539 — average price of a World Series ticket last year
• Chicago is Major League Baseball’s third-largest media market
• Cleveland is Major League Baseball’s 19th-largest media market
• $240 million — total ad revenue generated by the 5-game World Series in 2015