Fans celebrate after the Washington Nationals defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 7-4 in Game 4 of the baseball National League Championship Series to sweep, and to advance to the World Series. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
D.C. hotels, bars and restaurants will enjoy an economic boost from Washington’s first World Series in 86 years, but how big a boost will depend on whether visiting fans speak with a twang like Texans or squawk like New Yorkers.
“The city will see $6.5 million in economic impact from the Houston Astros if they are our opponent. And if it’s the New York Yankees, the total would be $8.8 million,” said Robin McClain, senior vice president of marketing and communications for Destination DC, the group that manages conventions and tourism in D.C.
“We are going to be welcoming business that we would not have without the World Series here,” McClain said. “You can really feel the excitement throughout the city, whether you are watching with folks at local restaurants and bars or just walking down the street seeing all the Washington Nationals gear that people are wearing.”
D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton watches Game 3 of the World Series at Nationals Park.
(WTOP/Matt Mills)
WTOP/Matt Mills
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser watches Game 3 of the World Series at Nationals Park.
(WTOP/Matt Mills)
WTOP/Matt Mills
Bill and Patti Hinkle, of Ashburn, Virginia, attend Game 3 of the World Series.
(FNN/Tom Temin)
FNN/Tom Temin
(Courtesy Hanson Lee)
Courtesy Hanson Lee
(Courtesy Hanson Lee)
Courtesy Hanson Lee
Baseball fans wear birthday hats in honor of Juan Soto, who celebrates his 21st birthday on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019.
(WTOP/Colleen Kelleher)
WTOP/Colleen Kelleher
(Courtesy Hanson Lee)
Courtesy Hanson Lee
(Courtesy Hanson Lee)
Courtesy Hanson Lee
Bill Nye takes selfies in the dugout during batting practice prior to Game Three of the 2019 World Series against the Houston Astros at Nationals Park on October 25, 2019 in Washington, DC.
(Getty Images/Will Newton)
Getty Images/Will Newton
Washington Nationals fans enter Nationals Park for Game 3 of the World Series against the Houston Astros October 25, 2019 in Washington, DC.
(Getty Images/Win McNamee)
Getty Images/Win McNamee
Washington Nationals fans enter Nationals Park for Game 3 of the World Series against the Houston Astros October 25, 2019 in Washington, DC.
(Getty Images/Win McNamee)
Getty Images/Win McNamee
Washington Nationals fans enter Nationals Park for Game 3 of the World Series against the Houston Astros October 25, 2019 in Washington, DC.
(Getty Images/Win McNamee)
Getty Images/Win McNamee
Washington Nationals fans enter Nationals Park for Game 3 of the World Series against the Houston Astros October 25, 2019 in Washington, DC.
(Getty Images/Win McNamee)
Getty Images/Win McNamee
These fans wish Nats’ Juan Soto a happy birthday. He turns 21 on Friday, Oct. 25, which is also Game 3 of the World Series.
(WTOP/Michelle Basch)
WTOP/Michelle Basch
These fans are tailgating near Nationals Park for Game 3 of the World Series.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
Sophia Bay, Andres Otero and dog Liberty, who goes to all “Pups in the Park” games, take in the scene at Nats Park before the start of Game 3 of the World Series.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
These baseball fans live across the street from Nationals Park.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
These babies at Inova Loudoun Hospital have been fans since they were born.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
Patti Hinko writes: “Max is ready for the World Series (and ready to find his forever home). He is hoping his favorite Nat, Max Scherzer, can take home the Curly W! #Natitude”
(Courtesy Pattie Hinko)
Courtesy Pattie Hinko
Abby is showing off her Natitude.
(Courtesy Anne Home)
Courtesy Anne Home
This precious Nats fan is only 8 days old!
(Courtesy Josh and Megan Bekkedahl)
Courtesy Josh and Megan Bekkedahl
Not in the D.C. area, but Minnie Payne, 83, in Ellenwood, Georgia, is proudly showing off her Natitude.
(Courtesy Silva Foxx)
Courtesy Silva Foxx
Jack is rocking the Natitude.
(Courtesy Diann Hohenthaner )
Courtesy Diann Hohenthaner
“Just a couple of National fans,” Nancy Berg writes.
(Courtesy Nancy Berg)
Courtesy Nancy Berg
“Just a couple of National fans,” Nancy Berg writes.
(Courtesy Nancy Berg)
— National Cherry Blossom Festival 🌸 (@CherryBlossFest) October 22, 2019
Cindi Brooks sent a photo of her son, Eric, who is a screenprinter in Boise, Idaho, and came up with his own design for his shirt.
(Courtesy Cindi Brooks)
Courtesy Cindi Brooks
Are you ready, D.C.? Are you geared up?
(Courtesy Tiffany Newsome)
Courtesy Tiffany Newsome
These WTOP listeners showed off their Natitude at Nats Park.
(Courtesy Vickie Geary Baitinger)
Courtesy Vickie Geary Baitinger
Teddy was ready for Game 1 of the World Series.
(Courtesy Susan Colarco)
Courtesy Susan Colarco
Here’s a Nats fan in Iceland, sending good luck to the home team.
(Courtesy Christine Tsitsiragos )
Courtesy Christine Tsitsiragos
George Washington’s Mount Vernon is all in on the Nats. And they’re offering a 31% discount (that’s Max Scherzer’s number) to anyone coming in through Oct. 30 sporting Nationals gear.
(Courtesy George Washington’s Mount Vernon)
Courtesy George Washington’s Mount Vernon
“Baby Shark” on the National Cathedral organ? You better believe it.
(Courtesy George Washington’s Mount Vernon)
Speaking of Baby Shark… after the series opener, WTOP’s Michelle Basch caught up with @NatsSharkGuy himself.
(Courtesy George Washington’s Mount Vernon)
D.C. resident Milton White shows off his latest fitted hat from the Nats’ team store. He has one for every year and has come back repeatedly this year to score this one.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
Theresa Cheseldine and daughter Colleen Snook
(left)
left
Federal News Network anchor Tom Temin with pal Gerald Richman at Game 3 of the NLCS on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019.
(FNN/Tom Temin)
FNN/Tom Temin
And here’s Temin again, this time with his daughter, Janice, at Game 5 of the NLDS.
(FNN/Tom Temin)
FNN/Tom Temin
Baby shark!! Fans cheer before Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Washington Nationals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington.
(AP/Alex Brandon)
AP/Alex Brandon
A Washington Nationals fan cheers during the fifth inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington.
(AP/Alex Brandon)
AP/Alex Brandon
Fans watch play in the second inning in Game Four of the National League Divisional Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Oct. 7, 2019 in Washington, D.C.
(Getty Images/Patrick McDermott)
Getty Images/Patrick McDermott
Fans cheer in the second inning in Game Four of the National League Divisional Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Oct. 7, 2019 in Washington, D.C.
(Getty Images/Patrick McDermott)
Getty Images/Patrick McDermott
Fans take a photo in the outfield stands at Nationals Park on Oct. 7, 2019 in Washington, D.C.
(Getty Images/Patrick McDermott)
Getty Images/Patrick McDermott
A fan enters the stadium prior to the National League Wild Card game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Oct. 1, 2019 in Washington, D.C.
(Getty Images/Patrick McDermott)
Getty Images/Patrick McDermott
A fan enters the stadium prior to the National League Wild Card game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Oct. 1, 2019 in Washington, D.C.
(Getty Images/Patrick McDermott)
Getty Images/Patrick McDermott
A Washington Nationals fan poses for a photo prior to the National League Wild Card game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Nationals at Nationals Park on Oct. 1, 2019 in Washington, D.C.
(Getty Images/Patrick McDermott)
Getty Images/Patrick McDermott
A fan enters the stadium prior to the National League Wild Card game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Oct. 1, 2019 in Washington, D.C.
(Getty Images/Patrick McDermott)
There are several factors driving the different economic outcomes of either Houston or New York as a World Series opponent.
“New York is closer, and so people can make that decision to come to D.C. closer to the times of the games. … It’s a drive market, you’re coming down the East Coast corridor, it just makes it easy,” McClain said. “New York is also our top domestic visitor market, and so it just makes sense that we would likely welcome more people from there.”
“If it’s Houston, it’s really just a distance thing, in terms of people having to take flights here, and so that just becomes a little bit more limiting in terms of the visitation estimate,” McClain said.
Besides out-of-towners, locals are expected to help boost business at restaurants and bars during the Fall Classic.
“It’s incredibly exciting right now, and while my restaurants aren’t directly close to the ballpark, I don’t think that’s the biggest indicator,” said Dan Simons, co-owner of Founding Farmers and Farmers Restaurant group.
“Winning and smiling stimulate. Get off the couch, get out of the house, go hang out with people, and that drives people into restaurants,” said Simons, whose group operates six restaurants in D.C., Maryland and Virginia and one in Pennsylvania.
There are also sellers of Nats team merchandise, as well as caterers, souvenir vendors and even bicycle and scooter-share firms that stand to gain from the World Series.
Josh Bear, general manager of D.C.-area Spin e-scooters, said they have about 20 hubs around the area. That includes one near Nats Park, “and we’re working on getting two more up before the World Series.”
During the World Series games that are to be held at Nats Park, Simons expects his restaurants could see a 10% to 15% in sales.
” … The whole city comes alive — bars and restaurants,” said Simons.
“It just puts a smile on people’s faces.”
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Whether anchoring the news inside the Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center or reporting from the scene in Maryland, Virginia or the District, Dick Uliano is always looking for the stories that really impact people's lives.