Events

MLB games deliver £56.5m boost for London economy

Featured image credit: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

London’s economy received a boost of nearly £56.5m (€67.2m/$68.6m) following last year’s Major League Baseball games at London Stadium, according to an impact study carried out by Two Circles.

London Stadium, which primarily serves as the home of West Ham United, hosted back-to-back games between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies on June 8 and 9 last year.

Two Circles’ study found that 108,956 tickets were sold for the two games, with many more people taking part in pre-game activations and events held across London.

The £56.5m figure marks an increase on the £53m posted in 2023, when the St. Louis Cardinals met the Chicago Cubs in a two-game series. The 2024 games were also found to have boosted the overall UK economy by £65.1m, up from £60m in 2023.

MLB first visited London Stadium in 2019, when the New York Yankees faced off against the Boston Red Sox in a two-game series. The 2019 series generated £37m for London’s economy.

A survey completed by more than 5,100 fans over the two event days last year found that an estimated 21% of spectators travelled from the US, contributing 72% of the direct economic impact. The average satisfaction score from attendees was also much higher than the industry average at 8.94 out of 10.

The study cements the continued legacy of the London 2012 Olympic Games, with Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and its venues attracting millions of visitors every year. The park is home to the Abba Voyage event, which has attracted more than 1.5 million visitors since opening in 2022 and contributed £322m to the economy.

The 2024 MLB London Series resulted in £4.6m of direct consumer spend in England outside of London, £3.3m in Scotland, £430,000 in Wales and £340,000 in Northern Ireland. In addition, the Republic of Ireland benefited from £620,000 of economic benefit and France from £670,000.

Graham Gilmore, chief executive of London Stadium, said: “The London Series continues to be a landmark event for baseball outside of the US, showcasing the passion for the sport on a truly global stage. The weekend not only reinforced London’s status as a world-class destination for international events but also delivered significant economic benefits, boosting tourism, hospitality, and local businesses. Thanks to the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies for making it such an incredible weekend.”