TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The World Series is bringing more than excitement to Tropicana Field.
It’s also delivering a major boost in passenger traffic at Tampa International Airport as baseball fans travel from across the country and around the world to watch the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Milwaukee Brewers.
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Airport officials projected between 75,000 and 80,000 passengers per day during the series, a significant increase from the roughly 55,000 passengers typically seen this time of year.
September and October are traditionally among the airport’s slowest travel months, but the World Series has given travelers another reason to visit Tampa Bay.
For Brewers fan Chance Dickman, the trip is about witnessing a moment his team has been chasing for decades. But he also understands the excitement surrounding the Rays and their pursuit of a championship.
“They’ve been there a couple times and have fallen short, and now it’s their time to hopefully capture their first title,” Dickman said. “It just so happens they’re doing it against a franchise that’s been starved to one since 1982.”
The excitement has also brought fans from much farther away.
One Rays fan, who works as a university baseball coach in Japan, traveled to Tampa Bay to watch his favorite team compete on baseball’s biggest stage.
Another fan, originally from the Tampa Bay area but now living in Philadelphia, flew back specifically for the World Series.
“Yes, I flew in specifically from Philly for the game,” she said.
For some fans, the experience comes with a hefty price tag.
Brewers fans Ken and Ryan Johnson traveled to Tampa Bay hoping to witness their team’s championship run in person.
Ken estimated their trip would cost a couple thousand dollars, even before factoring in hotel accommodations and meals.
The pair planned to fly home early the following morning.
Other fans arriving at the airport shared similar plans, making quick trips to Tampa Bay for the opportunity to attend a World Series game.
The surge in visitors comes as the Rays fight to keep their championship hopes alive after falling behind in the series.
While the games are drawing thousands of fans to Tropicana Field, the impact is also being felt miles away at Tampa International Airport.
Airport officials said their operations team is preparing for another wave of travelers as the series wraps up and visiting fans begin heading home.
For many of those travelers, the trip may last only a day or two, but the opportunity to witness a World Series in person is an experience they won’t soon forget.
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