ALDS GOOD FOR LOCAL ECONOMY,

Sox-Yankees playoffs weekend a grand slam for local economy

A classic Red Sox-Yankees rivalry isn’t great just for baseball fans, but for the economy as well.

The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates $15 million will be injected into the local economy over the holiday weekend as Games 1 and 2 of the American League Division Series were hosted at Fenway Park.

“Everyone understands that sports are a big business and very lucrative for teams and their owners, the players and their agents,” said Patrick Moscaritolo, the bureau’s president and CEO. “But what very few understand is that sports are also a very lucrative business for a city’s visitor industry and visitor economy.”

According to the analysis, the games generate about 15,500 hotel room sales, with the lodging alone totaling about $5 million. Food and beverage checks in at about $3.2 million in sales, and retail spending for the games will hit $1.2 million. Besides that $9 million in direct spending on the infamous Sox-Yankees clash, another $6 million comes from indirect spending that extends to other industries such as transportation.

“It’s the perfect storm, in a good way, that will pay big dividends,” Moscaritolo said. “Playoff baseball, the New York Yankees and their fans coming to play a record-setting Red Sox team, beautiful weather over a holiday weekend — our visitor industry cannot ask for a better scenario.”

As previously reported in the Herald, 1,500 Marriott Hotel workers in Boston are on strike amid an ongoing contract dispute for higher wages. It is the first hotel strike in the city’s history. The Marriott said its hotels are not significantly affected by the strike. “During the strike, our hotels are open, and we stand ready to provide excellent service to our guests,” a statement said.

The Red Sox finished their regular season Sept. 30 with a team record-setting 108 wins. The Yankees finished in second place behind the Sox with 100 wins. The two teams are slated to play each other again tomorrow at Yankee Stadium.

STAFF PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER EVANS BIG SPENDERS: Fans gather on Jersey Street last night outside Fenway Park for Game 2 of the Red Sox-Yankees playoff series, which is pumping millions into the local economy.