HOUSTON – The economic impact of this year’s American League Championship Series is bringing in a whole lot of money to the Houston area.
The postseason run isn’t just about a boom for good spirits. According to Houston First, Houston will see an average of $12.5 million to $14 million for each home game.
“Every time the Astros has a game downtown it’s always busy and happy,” said Emere Ozsut, director of sales at the Lancaster Hotel in downtown.
Ozsut says they have seen people from Dallas, the Woodlands, and Kingwood. Rooms are in high demand because the hotel is about seven blocks from Minute Maid Park. The Lancaster Hotel is also the No. 1 hotel in Houston.
“You have no idea how many calls we have been getting from people asking every possible day if we have availability, if are suites are available,” Ozsut said.
In east downtown, workers at Pitch 25 are getting ready to serve over 1,500 people.
“I mean this is definitely one of our busiest times of the year. It gets absolutely packed and it’s still relatively slow compared to what’s to come when we make it to the series. When not if, I got to put the good juju out there,” Victoria McAdams said.
Last year, Houston generated about $36 million during the World Series home games according to Houston First.
Don’t forget about the food!
Home Slice in Midtown is offering a free slice to anyone who comes to the shop in Astros gear until the end of the ALCS.
“We’ve already given away somewhere around 300-450 slices something like that. It’s a good way to get us out here and let people know we are here and that we support the Astros, and we support Houston,” Assistant General Manager Ross Mohr said.
Some parking lots around the ballpark are charging $80. According to Stubhub:
- Since Thursday 10/19, overall sales for Games 6-7 in Houston have jumped over 500%
- The Astros have seen a 30% increase in sales for their ALCS home games this year compared to final ALCS sales for their home games last year
- Last night’s Game 6 in Houston sold more tickets that any other game in this ALCS to-date
- For Game 7 in Houston, there are more than 1,000 tickets available; the average price of tickets sold is $278