Spring Training is a significant economic driver for both Arizona and Florida, with 15 Major League Baseball teams conducting their preseason preparations in each state. Last February and March, over 2.9 million fans attended spring training games, with nearly 1.4 million fans flocking to Florida alone in 2023. Since 2000, Florida has seen a total of 34 million fans attending spring training games, contributing an average of $687.1 million annually to the state's economy.
On the other hand, the Seidman Research Institute at Arizona State University reported that spring training in the Phoenix Valley area generated over $710 million in economic impact during the 2023 season, with more than 1.5 million fans attending games in the region. The cancellation of games in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic had a staggering economic impact, but the return to normalcy has brought about a resurgence in attendance.
