The World Series has wrapped up, but one St. Petersburg sports bar is still counting the money it brought in. Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill reports more than $1.2 million in revenue over three days, a surge driven by fans who packed downtown for the Fall Classic.
Thousands of Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers supporters descended on downtown St. Petersburg this week for Games 3, 4 and 5. Their spending lifted local hotels, restaurants and bars, and Ferg's was among the biggest beneficiaries.
Owner Mark Ferguson said the stretch from Monday through Wednesday was the busiest the bar has seen in its 34 years. "The bartenders and wait staff are very happy," he said. "Everybody's happy, although they're very tired."
Ferg's sits across the street from Tropicana Field, and the numbers reflect its location. Ferguson said the bar sold 3,500 cases of beer and seltzers, 3,800 burgers and 45,000 chicken wings during the three days. At 24 drinks per case, that works out to an estimated 84,000 beers and seltzers. Miller Lite and Coors Light were popular choices, particularly with visiting Milwaukee fans.
To keep up with the crowds, the bar brought in four food trucks. Ferguson said he does not know how much the operators sold, but they were delighted with the results. "They are very happy, and they said they're taking a vacation for a month," he said.
Ferguson expects Ferg's to bring in nearly $4 million in October, roughly the amount the business would normally earn over three months. Visit St. Pete-Clearwater had earlier estimated that the World Series could generate up to $1.8 million in local economic impact. A final figure has not been released.
The owner also sees a lasting benefit in the attention. "It was the busiest three days we ever had at Ferg's Sports Bar," Ferguson said. "We'll be on the map forever because of this World Series."
Looking ahead, the Rays plan to move to Tampa in 2029, which leaves businesses around Tropicana Field facing an uncertain future. Ferguson said Ferg's is not going anywhere, though he is exploring the possibility of opening a second location near the team's future ballpark in Tampa.
