The Little League World Series generated nearly $40 million for Lycoming County’s economy

With the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, and the FIFA World Cup, March Madness, and MLB’s All-Star Game taking place in Philadelphia, major sporting events could bring even bigger bucks to Pa. in 2026.

One day after Chinese Taipei bested Nevada to win the 78th Little League Baseball World Series, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) announced the estimated economic impact the games brought to the region.

The two-week baseball tournament in South Williamsport generated nearly $40 million in revenue for the state’s economy, according to the Lycoming County Visitor’s Bureau, with 70,000 people making their way to north central Pennsylvania for the 2025 championship. That’s nearly double the combined populations of the city of Williamsport and neighboring borough of South Williamsport.

“Little League is a quintessential part of America – and I’m proud that Little League’s home is right here in Williamsport, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro. “Since the first Little League Baseball World Series was held in 1947 here in Pennsylvania, the annual tradition has generated millions of dollars each year for the local economy and put our commonwealth on the map as a top-tier sports destination.”

While the Little League Baseball World Series draws visitors from countries across the globe annually to Williamsport, Pennsylvania will be in the spotlight next year for America’s 250th birthday celebration.

The MLB All-Star Game and games for the FIFA World Cup and NCAA’s March Madness men’s basketball tournament will take place in Philadelphia in 2026, while the state will also host the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square and the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. These blue chip sporting events will bring even larger economic benefits across the commonwealth.

The FIFA World Cup is expected to make the biggest splash with an estimated $770 million in total economic impact.

The NFL Draft is projected to bring in $100-$200 million in economic impact for the Pittsburgh-region. When the 2017 NFL Draft took place in Philadelphia, the region saw an estimated $94.9 million in economic impact to the city, according to a study commissioned by the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The PGA Championship estimates that the tournament will result in at least $125 million in economic impact for the area, while the MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia is projected to bring in over $67 million to the region.

Shapiro made an appearance at the Little League Baseball World Series championship on Sunday, while a bipartisan group of lawmakers held a roundtable discussion a few days prior to highlight the economic impact it brings to the region.

“Tourism, which drives more than $80 billion a year into our economy, is an integral part of my administration’s economic development strategy and we will continue to be strong partners with Little League Baseball to help more young people make their dreams come true here in Williamsport,” Shapiro added.

Jason Fink, President and CEO of the Lycoming County Visitors Bureau, told the Capital-Star that the bureau tracks hotel tax revenue and occupancy to estimate the local economic impact. They’ve been doing that since 2018, when it was part of a visitors profile and experience survey conducted by Penn College for the Visitors Bureau and Little League Baseball. He said the hotel tax revenue and occupancy has run at or above the previous year’s numbers, except for those affected by the pandemic.

“With all the visitors and the national spotlight, I believe we stood tall,” state Rep. Jamie Flick (R-Lycoming), who represents Williamsport, wrote about the event. “It gives me great pride in being able to call this area home, and to have been part of the LLWS for the past 50 years. I’m already looking forward to next year so we can again showcase our community to the world.”

Since the beginning of the Shapiro administration, at least $523,000 has been approved to support improvements and activities around the Little League Baseball World Series, which includes DCED’s Marketing to Attract Tourists program.

DCED told the Capital-Star that The Marketing to Attract Tourists budget was $19.4 million in FY25. That program funds projects to increase awareness of getaway destinations and attractions in the commonwealth through marketing and advertising initiatives.

Shapiro has proposed $65 million in his 2025-2026 budget to prepare for America’s 250th Birthday.