Shohei Ohtani’s debut season with the Los Angeles Dodgers has sparked a massive influx of Japanese tourists to the city, transforming not only the team’s fanbase but also boosting the local economy. The relationship between Ohtani-Los Angeles has proven to be a huge success on and off the field.
The phenomenon, known as the “Ohtani Effect”, has brought thousands of Japanese visitors eager to see their baseball hero in action, significantly impacting tourism and local businesses.
The Ohtani-Los Angeles relationship: A surge of Japanese visitors to LA
According to Bill Karz with the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, Los Angeles has already seen about 230,000 visitors from Japan this year. The primary draw? Shohei Ohtani. Karz notes that 80% to 90% of Japanese travelers coming to LA are specifically attending Dodgers games.
This surge in tourism has positioned Japan as LA’s fifth largest overseas tourism market, a notable increase driven by Ohtani’s presence in Major League Baseball.
How do local businesses benefit from Ohtani’s popularity?
The excitement surrounding Ohtani isn’t just limited to Dodger Stadium. The Miyako Hotel in Little Tokyo has experienced a boost in bookings, thanks in part to a giant Ohtani mural that has become a popular spot for social media selfies.
The demand is so high that even expensive flights and hotel stays haven’t deterred fans from flying across the globe to see Ohtani play, strengthening the relationship between Ohtani-Los Angeles.
At Dodger Stadium, the response has been equally impressive. The venue has expanded its Japanese-speaking tours to eight per week to accommodate the influx of Japanese tourists. The team has also attracted 12 new Japanese sponsors.
On top of that, according to StubHub, Japan has become the top country outside of North America in terms of ticket sales for Dodgers games, particularly during their World Series run.
Record-breaking audience in Japan
Ohtani’s impact is not just felt in the stands but also on television screens across Japan. The Dodgers’ playoff games have set new viewership records in Japan, with the first game of the World Series against the New York Yankees drawing millions of viewers despite the 16-hour time difference.
Game 5 of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Padres featured a matchup between Japanese pitchers Yamamoto and Darvish. This game averaged 12.9 million viewers in Japan, surpassing the 7.5 million U.S. viewers for the same game. The anticipation for Ohtani’s performance has led to a significant increase in MLB’s popularity in Japan.
The economic impact in Los Angeles
The “Ohtani Effect” has led to a ripple effect across the local economy. From increased hotel stays in Little Tokyo to higher merchandise sales at Dodger Stadium, the economic impact is substantial. The Dodgers’ success this season, combined with Ohtani’s popularity, has turned Los Angeles into a hot spot for Japanese fans and media, creating a cultural bridge between the two nations.