Shohei Ohtani estimated to generate $770 million in economic benefits for 2024, doubling what he created before Dodgers move from Angels
Shohei Ohtani has made the most of his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has been exceptional on the field and is a big reason his club is in the World Series.
He has also had a big impact on the economy, bringing in millions of dollars over the years. However, could be as big as the year he is currently having. According to Kansai University Professor Emeritus Miyamoto Katsuhiro, the start will generate over $770 million of economic impact this year.
The professor puts the direct at over $770 million for this year. This includes ticket sales, food, merchandise, sponsorships, advertisement, and broadcasting revenues.
According to Katsuhiro, his economic impact has jumped over 50%. He cites Ohtani's move to the Dodgers as a major factor for these increased figures.
Shohei Ohtani's 50-50 ball shatters record
Shohei Ohtani reached a huge milestone this season when he became the first player in history to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bags. It is an incredible feat and the fan who got the 50th home run ball is lucky.
The ball recently went to auction and brought home a jaw-dropping $4.4 million. This shatters the record for any baseball or any other sports ball, for that matter.
The previous high price was St Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball from the 1998 season. Ohtani's record ball will likely be at the top for quite a while. The auction house did not identify who bought the baseball, but it was somebody or a group with tons of money sitting around.
The highest-price sports memorabilia of all time goes to Michael Jordan. His 1998 NBA Finals Game 2 jersey sold for a record-breaking $10.091 million through an auction house in 2022.