Toronto is buzzing with playoff fever. For the first time in 15 years, both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors are in the playoffs at the same time. While there is no doubt sports bars will see an increase in business, the overall economic impact on Toronto is relatively small.
Assistant Professor Davin Raiha says sports-related businesses may see increased sales during a post-season run, but that’s not necessarily the case for the city as a whole.
“It’s probably overestimated how beneficial it is,” says Raiha. “The economic impact is quite small, almost in most cases, not even discernable from being zero.”
