World Series Teams Face Haunted Hotels in Milwaukee and Tampa

Key points

• The Milwaukee Brewers are staying at the Pfister Hotel, a historic downtown Milwaukee hotel opened in 1893 that is frequently cited by MLB players as haunted.
• The Tampa Bay Rays are staying at the Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg, a 1926 waterfront property with its own collection of ghost stories, including a 'Lady in White' on the fifth floor.
• Rays pitcher Trevor Megill reported seeing 'orbs' at the Vinoy, while also acknowledging the Pfister is 'for sure' haunted, highlighting a shared skepticism among players.
• The Pfister Hotel has a history of paranormal reports, including Carlos Gomez hearing voices in 2009 and Bryce Harper finding his room rearranged, leading some players like Mookie Betts to avoid it entirely.
• Despite the hauntings, teams continue to use these hotels because they offer the large suites necessary to accommodate traveling baseball teams, a practical necessity that outweighs the spooky reputation.

Background

This story occurs during the 122nd World Series, the first all-small-market championship since 1991. The Brewers won Game 1 on October 23, 2026, with Jacob Misiorowski setting a new velocity record. The series is taking place amid a looming MLB lockout threat due to the collective bargaining agreement expiring on December 1, 2026.

How outlets are covering it

The Washington Post and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel frame the hotel situation as a humorous but notable aspect of the World Series, emphasizing the parallel between the two teams' accommodations. FOX6 News Milwaukee provides a deeper historical context on the Pfister Hotel, detailing specific player anecdotes from 2009 and 2025, and noting that some players actively avoid the hotel. All sources agree that the hotels' practical benefits, such as large suites, are the primary reason teams continue to use them despite the paranormal reputation.

Why it matters

The story adds a human interest dimension to the 2026 World Series, highlighting the unique challenges and superstitions faced by players in high-pressure environments. It also underscores the practical constraints of team logistics in major sporting events, where convenience often overrides comfort or tradition.

What to watch

The World Series continues with Game 2 on October 24, 2026, in Milwaukee. If the series extends to a Game 7, it will be played on Halloween night, October 31, 2026, in Milwaukee, adding a thematic layer to the already spooky hotel situation.