The small-market matchup fell short of the last two Dodgers-led openers but still outdrew every other World Series opener since 2022.
Game 1 of the World Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, won by the Brewers, averaged 12.2 million viewers combined across Fox and Univision, according to preliminary numbers reported by Sports Business Journal's Austin Karp. The game reportedly peaked at 13 million viewers. Final Nielsen numbers are expected Tuesday afternoon, which could push the figure higher once additional Big Data plus Panel measurements are included.
The 12.2 million figure is a step down from the two prior World Series openers, both featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers. Game 1 of the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays drew 13.3 million viewers, while Game 1 of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees pulled in 15.2 million.
Still, the Brewers-Rays opener outperformed several recent Fall Classics without the Dodgers. It topped the 2022 opener between the Astros and Phillies, which drew 11.7 million viewers, and easily beat the 2023 opener between the Rangers and Diamondbacks, which averaged just 9.4 million viewers, the least-watched World Series game in history. The strong Milwaukee market was cited as a notable factor keeping the overall number competitive despite the smaller markets involved.