The crack of the bat at Dodger Stadium isn’t just about home runs anymore. Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese superstar who can both pitch and hit, hasn’t only revitalized the Dodgers—he’s sparked a tourism frenzy across Los Angeles. Suddenly, the City of Angels has become a popular summer destination for Japanese fans. Every home game feels like a global event, with tourists flooding in to witness Ohtani in action, creating a ripple effect that goes beyond baseball.

Last year, Magic Johnson’s Dodgers signed Ohtani to a record-breaking $700 million deal over 10 years. To put that into perspective, Aaron Judge, another baseball megastar, has a 9-year, $360 million contract! And yet, according to Joe Pompliano, that massive contract is still a bargain. Thanks to Ohtani, the Dodgers now rank first in attendance and jersey sales, pulling in a staggering $30 million in ad revenue. It’s clear that Johnson and his co-owners knew exactly what they were doing.

Moreover, the true magic lies in the flood of Japanese fans. As Pompliano shared, Japanese brands are even buying ad space in other stadiums when the Dodgers are away. Michael J. Miraflor, a retired DJ, chimed in, noting the “incredible influx of Japanese tourists” at Dodgers’ home games, and Pompliano backed him up: “100%. There’s a Japanese travel agency in LA sending 200 clients to every home game, and the LA Tourism Board says 80% to 90% of visitors from Japan stop by Dodger Stadium at least once. Crazy numbers.”

To top it all off, the impact isn’t just local. Recently, Game 5 of the Dodgers-Padres NLDS pulled in 12.9 million viewers in Japan—more than the 7.5 million in America. That’s nearly 10% of Japan’s entire population watching a game at 9 a.m.

And Magic Johnson even thinks Ohtani’s influence might be bigger than Michael Jordan’s.

Johnson chooses Ohtani over MJ!

Magic Johnson can’t stop raving about Shohei Ohtani, and we got a front-row seat to that when he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live. When Kimmel brought up Ohtani, being the modern-day Babe Ruth, Johnson couldn’t agree fast enough. He even went as far as saying Ohtani’s historic season surpasses the best of Michael Jordan. “Probably close to it, but not this type,” Johnson said, acknowledging Ohtani’s unique dominance. While Jordan has six championships, Ohtani’s youth speaks volumes about his potential to change that.

But what really grabbed attention was Johnson’s comparison of Ohtani’s fame to none other than Michael Jackson. “The world is watching, not just American fans,” Johnson explained. He also praised Ohtani’s ability to pull in new audiences, fans who never watched baseball before. “I’ve never seen this in my life,” he added, likening Ohtani’s global appeal to the “hysteria” that followed Michael Jackson wherever he went.

Kimmel, ever the comedian, couldn’t resist joking about Ohtani’s massive contract: “I don’t know how you guys figured this deal out, where you say, We’re going to pay you almost nothing for the first, what, like 10 years. He had to accept it, and then you’re going to be like, And then I’m going to sell the team, and whoever I sell it to will owe you $700 million.” But selling the team is the last thing on Johnson’s mind. “As long as he’s [Ohtani] playing, we probably won’t sell the team,” said Johnson.

What’s more? Johnson highlighted that eight out of ten Japanese tourists make Dodger Stadium a must-see. That alone speaks to the unbelievable popularity Ohtani has built in such a short time. What do you think of the Japanese sensation? Let us know in the comments below.