The establishments downtown will lose some business, sure, but I doubt it'll be anything significant. The beer inside the ballpark will be marked up considerably compared to what you can get at the bars. Plus, the CWS is a very family-oriented event. Lots of kids and teenagers. Maybe this will increase the attendance of adults, but it'll still be an event that draws families. I'm going to guess there are a lot of parents who take their kids to the CWS who avoid the drinking outside the stadium, but will enjoy a cold one once inside the stadium.
Actually the beer on the club level, which I assume will be the same price as the rest of the stadium (as the other concessions are), is about exactly what it is at Beer & Blatt and the Baseball Village, around $7 for 24 ounce can. Everywhere "marks up" beverages during the CWS.
I can't speak for how the rest of the stadium will be for beer sales, but as a club season ticket holder since the move downtown, this is what I've witnessed.
2011-13: No beer in stadium, no beer in club: Some Club seats vacated early in games, club bar area vacant too
2014: No beer in stadium, beer inside of club (no beer in club seats). Some club seats vacated early, club bar area PACKED before, during, and after games
2015: No beer in stadium, beer inside of club and in seats. Fewer club seats vacated early, club bar still packed before, during, and after games.
Point being, no doubt the area bars will still get their fair share, but for some, the days of going down early to whet your whistle at the local establisment are done. You can spend all your time at the stadium, for the same price. No need to jet out early from games to soak down more either, you can see the game live, not on the tv, and still get your fill...
