With the World Series win Nov. 2 during an extra inning in Game Seven, the Chicago Cubs made history by ending the 108-year dry spell they had endured since their last time winning the coveted trophy. 

Tourism in Chicago spiked during the World Series, even on days the Cubs did not play at home. It reached its peak during the Cubs’ parade and rally held Nov. 4. The events attracted 5 million to the Loop, making the parade the seventh largest gathering in human history, according to a Nov. 4 Fox 32 News article. 

The win and the celebrations put the eyes of the entire country on Chicago and the team; however, the spotlight is already dimming.

The enduring image of a team that had not won in 108 years but still had a fiercely dedicated fanbase is gone for the Cubs because they are now recognized champions. Cubs’ players are not strangers to charity work with the annual charity runs, toy drives and other events they host, but this title gives them the chance to do much more.

A city known for its troubled school system, violence and crumbling infrastructure, Chicago has plenty of causes that could use help, money and publicity. The jump in tourism during the World Series brought increased revenue to the city but went primarily to retailers, restaurants and hotels. Odds are, the parts of Chicago that need it most will not see a cent. According to an Oct. 29 Sun-Times article, the surge in retail revenue will not have any lasting effect on Chicago’s economy.

For winning the World Series, the players will get to split an estimated $25.1 million among themselves and whomever they see fit, which was about 60 people last year, according to a Nov. 3 Fortune article. That money, along with the incomes the players already earn, should induce a fair amount of charitable giving.

The Cubs would not be the only Chicago team to engage in charity work. A group of Blackhawks’ players got together in February of this year to host a charity concert at which players sang karaoke and raised $100,000 for families of patients at Lurie Children’s Hospital, according to a Feb. 26 Chicago Tribune article. This was the sixth year of fundraising events for the Blackhawks’ charity, according to the article.

The Cubs are renowned for the support the city and its residents give them, and the Cubs need to recognize that and give the same support back.