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and how it relates to the game of professional football
I just read a report that there are now NINE franchises in MLB who now fall BELOW the acceptable debt limits MLB has set up. This includes 2 cornerstone franchises (Mets and Dodgers, the current AL champions, and former world champion Phillies.
It got me thinking about the costs of the game, since like the Sox, the Phillies sell out every game. Then I started googling.
The capacity of Fenway has several listings, so I settled on the mean of 37,500. Again, according to google the average ticket price at Fenway is a league high of $55 (the league low was $36) So when you do the math, the Sox get about $169MM in revenue from the gate. The bad news is that their payroll (just for players) is around $162MM. And that number will probably grow as the season wears on as the Sox have to add players. Safe to say that when all is said and done, ASSUMING the Sox sell out all their games the total gate of the most successful franchise in the league will just pay for the salaries of
the players.
It will not cover the costs for putting up 50 odd people for 90 odd nights of hotels. About $5MM/season
It will not cover the cost of of all the coaches, manager, front office people, support, service, and security people it take to open Fenway for a game
It will not cover the cost of a private jet AND FUEL, and airport costs for the 82 regular season away games
It doesn't cover the cost of outside professionals like lawyers, accountants and insurance.
It will not cover the cost of the upkeep of the spring training facility and support staff down there.
It will not cover the cost of supporting several minor league teams.
It doesn't cover the costs of the tens of millions that have been spend renovating the park.
Yes, I know there are obviously several OTHER revenue streams that make the Sox valuable. Among them being TV, radio, merchandizing, food, etc. Their TV network being most important and the most valuable asset other than franchise itself.
I bring this up because I happen to know one of the small limited partners of the Red Sox. He's I guy I played football against in college (he went to Trinity) He once told me that even though the Sox have the 2nd best TV deal in the league (at least it was at the time we had this conversation which was a few years ago), plus great attendance and fan support; they really didn't start making money UNLESS they made it to the playoffs.
Now at the time, I thought he was just full of sh!t, because how could they NOT be just raking it in, with the full attendance at the league's highest prices, one of the best TV/radio deals, and the merchandizing. BUT when you start to think about the myriad operating costs, its hard to think that that $169MM in gate receipts cover even half the costs of operating during the year.
Now you have probably been wondering what this has to do with the Pats. Well nothing really. Just that the Pats are ALSO one of the best run franchises in their sport, and they too need need to make at least twice what they bring in in gate receipts just to break even. Plus the more I think about it. Owning this franchise is probably one of Bob Kraft's LEAST profitable businesses...though I'm sure it certainly is the most fun.
Any who thinks the owners are making just huge amounts of money just has to look at the operating expenses of the GB Packers to see how much it costs to run a franchise. I would think that they aren't too much different across the league.
Again, just some thoughts on a slow day.
I just read a report that there are now NINE franchises in MLB who now fall BELOW the acceptable debt limits MLB has set up. This includes 2 cornerstone franchises (Mets and Dodgers, the current AL champions, and former world champion Phillies.
It got me thinking about the costs of the game, since like the Sox, the Phillies sell out every game. Then I started googling.
The capacity of Fenway has several listings, so I settled on the mean of 37,500. Again, according to google the average ticket price at Fenway is a league high of $55 (the league low was $36) So when you do the math, the Sox get about $169MM in revenue from the gate. The bad news is that their payroll (just for players) is around $162MM. And that number will probably grow as the season wears on as the Sox have to add players. Safe to say that when all is said and done, ASSUMING the Sox sell out all their games the total gate of the most successful franchise in the league will just pay for the salaries of
the players.
It will not cover the costs for putting up 50 odd people for 90 odd nights of hotels. About $5MM/season
It will not cover the cost of of all the coaches, manager, front office people, support, service, and security people it take to open Fenway for a game
It will not cover the cost of a private jet AND FUEL, and airport costs for the 82 regular season away games
It doesn't cover the cost of outside professionals like lawyers, accountants and insurance.
It will not cover the cost of the upkeep of the spring training facility and support staff down there.
It will not cover the cost of supporting several minor league teams.
It doesn't cover the costs of the tens of millions that have been spend renovating the park.
Yes, I know there are obviously several OTHER revenue streams that make the Sox valuable. Among them being TV, radio, merchandizing, food, etc. Their TV network being most important and the most valuable asset other than franchise itself.
I bring this up because I happen to know one of the small limited partners of the Red Sox. He's I guy I played football against in college (he went to Trinity) He once told me that even though the Sox have the 2nd best TV deal in the league (at least it was at the time we had this conversation which was a few years ago), plus great attendance and fan support; they really didn't start making money UNLESS they made it to the playoffs.
Now at the time, I thought he was just full of sh!t, because how could they NOT be just raking it in, with the full attendance at the league's highest prices, one of the best TV/radio deals, and the merchandizing. BUT when you start to think about the myriad operating costs, its hard to think that that $169MM in gate receipts cover even half the costs of operating during the year.
Now you have probably been wondering what this has to do with the Pats. Well nothing really. Just that the Pats are ALSO one of the best run franchises in their sport, and they too need need to make at least twice what they bring in in gate receipts just to break even. Plus the more I think about it. Owning this franchise is probably one of Bob Kraft's LEAST profitable businesses...though I'm sure it certainly is the most fun.
Any who thinks the owners are making just huge amounts of money just has to look at the operating expenses of the GB Packers to see how much it costs to run a franchise. I would think that they aren't too much different across the league.
Again, just some thoughts on a slow day.