https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2020/03/09/cash-cow/
CASH COW.
Totally Tigers
Baseball, especially its owners, is making money hand over fist. Revenue has never been greater.
But if attendance has been going down now for the 12th year, how is this happening? There is a 14% decline since 2007, with each year lower save one.
If costs are rising, as well as the number of terrible teams, how can this possibly be the result?
It?s because MLB is making tons of cash from other things.
A couple years ago, MLB sold one-third of its BAM technology, with each owner pocketing over $50 million apiece. They also own a number of other hi-tech tools like PitchCAST, which they will also spin off for a large profit down the road.
Then there is MLB Radio and TV, along with all 30 teams websites. They own it all, control everything about the info and messages and reap the profits.
Outside of technology, they have been buying up companies like Rawlings. Is it a coincidence that shortly thereafter, baseballs started flying out of stadiums as HRs increased and the manufacturing of them changed to make them carry further?
And now, they are turning team uniforms into walking billboards with the addition of the Nike Swoosh displayed prominently on the chest. That little maneuver got them a 10-year deal conservatively estimated at over $1 billion.
Oh, and did I mention the soon-to-be-official agreement between MLB and legalized gambling?
And if that?s not enough, Rob Manfred has just proposed a new playoff format in which even more teams will compete in the off-season, deserving or not. It?s a way to sell more tickets, more food, more merchandise, more tv rights and more advertising ? by selling more hope.
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