Daily Clips
November 23, 2017
NATIONAL
MLB Sets Record For Revenues In 2017, Increasing More Than $500 Million Since 2015
November 22, 2017 By Maury Brown/Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2017/11/22/mlb-sets-record-for-revenues-in-2017-increasing-more-than-500-million-since-2015/#d16d59a78803
MLB TRANSACTIONS
November 23, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions
NATIONAL
MLB Sets Record For Revenues In 2017, Increasing More Than $500 Million Since 2015
November 22, 2017 By Maury Brown/Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2017/11/22/mlb-sets-record-for-revenues-in-2017-increasing-more-than-500-million-since-2015/#d16d59a78803
Major League Baseball continues to hit home runs on the business side. According to sources at the league, 2017 marks the 15th consecutive year MLB has seen record gross revenues, surpassing the $10 billion mark for the first time. By comparison, the league saw revenues approaching $9.5 billion at the end of the 2015 season.
The growth is due in large part to baseball’s compelling postseason play over the last several years, media rights—both traditional television and digital--and continued labor peace.
Several key growth factors influenced the bottom line positively this year.
The league continues to benefit from the realignment of the various business arms of the league. Under commissioner Rob Manfred, the league has created what is called “One Baseball” by which digital, sponsorships, television, and others cross pollinate to allow partners to promote across the platforms.
That alignment has helped grow league-wide sponsorships in double-digits for 2017.
Growth for the league continues around its digital media interest, MLB Advanced Media. The league spun off an arm of MLBAM in 2015 named BAMTech. The league sold its majority stake to the Walt Disney Co. to for $2.58 billion while retaining a 15% minority stake. It is possible that MLBAM could see a major restructure with the departure of its CEO and visionary Bob Bowman departing at the end of the year.
Television media rights continues to play a part in revenue growth for the league. The regional sports networks that support regular season broadcasts for the 30 clubs continue to be a ratings success and ratings were up significantly at the national level in 2017.
The revenue growth comes after a down year for the league in terms of attendance. In 2017, Major League Baseball saw attendance dip below 73 million in paid attendance for the first time since 2002.
In 1992, when Bud Selig took over as commissioner of MLB, league revenues were $1.2 billion. When accounting for inflation, revenues for the league have grown 325% in the 25 years since, or approx. 13% annually and over $500 million in the last two years.
MLB TRANSACTIONS
November 23 2017 •.CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions
Baltimore Orioles / Jaycob Brugman / Traded From from Athletics, Oakland (for future considerations)
Cleveland Indians / Leonel Campos / Signed to a Minor League Contract
Cleveland Indians / Jeff Beliveau / Signed to a Minor League Contract
San Diego Padres / Kyle Lloyd / Designated for Assignment