If I haven’t shared it before, I miss baseball! During it’s absence, I have tried reading some of the other baseball blogs (heresy I know), but I just can’t find myself getting enthused about simulated games or what the players are doing to entertain themselves during the lock down orders. I miss baseball! I miss the competition. And while I’m proud that Dustin May won the best hair in baseball competition (way to go Dustin!), I want to be able to discuss Mookie’s performance to date, how much better Kershaw is throwing and whether or not we’ll keep Kike because he’s hitting the cover off the ball. But alas, it’s not to be. Instead I looked for something else to write about that you might find interesting. One of the issues I have found myself fascinated with during the shut down, is the financial impact it might have on the Dodgers. I know there are many (myself included), that have suffered severe economic loss as a result of the situation we find ourselves living in. Businesses have been shut, jobs have been lost, and the financial pain has been real. In light of that, it seems a bit silly to talk about the financial impact on billionaires and millionaires, when there are so many who are experiencing real struggles just to keep their noses above water. I don’t mean to cluck my tongue at any of that or minimize those struggles by discussing the impact on the Dodgers in this post. I will also admit that I am biased, because of my love for the Dodgers, but I do think the Dodgers have the most to lose if the season is cancelled entirely or in great part. Moreover, as to the financial losses, I have not considered whether or not the Dodgers can recover any of their losses through insurance or other means. They might, for instance, have a business interruption policy to which they can make a claim. I look only at their potential losses, both financial and baseball.
1. They stand to suffer significant financial loss:
a. General season financial loss:
● Ticket Revenue Loss
According to TicketIQ, which has based their estimates on the secondary market value of games off the 2019 season averages for each team, the Dodgers would lose over $405 million dollars if the entire season is cancelled. If the season was cancelled just to the All-Star break, the Dodgers would lose slightly over $200 Million dollars. Having the season cancelled through April resulted in approximately $85 million dollars in losses. Opening day alone meant ticket sale losses of $13 million. That’s a lot of money.
● Concession Loss
When you put butts in the seats, it means that fans will shell out for food and drinks during the game. Major League Baseball stadiums tend to be expensive places to eat. Comparatively speaking, Dodger Stadium’s prices aren’t exorbitant. Plain hot dogs and other simple snacks start around $5, but gourmet options are in the $5-$10 range. Beer prices start around $6.25, while water and soda come in under $5. Despite the “relatively lower price” for food/drinks, it is still going to cost the average fan $25-50(depending on how much you drink) for food and drinks. In 2019, the Dodgers had 3,974,309 fans attend their games (49,066 per game).
Accounting for the fact that this number represents tickets sold and not all were in attendance at the games, the concession loss would still be roughly $120 million dollars. Not all of that is profit of course, as there are savings from not having to purchase the food items and pay concessionaires, etc.
● Parking Loss
The average cost to park at Dodger Stadium is approximately $35.00 per car. There are approximately 16,000 paring spots at Dodger Stadium. I did not do any further research into the potential losses resulting from the lack of use of the parking lot, because quite frankly(no pun intended) I did not want to research the percentage of income that McCourt receives from the parking lots. The mere mention of his name causes me to have mental nausea, so I left it at that.
● Licensing revenue Loss
Licensing revenue is a big source of income for MLB. Baseball has agreements with some of the biggest names in sports, including Nike Inc. (NKE) and New Era Cap Company, to provide officially licensed apparel to both players and fans. While MLB doesn’t publicize merchandise sales figures, record sales of licensed MLB merchandise in recent years have been reported.
When teams have winning records, when big-name players get traded, and when teams change uniforms, fans buy more merchandise. Even a team with a poor record can have authentic men’s jerseys starting at $74.99 at the MLB online store and go as high as $289.99. I spent a lot of time looking for what my be spent by fans at the Dodger Stadium team stores, but could not find any information on-line. I do know that each time that I have gone to Dodger Stadium, those stores are packed to the gills after the games.
● Television Revenue
A 2013 deal between the team and Time Warner Cable guaranteed the Dodgers $8.35 billion dollars over 25 years. This money doesn’t all come to the Dodgers as they have an obligation to pay some of this income to MLB’s revenue sharing fund, which distributes money to smaller-market teams in baseball. Under the current agreement, teams must give up 34 percent of their local broadcast income for revenue sharing.
The Dodgers also jointly own SportsNet LA, along with Time Warner Cable(now Charter Communications). The lack of “real” baseball games will certainly affect the advertising income for SportsNet LA.
b. All-Star game:
Another significant loss for the Dodgers if the season is cancelled would be the loss of the AllStar game. Data has shown that the All-Star game and festivities is a significant economic boon to the hosting cities. Fans and national media often spend the weekend at the city and spur economic activity at surrounding restaurants, hotels, and other local businesses.
The following is a graph showing All-Star Game Economic Impact: In Chronological Order All Star Game History (Source: Baseball Almanac)
| 1996 All Star Game | NBC | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | $55.9 Million |
| 1997 All Star Game | FOX | Cleveland, Ohio | $37.6 Million |
| 1998 All Star Game | NBC | Denver, Colorado | $40.5 Million |
| 1999 All Star Game | FOX | Boston Massachusets | $65.0 Million |
| 2000 All Star Game | NBC | Atlanta, Georgia | $49.0 Million |
| 2001 All Star Game | FOX | Seattle, Washington | $50.0 Million |
| 2002 All Star Game | FOX | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | $50.0 Million |
| 2003 All Star Game | FOX | Chicago, Illinois | $60.0 Million |
| 2004 All Star Game | FOX | Houston, Texas | $65.0 Million |
| 2005 All Star Game | FOX | Detroit, Michigan | $52.2 Million |
| 2006 All Star Game | FOX | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | $52.3 Million |
| 2007 All Star Game | FOX | San Francisco, California | $65.0 Million |
| 2008 All Star Game | FOX | New York, New York | $148.4 Million |
| 2009 All Star Game | FOX | St. Louis, Missouri | $60.0 Million |
| 2010 All Star Game | FOX | Anaheim, California | $85.0 Million |
| 2011 All Star Game | FOX | Phoenix, Arizona | $67.0 Million |
| 2012 All Star Game | FOX | Kansas City, Missouri | $60.0 Million |
| 2013 All Star Game | FOX | New York, New York | $191.5 Million |
| 2014 All Star Game | FOX | Minneapolis, Minnesota | $75.0 Million |
| 2015 All Star Game | FOX | Cincinnati, Ohio | $60.0 Million |
| 2016 All Star Game | FOX | San Diego, California | $80.0 Million |
| 2017 All Star Game | FOX | Miami, Florida | $70.0 Million |
| 2018 All Star Game | FOX | Washington, D.C. | $68.0 Million |
| 2019 All Star Game | FOX | Cleveland, Ohio | $65.0 Million |
| 2020 All Star Game | FOX | Los Angeles, California |
Ticket prices are setting records. In 2017, StatGeek showed that the average ticket price to attend the all-star game in Miami was $820.00. In 2019, the average cost was $872.00. I’m not certain if that is on the secondary market, but either way, that’s a lot of money.
Even the non-game events are money makers. The cheapest face-value seat for the Home Run Derby is generally in the three figures. Can you imagine, paying $100 to watch batting practice on steroids? Often hosting teams will have some type of associated “Fan-fest” that will have ticket prices ranging from $25.00 to $50.00 per ticket.
2. They stand to suffer baseball loss:
a. The Dodgers were poised to have a special year:
Arguably, the Dodgers were ready to put the best team they have had in a long time on the field. On paper, they appeared to be as perfect a team as any that I have witnessed in recent memory. There was strength, and depth, at every position, and they appeared to have addressed the weaknesses in the bullpen. Despite the fact they didn’t sign Gerrit Cole, the starters also seemed to be improved over past years. There was also a different feel to this team in spring training. Collectively, they seemed more focused, energized and united in their resolve to obtain the goal of a WS championship. Of course, this doesn’t take into account significant injuries or that a player or two might have absolutely dismal seasons. That’s always a possibility. As they say, you don’t play the game on paper. Nevertheless, taking that all into consideration, I still felt that this team was something special and, arguably, it did not have any glaring holes. I was looking forward to watching them play.
b. Mookie Betts:
At the end of last season, AC began the mantra that the Dodgers needed to go bold before the start of this year. While we all thought that meant signing Cole or Rendon, trading for one of the Cleveland pitchers or something similar. Instead, the Dodgers acquired Mookie Betts. Let me repeat that, Mookie Betts!!! Granted no one player can win a championship, but let’s be honest, when have you been as excited about the Dodgers acquisition of a player? It was fun when the Dodgers traded for Manny Ramirez, and for a short while he kept us excited. But this is Mookie Betts, one of the 2 or 3 most complete players in the game! On top of which, he is a natural leader and doesn’t bring the same baggage with him that Ramirez did. If the season is lost, and we never get to see Betts wear a Dodger uniform in a regular season game, for me that just might be the greatest loss of the season. I so looked forward to watching him perform.
Here’s hoping that this post was for naught and that soon we will be getting excited over the announcement that 2020 season will be starting soon! In the meantime, I’m glad to have this blog to read again, and I hope that this finds all of you doing well, and staying strong! I have missed you too!
Discussion (53)
Disagree, not disagreeable
If you are interested, here is a very interesting article:
https://www.livescience.com/why-covid-19-coronavirus-deadly-for-some-people.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=17546&utm_content=20200505_Coronavirus_Infographic+&utm_term=4416763&m_i=V5aez7phN_19KNUoxYEyogbsJfiu6aU2IL4JWj5iNCn15eJy552NfroxyCBznXl0sGFoECZ4T5IpbyYkC_HT8iK8K1lRL7
Sorry to hear about your wife Rudy. Is she home with you?
The Article in The Atlantic is one I think I posted here Sunday.
I haven’t had the TV on in weeks. I don’t watch old baseball games.
I am just busy writing and working.
Some of you know what the solution is, but most think they know what the solution is. I don’t, but If everyone sheltered in place for the next year, or until a vaccine is developed maybe 200,000 lives would be saved. But that does not go far enough. Ban fast food, power tools, guns, fossil fuels, electric plants, cattle, horses, tobacco, sugar drinks, soda, alcohol, and outlaw obesity and you might save up to 10,000,000 lives a year! That would show how much we really care. Yeah, let’s go back to the caveman days. It would be better for everyone.
Rudy, Godspeed to your wife and you. Hopefully, they got her some TPA quickly.
Side story: In 1997, I was so broke I could not pay attention. I secured a commissioned sales job with a company called ARS in Indianapolis. The first year, I made more than the CEO, and they cut my commission every year until I left 4 years later. Shortly after that, I started US Water Systems in my garage. ARS is nearly bankrupt and on Friday, my wife and I and 4 of our executives meet to negotiate to buy their building.
Patty told me : “If we end up there, you will have come full circle.” Ain’t life grand and strange! Here’s the building and our US Water Logo would be right at home:
https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/25-Woodrow-Ave-Indianapolis-IN/18432579/
I am so happy to see Jeff and everyone carrying on at LADT!
For you Mark. “Water is life and life is water.” I like your logo.
A sincere thanks to all who sent good wishes for me and my wife.
*by renting*
If the baseball season is cancelled or played in AZ, could the dodger recoup some of their losses but renting their stadium out for anything?
Great article on the Athletic about last year’s 4th round draft pick, Brandon Lewis:
https://theathletic.com/1794275/2020/05/05/how-the-dodgers-brandon-lewis-remade-his-body-and-became-a-fourth-round-pick/
Gives some insights as to how the Dodger player development operates in the area of nutrition, etc.
Hmm. I just posted an article from the Atlantic and it appears to have disappeared. If I go back a few clicks, it’s still there. Whahappen Jeff? You don’t like the Atlantic?
Yep, I posted my name Jefe. I’d give you my last name, but then you’d google it and I would have some explaining to do. I’ll save the board the trouble and just say I was acquitted of those charges.
I miss live baseball as do most of the rest of you but I find myself surprisingly uninterested in watching reruns of old games. Since I’m in Badger’s (Rory?) age group, I also find myself doing far more observing than participating these days but am grateful for the ability to do that.
As I watch the world around me, I try to take a moment every day to think about how lucky I am compared to so many other stories I hear out there. Rudy, my very best wishes to your wife for a strong recovery.
As I have mentioned previously, as has William above and has also been voiced by Strip, what happens when one or more players catch the virus? Our conversations have revolved around whether there will be a 2020 season or not. I read a story in the L.A. Times this morning that says the original virus mutated sometime in the last 2 or 3 months and the latest version seems to be more contagious than the original. Fauci and others in the medical/scientific community have thrown out numbers that say some of this could be with us for anywhere up to three years. The medical community is doing their very best work to come up with a vaccine, but what if the mutated version needs a different vaccine? What if it mutates again?
I suppose we just need to try to get a bit of joy out of every day and if that ultimately includes actual MLB baseball, all the better. We just need to be prepared that when it finally starts, just as the stock market, it’s going to probably be volatile and may go through periods of stops and starts.
I have mixed feelings. I miss baseball, and particularly as the Dodgers were likely to have really good season. And of course theaters are closed, concerts are canceled, and it would be nice to have something to watch. On the other hand, my sense is that doing baseball this year would mostly be a means of recouping financial losses, and that the whole thing might be rather hollow. Of course, we would not know until we saw it; but I imagine empty stands except for the players spaced out in the first few rows. The only sounds would be bats sometimes hitting balls. If the manager wanted to take the pitcher out, would he just signal, no conference? Would there ever be a meeting on the field among players and manager, discussing strategy? I am thinking of August on some field in Arizona, Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati, still scoreless after four innings, we’ll be back after these commercial messages.
Is some form of baseball better than nothing? Very possibly, though I think that the current efforts to “reopen the country” are ghastly, because the consequences are likely to be extremely bad. How did science somehow become political? Back to baseball, what if some team finds that two of the players test positive, does that immediately end the season? There are some powerful people who want there to be some form of baseball this season, and so I guess there might be. I suppose I would watch the Dodgers, at least, none of the other games except for playoffs. But if there is no baseball, while I would miss it, along with the other things that are shut down, I would certainly understand, and just hope that next year is better in all respects.
Another article in The Athletic speaks of the Dodgers’ commitment to nutrition as part of its player development program. A brief excerpt:
“The individual attention and education Lewis cited is part of an overall plan for the Dodgers’ player development system, according to Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman. “Our organizational goal is to have an individualized approach in all aspects of player development. Proper nutrition is a major point of emphasis across all of our teams, and we understand that each player will require a different meal plan to best fuel their body,” Friedman said. “We feel this sometimes undervalued piece is a big component of our players performing at their highest level throughout the season.”
In previously-mentioned Ross Stripling article, Strip talks about the Dodgers’ efforts to help him with his changeup:
“As an eight-year member of the organization, he is particularly pleased with the coaching staff’s investment in his development. This spring, assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness helped re-work Stripling’s changeup, which was serviceable but unspectacular in the past. The data on the pitch looked fine, but hitters could see it out of his hand. So Stripling twisted the ball slightly in his hand before throwing it. Edgertronic cameras confirmed the improvement.”
What really impresses with the Dodgers are their use of their financial resources to lead the way in player development. The results are obvious.
I need an clear, concise summation of this piece in the Atlantic. William, Harold, Jeff, Rick, STB, d2, heck, anybody in here could help. Thanks.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/04/pandemic-confusing-uncertainty/610819/
2D2, Thank you for the article which was very interesting and made me think about the financial loss the Dodgers would suffer if the season was cancelled. On a personal note, I really miss the baseball games and miss seeing how the new players do and the olders ones improve. I really wanted to see Betts play and hope we will see that happen if they can get a season together. Hope so
Badger pointed to an article in the Athletic by Pedro Moura, published May 4. Very good article. Today, Andy McCullough and Pedro Moura wrote about Ross Stripling. Strip made some interesting comments about the potential of the 2020 season. He thought that the initial plan of sequestering players in Arizona for four months, was literally a joke. He called it inconceivable. But he does believe that MLB and the MLBPA can and should come to an agreement for an abbreviated season whereby teams are playing in their home stadiums in geographically designed divisions. The stadiums will be empty of fans, at least initially. He believed an 80-100 game schedule was certainly feasible.
He also addressed (questioned) some of the same points many of you have made.
Strip was quoted; “The thing is, how many guys have to get it again before baseball gets totally shut down?” Stripling said. “If a guy does get it, what does he do? Is he just self-quarantining for two weeks? I know we want those answers and expect to see that in any kind of proposal, what the contingencies are if players do start to get sick.”
He also pointed to the financial negotiations yet to be made, and was also quoted; “I’d like to think that both sides can agree that baseball needs to be played and can come to an agreement,” Stripling said. “The last thing you want to see is billionaires fighting millionaires. When it comes down to money, it just seems, at a time like this, put that aside and have pride in the product on the field and go play baseball. And give people something to look forward to.
Chicken Strip has been a favorite since being drafted. I’ve often said I love Texas pitchers. He talks about his status with the Dodgers and whether he believes he was given a fair shot at a rotation spot. He does say that he loves being a Dodger.
Strip has his own podcast, The Big Swing, and it is well worth a listen.
2D2,Thank you for a very interesting read.
I was missing baseball until my wife had a stroke ten days ago and is beginning the initial steps of what will be a long recovery. Baseball means zero to me now. Priorities.
Interesting reads to start my morning. Erudite is a word that comes to mind.
I read an intriguing piece in the Athletic by the new Rams beat writer Jourdan Rodrigue. If you are a subscriber I recommend you read it. Several things she referenced struck me where I find myself these days – struggling to remain in the moment. A Ron Rivera quote squared it up – “Be where your feet are”. I all too often find myself remembering and restructuring the past. Things I wish I’d done better, things I didn’t do at all but wish I had. At 72 I find myself becoming more of an observer of life than the participant I once was. A friend recently asked me “Rory, what brings you joy?” I thought about it a moment and realized the answer was obvious. Play. All my life, interrupted by 3 miserable years in the Marine Corps, what I did in my spare time was play. I didn’t take school seriously (C- average in high school) until I went back to college at age 26. I did well there, got a teaching credential, did some coaching. Didn’t last long. But I took play seriously until I was in my 60’s. I skied, swam in lakes and rivers and ran in nature all over the west. I played tournament softball for decades and participated in the MABL Over 30 Redwood Empire League until I was 56. I could still hack, with an OPS over 1.100 my last year. I climbed three 14ers (and 13, 993’ Mt Humphreys) after 60. But now? Over 70 and I’m basically in house arrest reading, gardening, meditating and watching movies. Play is done cerebrally now and admittedly I am no where near as adroit with that as I usta was.
I like coming here. I find the folks here kindred spirits. I also find your thoughts thought provoking. For that I thank you.
One last thing before I go for my second cup of coffee. Pedro Moura writes about where the Athletic computers would have the Dodgers if the season was in play. Third place, with David Price and Brusdar Graterol on the IL, possibly out for the year. May is down with elbow inflammation. Buehler, Ferguson, Jansen and Kershaw are doing well, but Urias, Wood and Taylor are not. Gonsolin has a 7.48 ERA at OKC, Kelly has struggled and Treinen has been unlucky. Bellinger was extended, 6 years $124 million, he, Muncy and Betts are all OPS’n over 1.000. Hitters are hitting and the team does lead the league in run differential so the season is still “altogether plausible”. The Dodgers haven’t given up on signing Betts but he’s asking for 9 years @ $37 million per year.
Put me in the 2D2 camp on this. I miss baseball. I work to care for my family and to live. Everything we do outside of providing for our family and our faith (for me anyway) is an escape. Some choose to garden. Some choose to take long walks. Some bike ride. Some play golf. Some swim. Some bowl. Some go to movies. Some read. Some draw. Some involve themselves in political discussions. And yes, some watch sports. For some it is NASCAR, while others it is football or futbol, some it is basketball. For me it is baseball. But I also love to walk, listen to music, and read. These activities are escapes from the real world and our familial obligations and life’s distractions.
I think Jeff may make the distinction between being physically involved in an activity and being a spectator. Not all of us can be physically involved due to a myriad of reasons. I also think Jeff may be obscuring escaping through sports or obsession with sports. Obsession for anything is not healthy, but temporary escapism through sports is not obsession. At least to me. Or at least that is what I choose to believe. It is that escapism that has allowed me to navigate through my personal trials and tribulations without going in a different direction.
There is no question that I love baseball. I was not talented enough to competitively play past Pony League, as I was an age group swimmer, and swam in high school, rather than baseball. But that lack of talent did not diminish my love for the game. Baseball is something we did as a family. I coached for 15 years, was President of the Little League for 10. My wife ran the Snack Bar. Both my sons played through college, and one professionally. If there is any question as to what to give to Dad or Grandad for a gift, it was easy…something Dodgers or Trojans. I was also the football announcer for my kids’ high school for 10 years. My wife, daughter, and son (not so gently) nudged me to become more involved in this blog, as they know it is part of who I am.
To say “to be free of this influence, is to live differently.” We are all influenced. The source of that influence is different for everyone. Most of that influence emanates from one’s own life’s experiences. Jeff does not need baseball or sports in his life, and I think that is great. I don’t know about need as much as I WANT baseball in my life. It gives me enjoyment.
I like sports, in general. Like you, I enjoy watching the competition taking place on the field. But I can honestly say, I don’t miss baseball. I never think about it and I can’t bring myself to feel any sympathy for all the revenue lost for any team. It might sound crazy to some, but sports are not an essential element of living for me. In many ways, I see sports as an escape for many. An escape from empty lives that have no passion for living in the present moment and enjoying what it means to be alive. It’s not the content of our lives I’m talking about. All of us our filled with content. I am talking about the absence of all that chatter and noise that accompany most folks day and night and lead them into all sorts of opinions, philosophies, and beliefs about what life is and all the morality that comes with it via the culture. To be free of this influence, is to live life differently. We might even be able to enjoy doing nothing equally as much as watching a sporting event. Being alive is in itself a cause for celebration. The small things can become the source of joy and contentment that most of us have been searching for for most of our lives but never comes to a stop to enjoy this present moment. Only a World Series could fulfill us and this fate is what you call happiness? Mookie Betts holds your well being in his hands as well as AF? How insignificant these things are to me. How obsessed the average person has become with the content of their lives, identifying with trivialities that can disappear in the next moment. Does this make any sense to anyone?