[Moonman62]

I seem to remember that when the Tampa Bay Bucs were perennial losers, that they were the most profitable football team.

[x]

It costs money to put together a winning team.

Ken Burns's Baseball series said Connie Mack of the old Philadelphia A's figured out that if his team could be a contender in mid-season and then fade out towards the end he could make more money and stay in business longer than if he won the championship.