Posted on 08/26/2013 6:43:30 PM PDT by ReformationFan
The Houston Astros, the worst team in Major League Baseball, is set to become the most profitable team in the sport's history. According to a Forbes report, "The Astros are on pace to rake in an estimated $99 million in operating income this season. That is nearly as much as the estimated operating income of the previous six World Series championship teams — combined." The highest-paid player on the team makes $1.15 million and 64 baseball players make more than the whole team combined. The Astros, currently at 43-86, have the worst record in the league since 2005. But Jim Crane, the team's owner, is raking in the money because of "slashed payroll expenses and soaring television revenues": The regional sports network Comcast SportsNet Houston pays the Astros $80 million a year to show their games — about $50 million more than the Astros got under their previous deal. The massive boost in revenue means that the Astros have plenty of spare money. They could pay for their current payroll six times over with money from their local television deal alone. And they bring in nearly $40 million from other television and radio deals.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Here’s the link to the full article-
http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-Sports/2013/08/26/Astros-Most-Profitable-Team-In-MLB-History
I’d rather own them than a winning team, then. There I said it. It’s a business.
The owner must be a businessman.
He may not have “pride of ownership” but he’s quite happy with “pride of cash flow”.
I understand, the Astros are close to signing a deal whereby the club will be known as The Houston Astros Sponsored By Dollar Tree.
That makes me want to laugh and cry all at the same time.
Loria still wins though, at least Crane didn't conspire to steal hundreds of millions of tax payer dollars to fun a new stadium for himself and then put a minor league team on the field the very next season.
At least the Marlins won two World Series.
Why did they pick the name “Astros”? Sounds like a dog’s name. They should have kept their original name, the Colt 45’s.
Dang. Another title stolen from the Pirates.
You gotta go 20 losing seasons in a row to catch our record!
Not politically correct.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were also very profitable back when they were the worst NFL team year after year.
I love teams with small payrolls...who still manage to compete on the field. People like Oakland, Minnesota. Love to see the Pirates doing well this year. The 1960 Pirates are one of my hero teams. And I’m a Red Sox fan.
When losing is winning
Actually, that’s what GWB did.
Threatened to move the team, and got the city to build them a stadium.
It’s a too common tale.
As for all those bucks, they will eventually have to field a decent team, or nobody will tune in to the games, and the whole thing ends in tears.
I preferred the Colt 45s, I don’t think that I have seen a game since they changed their name.
I was a Los Angeles Rams fan, so I know how you feel.
My Twins are on pace to lose close to 300 games over the last three seasons. So I guess 'compete' in our case doesn't mean quite what it used to. Yet, they've got a new taxpayer financed field too. They're raking in the bucks after cutting payroll after breaking their promise to spend on players if they got a new stadium. Like anyone thought they'd do anything different.
I have a question....what makes the Cubs so viable?
Branding? Big pockets? Nostalgia?
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