Posted on 03/09/2021 6:01:29 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Pro sports lost an incredible amount of money last year, with each league losing revenue in every area from fan support to sponsorship.
According to Forbes, to date, the pro sports leagues have lost a combined $14.1 billion since the world ground to a halt just over a year ago.
Not only did the leagues lose billions of dollars in revenue, but the teams themselves also lost a percentage of what they are worth, the magazine added.
“Even the value of sports teams, one of the most reliable long-term investments for billionaires, began to creak from the strain. NHL franchise values fell 2% on average, according to a Forbes analysis published in December, the first drop in two decades. NBA values rose just 4% on average, the smallest increase since 2010,” Forbes wrote.
Unsurprisingly, the players also took a hit to their wallets. Forbes also noted that total earnings for the nation’s highest-paid athletes fell for the first time since 2016.
The magazine found that some of the top earners lost millions over what they earned in 2019. Boxer Canelo Alvarez’s earnings are down $57 million. Baseball’s Clayton Kershaw lost $3.5 million. Basketball players Chris Paul and Joel Embiid lost $6.8 million and $4.9 million respectively. And golf great Phil Michelson lost $11.6 million over 2019.
Of course, one of the biggest losses that pro sports suffered in 2020 was the loss of ticket sales as games were canceled and stadiums either banned the fans or only opened at far reduced capacities.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Yep. Everything they touch with their verminous rat-claws.
Excellent news, just excellent. Keep up the good work.
Oh noes. How awful. I used to watch MLB almost daily during the season, travel to FL for spring training, attend at least one game each season and was willing to spend good money for playoff tickets.
Last year, by Mid-May I had totally forgotten about baseball and accidentally discovered it was back by leaving the radio on the local Red Sox affiliate which carried Rush during the day. I tried watching but the cardboard cutouts and fake fan nose were too much. I haven;t watched one game since and realized I don’t miss it.
It goes beyond that, in fact the flag and anthem thing is more a symptom of the disease than anything.
“Unsurprisingly, the players also took a hit to their wallets. Forbes also noted that total earnings for the nation’s highest-paid athletes fell for the first time since 2016.”
Tell that to Dak Prescott.
Fundamentally Europeans play a better game. Of course Americans are more talented but at the same time, it is more boring. NBA stars are all about shooting threes or dunking the ball. In EuroLeague, you actually see ball movement and defense.
Professional sports today is nothing more than a playground for corporations.
Exactly. I do enjoy watching Luka Doncic play, he’s too good to play for Mark Cuban.
“The silver lining to the lockdowns”
Right; everyone can see how non-essential professional athletes are...
Looked like an exhibition game.
I hear ya. I was an enthusiastic NFL season ticket holder for years and attended several Major League Baseball games most seasons. Went to some NBA games too.
No more. And I don’t miss it. Let ‘em dry up.
Luka Doncic should return to Europe. Maybe several NBA Stars will follow him. EuroLeague will take off in popularity.
Also the fans in EuroLeague are part of the fun, it’s like a soccer crowd, only indoors with flares, chanting, it’s a trip to watch.
MLS fans are known for doing that as well. Some MLS teams have cool supporter groups.
I’ve started gravitating to other sports, I caught the Cricket bug after visiting Australia and seeing it on TV.
With the increase in the Indian population here, I expect Cricket to really start taking off in popularity. And I think it takes more skill to play Cricket than baseball. A good batsmen literally cannot make a single mistake in two hours, if he wants to get a “century” (100 runs). Imagine not taking a single strike for a hundred pitches or hitting a lazy popup that is easily caught in that span. That’s what a Cricket batsman has to do.
I’m surprised it was that low.
I was a regular at FC Dallas games. Don’t know if I’ll go back considering how “woke” they are as well. But it’s nice to go to a sporting event, and not have pay for parking. *Cough* Cowboys Stadium *Cough*.
I’m doing my part to act less White by not watching.
Need to check out cricket myself. I've always enjoyed watching rugby on the rare occasion I get to watch it on tv.
I make friends easily with Indians because they are amazed that an American knows anything about Cricket, they are very passionate about it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.