Are the M's really broke?

[D-train]

This Forbes article came out late March of last year so hopefully we will get another one for the 2023 season in a few weeks.

There are other factors but basically unless the Root revenues have declined by almost $100M they are still in the black.

https://www.king5.com/article/sports/ml ... 786e043499

[Donn Beach]

They're not broke, but they are facing a lot of uncertainty going forward

Since 2013, the Mariners’ First Avenue Entertainment has held a majority stake -- 71% -- of ROOT Sports NW. FAE had been partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery, a minority stakeholder that has “provided full operational support to produce Mariners games.” WBD, however, is “withdrawing from all its local sports television business,” and that means the Mariners’ owners will “enter the new year with a 100% stake in ROOT Sports NW at a time when the regional sports network model is collapsing nationwide.” Sources said that on Tuesday, Stanton met with ROOTS Sports staffers to “discuss the future of the station.” Sources added that Stanton “promised a decision on the next steps made by the organization by mid-January but could not promise all staffers that they would retain their jobs.” The uncertainty surrounding ROOT Sports comes on the heels of Comcast Xfinity “nearly doubling the cost of a subscription” to the RSN. That is “projected to make a sizable dent in viewership for Mariners games next season,” and the team “will not receive an increased cut from Comcast’s rate hike.” Sources said that the Mariners “could absorb the operational costs of producing live games and maintain the status quo in 2024” or the team “could partner with Major League Baseball,” which has been “aggressively pursuing” teams to join its newly formed broadcasting division

[D-train]

They're not broke, but they are facing a lot of uncertainty going forward

Since 2013, the Mariners’ First Avenue Entertainment has held a majority stake -- 71% -- of ROOT Sports NW. FAE had been partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery, a minority stakeholder that has “provided full operational support to produce Mariners games.” WBD, however, is “withdrawing from all its local sports television business,” and that means the Mariners’ owners will “enter the new year with a 100% stake in ROOT Sports NW at a time when the regional sports network model is collapsing nationwide.” Sources said that on Tuesday, Stanton met with ROOTS Sports staffers to “discuss the future of the station.” Sources added that Stanton “promised a decision on the next steps made by the organization by mid-January but could not promise all staffers that they would retain their jobs.” The uncertainty surrounding ROOT Sports comes on the heels of Comcast Xfinity “nearly doubling the cost of a subscription” to the RSN. That is “projected to make a sizable dent in viewership for Mariners games next season,” and the team “will not receive an increased cut from Comcast’s rate hike.” Sources said that the Mariners “could absorb the operational costs of producing live games and maintain the status quo in 2024” or the team “could partner with Major League Baseball,” which has been “aggressively pursuing” teams to join its newly formed broadcasting division

Yes, there is uncertainty just like there was uncertainty around Teo accepting the QO. Any with a brain knew it was less than 5% he would take a one year deal to try to hit at T Mobile again where he had a .643 OPS last season. But they are SO risk averse they decided to flush a pick because of it. Is that a team focused on winning the WS and building talent in the system or one that is intensely focused on the bottom line.

[bpj]

Call me crazy, but nothing creates a more memorable experience than winning.

Make a good team thats a clear contender and people will show up and won't have to worry about hydroplanes and flashback reels.

[D-train]

Call me crazy, but nothing creates a more memorable experience than winning.

Make a good team thats a clear contender and people will show up and won't have to worry about hydroplanes and flashback reels.

I just can't believe a guy that is smart enough to be worth a billion dollars and supposedly is a HUGE baseball fan would be so fucking dumb regarding this obvious fact. It just makes zero sense unless he thinks only about 10% of his customers are true baseball fans.

[Coeurd’Alene J]

I’d like a definition of broke…….Your dealing with a loaded billionaire not a broke owner. To spend a billion dollars in the few years he has left on this planet would require a unimaginable flushing of 100’s of millions of dollars. These guys ain’t broke.

[D-train]

I’d like a definition of broke…….Your dealing with a loaded billionaire not a broke owner. To spend a billion dollars in the few years he has left on this planet would require a unimaginable flushing of 100’s of millions of dollars. These guys ain’t broke.

An idea of how much a Billion dollars is. If you put $1B in a fixed investment locked at a modest 3.6% interest rate you would make $36M a year in interest. You could completely flush $3M a month and NEVER touch the principal.

[Codebrown]

Call me crazy, but nothing creates a more memorable experience than winning.

Make a good team thats a clear contender and people will show up and won't have to worry about hydroplanes and flashback reels.

I just can't believe a guy that is smart enough to be worth a billion dollars and supposedly is a HUGE baseball fan would be so fucking dumb regarding this obvious fact. It just makes zero sense unless he thinks only about 10% of his customers are true baseball fans.

Completely agree with you DT. You can’t be that stupid and oh so rich.

[Southpaw773]

The pitching seems to be broke this spring ….. bad.

[Lamda]

lol is this why we are seeing zero spring training games on Root this year? All we are getting is 'bonus coverage' from other teams broadcasts. Are they so broke they can't afford to broadcast ST games???