The Cleveland Indians Baseball Co. posted a 62% "jump
in operating income for the first half of the season,"
according to Teresa Dixon Murray of the Cleveland PLAIN
DEALER, who wrote that the team's four consecutive Central
Division championships and two World Series appearances
"allowed Indians management to throw fans a 10 percent
average increase in ticket prices and to command more
revenue from broadcasting, advertising and promotion."
Second-quarter operating income "rose to about" $9M from
$5.6M in the year-ago period. Net income in the quarter
rose 32% to $2.9M, up from $2.2M in the year-earlier
quarter. Also, second-quarter revenues increased 13% to
$67.7M, up from $59.8M, although "the team played one less
home game during the quarter," which ran from April 1 to
June 30 (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/12).
MAJOR PUSH FOR POSTSEASON REVENUE: The Indians top
ticket price for '99 playoff games will be $85, a 42%
increase over the $60 top price in '98 and a 70% increase
over the $50 top price in '97. The Indians will also
"charge as much as $50" for the first-round division series,
up 35% over $37 in '98 (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 8/13).
