Bud Selig Says Concerns Around Economy Still Exist For MLB

Baer Says Teams Must Be Creative To Weather Tough Economic Times

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said the deep economic concerns that enveloped the industry a year ago still exist. Speaking Thursday after the conclusion of quarterly owners' meetings in Chicago, Selig did not outline final fiscal results for '09 or specific projections for the '10 season, but confirmed that several unidentified clubs lost money in '09. "I don't think the concerns have ameliorated at all," Selig said. "The concerns are all still there, and there a lot of things being profoundly affected. ... We had some clubs that lost money, no question about it. We had some clubs that had very difficult years." Selig added, "We live in this economy. We're not in a bubble." Giants President & COO Larry Baer: "There are still huge headwinds. Teams have to be very fleet of foot. The challenges are certainly equal (to what the industry faced following the '08 season). But we're also finding that by being creative and aggressive, we can fight those headwinds." MLB is expected to finish the year with revenue about flat compared to '08 at around $6.5B, according to industry sources.

ROYAL TREATMENT: Selig said he expects to make a formal announcement "very soon" on the host of the '12 All-Star Game. Kauffman Stadium in K.C. is widely expected to get that game. Selig noted he has a "long, long list" of teams wanting the game for '13 and beyond. Selig: "We made a lot of promises to cities that if they built stadiums, they'd get All-Star Games, and we have to live up to that" (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal). Selig said of the '12 game, "I haven't made a final decision, but we did promise (the Royals) an All-Star Game at some point. They did a magnificent job there. But I'm not going to say any more than I've said" (MLB.com, 11/19).

THE INTRODUCTION CONTINUES: The owners' meetings represented the first such sessions for newly installed Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts, who received a warm welcome from the fellow owners. "We're here to learn and meet folks, but this is a very committed group." On the economy, Ricketts said, "I'm not making any predictions" (Fisher). In Chicago, Paul Sullivan notes Ricketts "did not appear to be concerned over whether the economy would negatively affect the Cubs." There also was "no news from the Cubs' boss on the team's pursuit of a new spring training site or its request to host the 2014 All-Star Game" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/20).

Mannion Says Dodgers Remain  "Business As Usual"

FOCUSING ON BUSINESS AT HAND: The Dodgers at the owners' meetings were represented by Owner Frank McCourt and President & COO Dennis Mannion, and Mannion said it remains "business as usual" for the club despite a public and nasty divorce fight between McCourt and his wife, Jamie. Mannion: "We're doing all the same things everybody else (in the game) is, namely selling tickets in this economy. You definitely have to be more entrepreneurial, but the Frank and Jamie issues, really for us, are just secondary. It's all about building and planning for next season" (Fisher). Meanwhile, owners also heard reports on the "annual civil rights game, the World Cup, legislative affairs, baseball's Internet division, the first-year MLB Network and the amateur draft" (AP, 11/19).

SAVE THE DATES: Selig Wednesday expressed his desire to tighten up the postseason schedule, but YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Kaduk wrote he is "going to reserve full praise until we actually see a plan in place." Kaduk: "While it wouldn't seem that hard to be flexible after division series end in sweeps, television is still calling the shots and it would seem that good ratings would mean that Fox is quite happy with the World Series start coming on a Wednesday. ... Does Bud actually have the authority to tell Fox to move the World Series up a few days after both the ALCS and NLCS end in four or five games? Past experience would say no, but we'll see what schedule magic the commish has up his sleeve before passing judgment" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/19). ESPN.com's Rob Neyer wrote, "Consider me guardedly optimistic. You can't change anything without commissioner Bud's enthusiastic approval, so this would seem to be a lovely first step. But I will note for the record that: a) Selig has promised to do things before that didn't get done; and 2) don't the TV networks call the shots on this one?" (ESPN.com, 11/19).