Bud Selig Unwilling To Estimate MLB's '09 Attendance, Revenue
 |
Selig Remains Optimistic About
MLB During Uncertain Economy |
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig Thursday again refused to estimate aggregate MLB revenue and attendance for '09, as economic conditions continue to thwart any firm forecast. Economic matters took up roughly a third of the four hour-plus general session Thursday at the MLB owners meetings in Paradise Valley, Arizona. “We just don’t know what’s going to happen,” Selig said. “We’re obviously living in very uncertain times. We’ve made a lot of projections, but we also have a lot of variables. ... I remain optimistic about our sport -- it’s very strong. But as to the core economics, we shall see" (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal). MLB.com's Barry Bloom wrote despite the recession, MLB team owners at this week's meetings "pointed to positive signs." Cubs Chair Crane Kenney said that the waiting list for Cubs season tickets has "passed 100,000 applicants," and A's Owner Lew Wolff said that the team's season-ticket sales are down just 10%. In addition, "even the Pirates are financially stable after 16 consecutive losing seasons." Pirates Owner Bob Nutting: "The Pirates are in a good position now because we did put a plan in place two years ago when I got more involved with the team. We put a plan in place to make sure we had enough financial room in our budgets and in our structure to make sure that we could make good baseball decisions in a small market in Pittsburgh. We haven't seen anything in the economy that changes that system, or changes that approach" (MLB.com, 1/15).
CHANGE-UP: MLB owners, as expected, Thursday approved rule changes that would mandate all postseason and play-in games be played to a minimum of nine innings, as well as eliminate the use of coin flips to determine home field for play-in games. The full-game rule seeks to resolve weather-related issues that created controversy during the '08 Phillies-Rays World Series. Selig: "It’s important to have the (postseason rain) rule clarified, and it’s now clarified in a way I had interpreted it anyway." In addition, George Will, a longtime friend of Selig and a member of the Commissioner’s Blue Ribbon Commission in '00, addressed the owners (Fisher).
SUMMER GAMES: MLB.com's Bloom reported Int'l Baseball Federation President Harvey Schiller Thursday briefed MLB owners "about the possible re-entry of the sport" into the '16 Summer Olympics. Schiller: "The reaction was good. They know it's within their best interests to get back into the Olympic program. The big statement is getting the best players in there." Selig said that his "latest position was not much of a change from his past posture," indicating that the MLB season "will not stop to make way for the Olympics." Selig: "You can't stop a season in August and tell your fans we'll see you in 2 1/2-3 weeks. That would not play well" (MLB.com, 1/15).
|
Related Stories By Company
|
Related Stories By Sport
|
MLB Partnering With Victoria's Secret
March 15, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
MLB's Floating Division Idea Getting Boos
March 11, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
MLB Committee Talks Floating Realignment
March 10, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
NHLPA Discusses Extending Current CBA
March 9, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
MLB Franchise Notes
March 9, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
Rangers Sale Date Still Unclear
March 16, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Rays Launch High-Energy Ad Campaign
March 16, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
MLB Partnering With Victoria's Secret
March 15, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
White Sox Shoot Down Guillen Web Site Idea
March 12, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Dodgers Focusing On Team In Marketing
March 12, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
|
