The Marlins are entering the tail end of a 10-year contract with FS Florida through the '20 seasonGETTY IMAGES
Marlins Owner Bruce Sherman and CEO Derek Jeter are now in their second year running the franchise, which is a "crucial stretch -- that could determine the organization's long-term financial stability," according to Wells Dusenbury of the South Florida SUN SENTINEL. Two of the "crucial building blocks are the on-going negotiations for a new TV contract" and the search for ballpark naming rights. With one of the "worst media rights deals in the league," the Marlins are leaving upwards of $60M annually on the table and "missing out on another consistent revenue stream with no partner attached to Marlins Park." The Marlins said that they have "added 50 new corporate partners" since new ownership took over. Dusenbury notes one of Marlins VP/Head of Partnership Development & Strategy David Oxfeld’s "key tasks will be securing a naming rights partner" for the ballpark. Oxfeld said that the franchise "doesn’t have any self-imposed deadline for securing naming rights." Meanwhile, Dusenbury notes the Marlins are "entering the tail end of a 10-year contract" with FS Florida that is one of the "worst in baseball." While a nine-figure deal "isn’t likely, the Marlins will see a significant revenue boost with the future deal." Negotiations with FS Florida on the new TV contract have been "on-going for over 18 months" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 4/11).
