Hosting three postseason games at Truist Park helped bump up the Braves' revenueGETTY IMAGES
Braves parent company Liberty Media reported that the team finished out '19 with a record $476M in "total revenue, which is up 8%" from '18 when it brought in $442M, according to Eric Jackson of the ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE. The Braves earned $438M in baseball revenue last year, with the other $38M coming from development revenue. While the development revenue "remained flat over a year," the $438M in baseball revenue is an 8% increase from the $404M the team earned in '18. Q4 is "usually a low-revenue period but not for playoff teams." The Braves’ baseball revenue in Q4 saw a "slight boost" thanks to the team hosting three NLDS games at Truist Park, instead of two like they did in '18. Liberty Media attributes the "strong turnout from their fans as one of the reasons for the increase in revenue as they finished the season with over 2.6 million in attendance." The company said that the growth in their broadcast rights deals also "helped the team reach a new high in terms of revenue." The Braves saw a 28% increase in operating expenses from '18 to '19 which "stems from construction at the ballpark and developments around the Battery Atlanta" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/26).
LOOKING AT PAYROLL: In Atlanta, Tim Tucker notes the Braves finished last season with a player payroll of $144M, including $6M in buyouts of '20 options in "several players’ contracts" -- up from $130M at the end of the '18 season. Barring "significant additional acquisitions during spring training, the Braves are projected to open this season with a payroll" of about $150M (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/26).
