Baseball Is Finally Back! Here’s a Look at What Coronavirus Cost Each Team
After weeks of acrimonious negotiations between the MLB owners and players that had many fans thinking to themselves, “Wow, they’re going to screw this up, huh?” baseball is back. While the two sides didn’t quite come to an agreement, the final stumbling block — whether they would play a 60-game season or a 70-game season — didn’t prove to be enough to prevent a full summer with no baseball as Rob Manfred mandated a 60-game season and the players didn’t feel compelled to strike.
However, even with games returning, the financial hit to the league remains massive. Playing 60 games and — coronavirus permitting — a postseason should help mitigate some of those losses for the teams. But, without fans at the games, the sport of baseball just isn’t going to be the revenue driver it normally is. In fact, teams still stand to lose millions of dollars in lost ticket sales, concessions and merchandise. After all, the profit margin on $8 beers and $5 hot dogs is, well, extreme.
So how much is each team missing out on? Here’s a closer look at which teams stand to lose the most.
Oakland A's
Average attendance: 20,521
Average ticket price: $23.46
Revenue per home game: $2,691,358.02
Gate receipts per home game: $481,481.48
Yearly gate receipts: $39,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,209,876.54
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $179,000,000
Annual revenue: $218,000,000
Miami Marlins
Average attendance: 10,016
Average ticket price: $32.05
Revenue per home game: $2,765,432.10
Gate receipts per home game: $320,987.65
Yearly gate receipts: $26,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,444,444.44
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $198,000,000
Annual revenue: $224,000,000
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Tampa Bay Rays
Average attendance: 14,552
Average ticket price: $22.06
Revenue per home game: $2,814,814.81
Gate receipts per home game: $320,987.65
Yearly gate receipts: $26,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,493,827.16
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $202,000,000
Annual revenue: $228,000,000
Kansas City Royals
Average attendance: 18,267
Average ticket price: $37.17
Revenue per home game: $3,012,345.68
Gate receipts per home game: $679,012.35
Yearly gate receipts: $55,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,333,333.33
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $189,000,000
Annual revenue: $244,000,000
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Baltimore Orioles
Average attendance: 16,146
Average ticket price: $32.11
Revenue per home game: $3,098,765.43
Gate receipts per home game: $518,518.52
Yearly gate receipts: $42,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,580,246,91
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $209,000,000
Annual revenue: $251,000,000
Pittsburgh Pirates
Average attendance: 18,413
Average ticket price: $30.17
Revenue per home game: $3,135,802.47
Gate receipts per home game: $555,555.56
Yearly gate receipts: $45,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,580,246.91
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $209,000,000
Annual revenue: $254,000,000
Cincinnati Reds
Average attendance: 22,329
Average ticket price: $22.12
Revenue per home game: $3,172,839.51
Gate receipts per home game: $493,827.16
Yearly gate receipts: $40,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,679,012.35
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $217,000,000
Annual revenue: $257,000,000
Toronto Blue Jays
Average attendance: 21,607
Average ticket price: $36.00
Revenue per home game: $3,271,604.94
Gate receipts per home game: $777,777.78
Yearly gate receipts: $63,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,493,827.16
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $202,000,000
Annual revenue: $265,000,000
Minnesota Twins
Average attendance: 28,323
Average ticket price: $27.90
Revenue per home game: $3,320,987.65
Gate receipts per home game: $790,123.46
Yearly gate receipts: $64,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,530,864.20
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $205,000,000
Annual revenue: $269,000,000
Chicago White Sox
Average attendance: 20,622
Average ticket price: $26.34
Revenue per home game: $3,358,024.69
Gate receipts per home game: $543,209.88
Yearly gate receipts: $44,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,814,814.81
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $228,000,000
Annual revenue: $272,000,000
Arizona Diamondbacks
Average attendance: 26,364
Average ticket price: $24.82
Revenue per home game: $3,395,061.73
Gate receipts per home game: $654,320.99
Yearly gate receipts: $53,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,740,740.74
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $222,000,000
Annual revenue: $275,000,000
Detroit Tigers
Average attendance: 18,536
Average ticket price: $39.30
Revenue per home game: $3,407,407.41
Gate receipts per home game: $728,395.06
Yearly gate receipts: $59,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,679,012.35
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $217,000,000
Annual revenue: $276,000,000
San Diego Padres
Average attendance: 29,585
Average ticket price: $23.37
Revenue per home game: $3,419,753.09
Gate receipts per home game: $691,358.02
Yearly gate receipts: $56,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,728,395.06
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $221,000,000
Annual revenue: $277,000,000
Cleveland Indians
Average attendance: 21,465
Average ticket price: $39.69
Revenue per home game: $3,481,481.48
Gate receipts per home game: $851,851.85
Yearly gate receipts: $69,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,629,629.63
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $213,000,000
Annual revenue: $282,000,000
Milwaukee Brewers
Average attendance: 36,091
Average ticket price: $28.05
Revenue per home game: $3,555,555.56
Gate receipts per home game: $1,012,345.68
Yearly gate receipts: $82,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,543,209.88
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $206,000,000
Annual revenue: $288,000,000
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Colorado Rockies
Average attendance: 36,954
Average ticket price: $26.06
Revenue per home game: $3,592,592.59
Gate receipts per home game: $962,962.96
Yearly gate receipts: $78,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,629,629.63
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $213,000,000
Annual revenue: $291,000,000
Seattle Mariners
Average attendance: 22,120
Average ticket price: $40.18
Revenue per home game: $3,950,617.28
Gate receipts per home game: $888,888.89
Yearly gate receipts: $72,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,061,728.40
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $248,000,000
Annual revenue: $320,000,000
Texas Rangers
Average attendance: 26,333
Average ticket price: $33.29
Revenue per home game: $4,000,000.00
Gate receipts per home game: $876,543.21
Yearly gate receipts: $71,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,123,456.79
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $253,000,000
Annual revenue: $324,000,000
Washington Nationals
Average attendance: 27,899
Average ticket price: $51.33
Revenue per home game: $4,148,148.15
Gate receipts per home game: $1,432,098.77
Yearly gate receipts: $116,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,716,049.38
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $220,000,000
Annual revenue: $336,000,000
New York Mets
Average attendance: 30,155
Average ticket price: $39.30
Revenue per home game: $4,197,530.86
Gate receipts per home game: $1,185,185.19
Yearly gate receipts: $96,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,012,345.68
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $244,000,000
Annual revenue: $340,000,000
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Philadelphia Phillies
Average attendance: 33,672
Average ticket price: $30.80
Revenue per home game: $4,209,876.54
Gate receipts per home game: $1,037,037.04
Yearly gate receipts: $84,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,172,839.51
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $257,000,000
Annual revenue: $341,000,000
Atlanta Braves
Average attendance: 32,779
Average ticket price: $37.66
Revenue per home game: $4,246,913.58
Gate receipts per home game: $1,234,567.90
Yearly gate receipts: $100,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,012,345.68
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $244,000,000
Annual revenue: $344,000,000
Los Angeles Angels
Average attendance: 37,272
Average ticket price: $33.45
Revenue per home game: $4,296,296.30
Gate receipts per home game: $1,246,913.58
Yearly gate receipts: $101,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,049,382.72
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $247,000,000
Annual revenue: $348,000,000
St. Louis Cardinals
Average attendance: 42,968
Average ticket price: $36.78
Revenue per home game: $4,395,061.73
Gate receipts per home game: $1,580,246.91
Yearly gate receipts: $128,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,814,814.81
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $228,000,000
Annual revenue: $356,000,000
Houston Astros
Average attendance: 35,276
Average ticket price: $47.60
Revenue per home game: $4,543,209.88
Gate receipts per home game: $1,679,012.35
Yearly gate receipts: $136,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,864,197.53
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $232,000,000
Annual revenue: $368,000,000
Chicago Cubs
Average attendance: 38,208
Average ticket price: $65.27
Revenue per home game: $5,580,246.91
Gate receipts per home game: $2,493,827.16
Yearly gate receipts: $202,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,086,419.75
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $250,000,000
Annual revenue: $452,000,000
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San Francisco Giants
Average attendance: 33,429
Average ticket price: $65.00
Revenue per home game: $5,703,703.70
Gate receipts per home game: $2,172,839.51
Yearly gate receipts: $176,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,530,864.20
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $286,000,000
Annual revenue: $462,000,000
Boston Red Sox
Average attendance: 36,107
Average ticket price: $75.56
Revenue per home game: $6,370,370.37
Gate receipts per home game: $2,728,395.06
Yearly gate receipts: $221,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,641,975.31
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $295,000,000
Annual revenue: $516,000,000
Los Angeles Dodgers
Average attendance: 49,066
Average ticket price: $49.06
Revenue per home game: $8,246,913.58
Gate receipts per home game: $3,506,172.84
Yearly gate receipts: $195,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $4,370,370.37
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $354,000,000
Annual revenue: $549,000,000
New York Yankees
Average attendance: 40,795
Average ticket price: $85.95
Revenue per home game: $8,246,913.58
Gate receipts per home game: $3,506,172.84
Yearly gate receipts: $284,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $4,740,740.74
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $384,000,000
Annual revenue: $668,000,000
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Joel Anderson contributed to the reporting of this article.
Methodology: In order to find what a season played in empty stadiums would cost each Major League Baseball franchise, GOBankingRates looked at Forbes’ team evaluations for the MLB. Using these reports and attendance reports for the most recent completed season from Baseball-Reference, GOBankingRates found the following data points to measure the revenue each franchise will lose out on in one season without fan attendance: (1) yearly revenue, (2) revenue per home game, (3) yearly gate receipts, (4) gate receipts per home game, (5) average attendance, (6) average ticket price per home game, (7) yearly food and merchandise revenue, (8) food and merchandise revenue per home game. All data was collected on and is up to date as of April 20, 2020.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Baseball Is Finally Back! Here’s a Look at What Coronavirus Cost Each Team
