Playing A Season Without Spectators Could Prove Costly For MLB Teams [Infographic]

Across the world, sporting leagues are eyeing an eventual return to action in empty stadiums. Germany has successfully flattened the curve and its authorities felt it was safe enough for its soccer league, the Bundesliga, to resume last weekend, albeit under strict conditions. They include regular COVID-19 testing, social distancing and of course, empty stadiums. As other leagues plot a similar strategy, officials are weighing both the health risks as well as the possible financial consequences of salvaging the season.

For Major League Baseball, competing in empty ballparks over the course of an 82-game season would result in an average loss of $640,000 for each game. That’s according to a 12-page MLB document obtained by the Associated Press entitled “Economics of Playing Without Fans in Attendance” which is an initial step in negotiations aimed at starting the delayed season in early July. On Monday, MLB owners gave the go ahead to negotiations with the player’s union about a return to action, though the talks are expected to be difficult, particularly regarding the unprecedented proposal for a revenue-salary split.

According to AP, the teams believe that the proposed method of salvaging the season would result in a $4 billion loss for MLB, assuming no agreement is reached with the players. The figures show that each team is forecast to lose at least $84 million if so-called “ghost games” become the norm for the season with others set to lose considerably more than that. The New York Yankees would have $312 million in local losses when earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization are factored in. That figure also includes $100 million towards bonds for the new Yankee stadium. Under such a scenario, the Los Angeles Dodgers would endure the second-highest losses at $232 million while the New York Mets would also stand to lose $214 million.

*Click below to enlarge (charted by Statista)