Continue reading MLB Games Coming to Sony PS3

MLB Games Coming to Sony PS3 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Jarden, Under Armour, PepsiCo, Hibbet Sports, Sirius: Five Big Hits with the Boys of Summer

Jarden, Under Armour, PepsiCo, Hibbet Sports, Sirius: Five Big Hits with the Boys of Summer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's like clockwork, seriously ... recently, every year around the Baseball Hall of Fame inductions there is news that A) Bud Selig is or isn't considering lifting the lifetime ban against Pete Rose and B) names from the list of players who tested positive in 2003 are leaked.

As for option A, Pete belongs in the Hall of Fame -- but not in baseball. I mean seriously, he has the most memorabilia in the Hall of Fame, so induction is theoretically academic. Enough of that though, I want to take a look at the steroid list and the potential economic impact on baseball.

Continue reading JockStocks: Will steroids ever drive fans away from baseball?

JockStocks: Will steroids ever drive fans away from baseball? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"I've looked this up, and in the 133-year history of Major League Baseball, never has a president been an owner except President Bush," Rangers owner Tom Hicks told MLB.com. "I'm glad he's home and can reconnect with this place. We thought it would be fitting to have the suite named after him."

"I was actually thinking of my time in baseball driving up here on the turnpike," Bush said. "Baseball is a great sport, and the Rangers are a great organization. Tom is a wonderful owner and has built this team up, hopefully guiding it to an American League pennant."

"I'm thrilled to accept it," Bush said. "I used to [sit in the crowd during the game], but my life changed in January 2001. I have a little less anonymity now."

I would love to see President Bush come to Fenway Park and try to take in a game from the bleachers.

Texas Rangers name owner's suite after George W. Bush originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Take me out to the ballgame, take me out to the crowd ... Buy me some peanuts and ... tofu dogs?"

Continue reading Fifth Third, AutoZone ballparks named vegetarian-friendly

Fifth Third, AutoZone ballparks named vegetarian-friendly originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Yankees cut ticket prices from outrageous to 'merely' absurd

Yankees cut ticket prices from outrageous to 'merely' absurd originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Yankees overestimate demand for pricey seats

Yankees overestimate demand for pricey seats originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading An end to sportswriting as we know it?

An end to sportswriting as we know it? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Part shrine, part palace -- New Yankee Stadium opens Thursday

Part shrine, part palace -- New Yankee Stadium opens Thursday originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) has said that it generates $10 in revenue for every $1 it invests in sports marketing, and nets $3 of that amount in income. In theory, taxpayers as shareholders should support these deals if they will enhance the company's ability to generate income.

But still: The company has broken off its talks for a long-term endorsement deal with the New York Yankees amid fallout from the market collapse and the government's bailout of the firm. Many Americans and politicians feel that it's hypocritical for companies like Bank of America and Citigroup (NYSE: C) to take billions in taxpayer cash and then spend hundreds of millions on naming rights for stadiums.

Continue reading Bank of America's talks with Yankees fall apart

Bank of America's talks with Yankees fall apart originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Johnny Damon ensnared in Stanford Financial scandal

Johnny Damon ensnared in Stanford Financial scandal originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading The Citigroup-NY Mets deal is nuts

The Citigroup-NY Mets deal is nuts originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Red Sox catcher pays price for not understanding business of baseball

Red Sox catcher pays price for not understanding business of baseball originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's a tough job market for everyone. In addition to all the investment bankers facing smaller bonuses, there's another group of people deserving of our sympathy: professional baseball players.

The sagging economy has Major League Baseball teams feeling a little bit cautious as far as free agent signings and on top of that, there is somewhat of a glut of players on the market. Experts are forecasting a drop in ticket sales, but baseball may prove to be somewhat recession proof because the deals with television networks that make up a large portion of revenue are long-term guaranteed contracts: Even if advertising revenue declines, that won't effect the league or its teams directly.

ESPN analyst Buster Olney tells BusinessWeek that the Boston Red Sox are "absolutely loaded" and well-poised to take advantage of the weak economy to score some good bargains on free agents.

The Red Sox are a great example of well-managed company. By not bowing to the pressure to overspend in good times (letting pricey free agents like Pedro Martinez and Johnny Damon walk), they have left themselves in a strong financial position that allows them to be take advantage of weakness and get more bang for their free agent buck when times are rough.

It's a shame more public companies aren't managed that way.

Tough timing for baseball's free agents originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Scott Boras on why Major League Baseball is better without a Salary Cap originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In light of current economic conditions, you might be worried about your situation: your job security, your home's value, your 401(k), and how you're going to pay for your kid's college.

But hey: quit being so selfish, and have a little sympathy for the real victims of this mess. That's right: professional athletes. MLB.com's Hal Bodley reports that "Economic uncertainties facing virtually every professional sports team, every player and, of course, each and every fan undoubtedly will have a trickle-down effect during baseball's offseason."

He goes on to say that teams are expected to be "more cautious, if not conservative, in locking up those not considered superstars," as they cut spending in anticipation of depressed attendance and advertising revenue.

But 2008 revenue hit a record high and some commentators, including agent Scott Boras, who is of course biased, say that baseball may well prove to be recession-proof. But I'm not so sure. It may be that attendance and consumer interest in the game will remain robust, but leading sponsors, especially in the financial industry, may be less aggressive with their marketing dollars. The PGA Tour is certainly seeing that effect already.

It looks like it could be a blue Christmas for Manny Ramirez.

Will economic collapse hurt contracts for baseball players? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 18 Oct 2008 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Rupert Murdoch is in a pickle with the World Series

Rupert Murdoch is in a pickle with the World Series originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Are your stocks and other investments underperforming? Well, consider buying a piece of Yankee Stadium as an investment.

Yankee Stadium, the cathedral of baseball, and "The House That Ruth Built," closes today.

In 2009, the City of New York will auction-off seats, signs, lockers, and other valuable parts of Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium, both of which are owned by the city and which will be replaced in April 2009 by two new stadiums, a new Yankee Stadium in The Bronx for the New York Yankees, and CitiField in Queens for the New York Mets.

Artifacts from both ballparks will have value, but Yankee Stadium's will far exceed most items from Shea Stadium, collectors say.

That's because, among sports venues, in human history Yankee Stadium ranks second only to the Roman Coliseum in cultural and social significance.

We know what occurred in the Coliseum: its activities symbolized life during humanity's descent. We also know what has taken place in Yankee Stadium, and the games played and events held there help tell the story of humanity's ascent.

Continue reading Investments slumping? Consider buying a piece of 'The House That Ruth Built'

Investments slumping? Consider buying a piece of 'The House That Ruth Built' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 21 Sep 2008 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A new feature on Forbes.com looks at the big business of minor league baseball, and has a ranking of the 20 most valuable minor league baseball teams in America.

The Oakland Athletics AAA affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats, is the most valuable team, with a price tag of $29.8 million. To put that in perspective, George Steinbrenner paid about one-third that amount for the New York Yankees in 1973 -- talk about inflation!

Here's the really cool part: If you don't have $30 million to blow on the River Cats, assuming Art Savage would sell them, you can buy a share of the #5-ranked Indianapolis Indians (PINK SHEETS: INDN) for about $23,000. The team paid $350 per share in dividends in 2007.

But the company does not file regular reports with the SEC and the shares are extremely thinly-traded and illiquid -- there have been no trades in the stock in the past ten days.

According to Forbes, the economics of minor league teams are very compelling because all of the baseball operations salaries -- players, coaches, scouts, etc. -- are paid by the parent club, leaving the owner in charge of operating expenses. Draw big enough crowds to attract considerable sponsorship dollars, and you have a veritable cash cow.

The downside is that you don't have any control over the rosters -- if you're looking for the ultimate fantasy baseball experience, you'll have to pony up the hundreds of millions for a big league team. Or consider an independent league.

Minor league baseball is big business ... and you can invest! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 09 Aug 2008 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sam Zell is looking to unload the Chicago Cubs baseball franchise that came with his ill-timed $8.2 billion acquisition of Tribune Media Co., and the most aggressive suitor appears to be dot-com billionaire Mark Cuban. The New York Times reports that he offered $1.3 billion for the the team, Wrigley Field, and the team's stake in Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

But of course, Cuban, who has accumulated $1.7 million in fines during his tenure as owner of the Dallas Mavericks, is not without his critics, to say the least. He's too arrogant, too brash, and not gentlemanly enough, they say. He had trouble cracking into the old boy's network of the NBA, and Major League Baseball is said to be even more reluctant to change.

But if Cuban is the high bidder -- and the league will let him in -- it'll be a great day for the Cubs and for baseball. The team hasn't won a World Series since 1908 but, given Cuban's deep pockets and superhuman competitive drive, the Cubs would likely get the extra boost they need to finally win one. Plus, Cubs and Cuban have the same first three letters, so it's pretty much meant to be.

Baseball has dealt with a lot of scandal lately involving performance-enhancing drugs, and it's about time we added a passionate renegade to the current regime of old bureaucrats. And yes, I'm talking to you Ted Lerner.

Let Mark Cuban buy the Chicago Cubs! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.