The infographic below was created by Statista back in March, estimating the potential losses MLB teams would be facing if they were to play an 82-game season in front of no live fans. For an 82-game season, each team in the league would be facing an average loss of $640,000 per game. The infographic shows estimated total losses for the top eight teams as a result of the shortened season and spectator-less games. The total loss for the MLB was estimated to come in around $4 billion.
Fast forward to the current arrangement, with a 60-game season, and these dollar amounts are no doubt looking even more ominous than the ones in the graphic. As much as we all hate that money is such a big part of professional sports, it’s no wonder there was so much of a push to get a season, any season, underway to recoup some of these losses.
However, as I’ve mentioned before, with the coronavirus continuing to spread around the country at such a rapid rate, it’ll be interesting to see if the league even makes it all the way through the planned 60-game schedule.
I really wish they would just shut down the season. As one player tweeted the other day (I’m paraphrasing) … interesting that ownership hasn’t stopped by to check in on training camps … they’re all isolating. I guess the risk only applies to one group. 🙁
Yeah. To be clear, I’m not advocating that having the season is the right thing to do. The idea made me smile a bit at first because it’s been so weird not to have any baseball, but every time I see another player has tested positive, I cringe and even feel a little angry. I hate that money has so much influence over this and over so many other things currently going on in the country.
I’m with you, Precious. 100%