How Does Mlb Make Money With Empty Stadiums

In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Major League Baseball teams played their 60 games in empty stadiums, with only cardboard cutouts in the stands.

With COVID-19 vaccines being rolled out, the chances are improving for allowing fans back inside MLB stadiums. However, to mix sports metaphors, full grandstands are no slam dunk.

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The public health situation in the United States is changing by the day, and although more people are receiving the vaccine every day, questions remain: How quickly will the entire population be inoculated? What effects will coronavirus variants have? Can a person who has received the vaccine still spread the virus to others?

Major League Baseball wants to have fans back in the stands safely, of course. But the league will defer to state and local authorities on guidelines for how many spectators allowed.

With all those uncertainties, the financial hit to the league remains massive. Without fewer 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.

Go Banking Rates took a look at the worst-case scenario, calculating how much each team would lose if no fans are allowed for a full season.

Hopefully these numbers won't become a reality, but here's a closer look at which teams stand to lose the most.

Last updated: Feb. 24, 2021

30. Miami Marlins

Average attendance: 10,016
Average ticket price: $24.65
Revenue per home game: $2,740,740.74
Gate receipts per home game: $246,913.58
Yearly gate receipts: $20,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,493,827.16
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $202,000,000

Annual revenue: $222,000,000

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29. Oakland A's

Average attendance: 20,521
Average ticket price: $24.65
Revenue per home game: $2,777,777.78
Gate receipts per home game: $469,135.80
Yearly gate receipts: $38,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,308,641.98
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $187,000,000

Annual revenue: $225,000,000

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28. Kansas City Royals

Average attendance: 18,267
Average ticket price: $33.12
Revenue per home game: $3,098.765.43
Gate receipts per home game: $604,938.27
Yearly gate receipts: $49,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,493,827.16
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $202,000,000

Annual revenue: $251,000,000

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27. Baltimore Orioles

Average attendance: 16,146
Average ticket price: $26.76
Revenue per home game: $3,160,493.83
Gate receipts per home game: $432,098.77
Yearly gate receipts: $35,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,728,395.06
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $221,000,000

Annual revenue: $256,000,000

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26. Tampa Bay Rays

Average attendance: 14,552
Average ticket price: $26.30
Revenue per home game: $3,259,259.26
Gate receipts per home game: $382,716.05
Yearly gate receipts: $31,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,876,543.21
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $233,000,000

Annual revenue: $264,000,000

25. Toronto Blue Jays

Average attendance: 21,607
Average ticket price: $28.57
Revenue per home game: $3,271,604.94
Gate receipts per home game: $617,283.95
Yearly gate receipts: $50,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,654,320.99
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $215,000,000

Annual revenue: $265,000,000

24. Pittsburgh Pirates

Average attendance: 18,413
Average ticket price: $29.50
Revenue per home game: $3,370,370.37
Gate receipts per home game: $543,209.88
Yearly gate receipts: $44,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,827,160.49
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $229,000,000

Annual revenue: $273,000,000

23. Detroit Tigers

Average attendance: 18,536
Average ticket price: $30.64
Revenue per home game: $3,407,407.41
Gate receipts per home game: $567,901.23
Yearly gate receipts: $46,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,839,506.17
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $230,000,000

Annual revenue: $276,000,000

22. Cincinnati Reds

Average attendance: 22,329
Average ticket price: $24.88
Revenue per home game: $3,407,407.41
Gate receipts per home game: $555,555.56
Yearly gate receipts: $45,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,851,851.85
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $231,000,000

Annual revenue: $276,000,000

21. Arizona Diamondbacks

Average attendance: 26,364
Average ticket price: $25.29
Revenue per home game: $3,432,098.77
Gate receipts per home game: $666,666.67
Yearly gate receipts: $54,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,7,65,432.10
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $224,000,000

Annual revenue: $278,000,000

20. Chicago White Sox

Average attendance: 20,622
Average ticket price: $27.54
Revenue per home game: $3,518,518.52
Gate receipts per home game: $567,901.23
Yearly gate receipts: $46,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,950,617.28
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $239,000,000

Annual revenue: $285,000,000

19. Cleveland Indians

Average attendance: 21,465
Average ticket price: $37.96
Revenue per home game: $3,580,246.91
Gate receipts per home game: $814,814,81
Yearly gate receipts: $66,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,765,432.10
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $224,000,000

Annual revenue: $290,000,000

18. Milwaukee Brewers

Average attendance: 36,091
Average ticket price: $27.71
Revenue per home game: $3,641,975.31
Gate receipts per home game: $1,000,000
Yearly gate receipts: $81,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,641,975.31
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $214,000,000

Annual revenue: $295,000,000

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17. Minnesota Twins

Average attendance: 28,323
Average ticket price: $34.44
Revenue per home game: $3,666,666,67
Gate receipts per home game: $975,308.64
Yearly gate receipts: $79,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,691,975.31
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $218,000,000

Annual revenue: $297,000,000

16. San Diego Padres

Average attendance: 29,585
Average ticket price: $26.29
Revenue per home game: $3,691,358.02
Gate receipts per home game: $777,777.78
Yearly gate receipts: $63,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,913,580.25
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $236,000,000

Annual revenue: $299,000,000

15. Colorado Rockies

Average attendance: 36,954
Average ticket price: $26.73
Revenue per home game: $3,765,432.10
Gate receipts per home game: $987,654.32
Yearly gate receipts: $80,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,777,777.78
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $225,000,000

Annual revenue: $305,000,000

14. Seattle Mariners

Average attendance: 22,120
Average ticket price: $32.37
Revenue per home game: $3,888,888.89
Gate receipts per home game: $716,049.38
Yearly gate receipts: $58,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,172,839.51
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $257,000,000

Annual revenue: $315,000,000

13. Texas Rangers

Average attendance: 26,333
Average ticket price: $33.29
Revenue per home game: $4,135,802.47
Gate receipts per home game: $876,543.21
Yearly gate receipts: $71,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,259,259.26
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $265,000,000

Annual revenue: $335,000,000

12. New York Mets

Average attendance: 30,155
Average ticket price: $41.35
Revenue per home game: $4,469,135.80
Gate receipts per home game: $1,246,913.58
Yearly gate receipts: $101,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,222,222.22
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $261,000,000

Annual revenue: $362,000,000

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11. Washington Nationals

Average attendance: 27,899
Average ticket price: $61.95
Revenue per home game: $4,567,901.23
Gate receipts per home game: $1,728,395.07
Yearly gate receipts: $140,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,839,506.17
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $230,000,000

Annual revenue: $370,000,000

10. Los Angeles Angels

Average attendance: 37,272
Average ticket price: $35.11
Revenue per home game: $4,654,320.99
Gate receipts per home game: $1,308,641.98
Yearly gate receipts: $106,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,345,679.01
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $271,000,000

Annual revenue: $377,000,000

9. Atlanta Braves

Average attendance: 32,779
Average ticket price: $40.68
Revenue per home game: $4,716,049.38
Gate receipts per home game: $1,333,333.33
Yearly gate receipts: $108,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,382,716.05
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $274,000,000

Annual revenue: $382,000,000

8. St. Louis Cardinals

Average attendance: 42,968
Average ticket price: $39.65
Revenue per home game: $4,728,395.06
Gate receipts per home game: $1,703,703.70
Yearly gate receipts: $138,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,024,691.36
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $245,000,000

Annual revenue: $383,000,000

7. Philadelphia Phillies

Average attendance: 33,672
Average ticket price: $39.60
Revenue per home game: $4,839,506.17
Gate receipts per home game: $1,333,333.33
Yearly gate receipts: $108,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,506,172.84
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $284,000,000

Annual revenue: $392,000,000

6. Houston Astros

Average attendance: 35,276
Average ticket price: $63.00
Revenue per home game: $5,185,185.19
Gate receipts per home game: $2,222,222.22
Yearly gate receipts: $180,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $2,962,962.96
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $240,000,000

Annual revenue: $420,000,000

5. San Francisco Giants

Average attendance: 33,429
Average ticket price: $56.87
Revenue per home game: $5,580,246.91
Gate receipts per home game: $1,901,234.57
Yearly gate receipts: $154,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,679,012.35
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $298,000,000

Annual revenue: $452,000,000

4. Chicago Cubs

Average attendance: 38,208
Average ticket price: $64.62
Revenue per home game: $5,814,814.81
Gate receipts per home game: $2,469,135.80
Yearly gate receipts: $271,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,345,679.01
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $271,000,000

Annual revenue: $471,000,000

3. Boston Red Sox

Average attendance: 36,107
Average ticket price: $68.04
Revenue per home game: $6,407,407.41
Gate receipts per home game: $2,456,790.12
Yearly gate receipts: $199,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $3,950,617.28
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $320,000,000

Annual revenue: $519,000,000

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

Average attendance: 49,066
Average ticket price: $46.55
Revenue per home game: $6,864,197.53
Gate receipts per home game: $2,283,950.62
Yearly gate receipts: $556,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $4,580,246.91
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $371,000,000

Annual revenue: $556,000,000

1. New York Yankees

Average attendance: 40,795
Average ticket price: $86.85
Revenue per home game: $8,432,098.77
Gate receipts per home game: $3,543,209.88
Yearly gate receipts: $287,000,000
Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $4,888,888.89
Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $396,000,000

Annual revenue: $683,000,000

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Methodology:In order to find what a season played in empty stadiums would cost each franchise, GOBankingRates looked at Forbes' team evaluations for Major League Baseball (MLB). Using these reports and attendance reports for the most recent completed season with full attendance from Baseball Reference (2019), 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 reciepts, (4) gate recipets 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 February 8, 2021.