The Los Angeles Dodgers set a franchise record with 106 wins during the regular season, but suffered an earlier than anticipated postseason exit at the hands of the eventual World Series champion Washington Nationals.
The organization’s long journey to winning their first title was one of the many feel-good stories of the 2019 MLB season. On the other hand, there were some questionable events that transpired, including the league’s public feuds with Minor League Baseball and the MLBPA.
In what was an up-and-down year, MLB continued to thrive from a financial standpoint. The league reportedly raked in a record $10.7 billion in earnings during the 2019 season, per Maury Brown of Forbes:
Gross revenues for the league were $10.7 billion for 2019, up from $10.3 billion last year, according to industry sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Increases in revenues continue to be tied to media rights, new or extensions of sponsorship deals, and steady revenues at the gate in the face of attendance decline.
MLB’s reported record revenues surpassed last year’s total by $400 million. It marked a 17th consecutive year in which the league earned more than the previous season.
Those numbers figure to only increase going forward, especially when considering that Nike’s 10-year, $1 billion uniform contract takes effect in 2020.
Further evidence that MLB is prospering can be tied to the active free agent period. Over $1 billion has been doled out to Scott Boras clients alone this offseason, including the $324 million contract that Gerrit Cole received from the New York Yankees.
It’s a shift from the previous two winters, when top free agents remained unsigned heading into the new year. Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, for instance, did not find new homes until this past February, or after pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training.
While attendance declined across the sport, the Dodgers actually flourished in this department, attracting over 3.9 million fans at Dodger Stadium during the regular season.
The figure closed at 3,974,309 (49,066 average) in attendance for 81 home games, which included 28 sellouts. It broke the record set last season, when Game 163 increased attendance to 3,857,500.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in our live shows, and more!
