Quote:
Originally Posted by Goody
Regardless of who owns a team they shouldn't be paying out of their own pocket and looked down upon if they don't. That's always Yankee fans defense..."Oh the Pirates owners are just trying to make money...they could afford those players if they really wanted to."
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According to
Forbes, in 2008 the New York Yankees took in $375 million in revenue and spent $236 million on player salaries, or 62.9% of revenue. Pittsburgh took in $144 million in revenue and spent $65 million on player salaries, or 45.1% of revenues. If the Pirates spent as large a percentage of their revenue on player salaries as did the Yankees, it would amount to $90.6 million.
Note that, again according to
Forbes, the Pirates had a net operating income of $15.9 million whereas the Yankees lost $3.7 million (mostly due to revenue sharing and the luxury tax). So, even if Pittsburgh couldn't spend the same percentage of revenue on player salaries as did the Yankees, it could at least spend another $15 million.
(The most profitable team in 2008? The Flordia Marlins, with an estimated $43.7 million in net operating income. This on total revenues of $139 million.)