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Cutting a Check
Tokyo reports curiously low overall revenue
By Listen DePleyohs / Baseball Tri-Weekly
It was a troubling season for Tokyo in more than one area. Not only did the expansion team finish at the bottom of the EHCC standings, but also reported lower than expected profits.
Mired by slow ticket sales, high promotion costs and regional competition from Japan’s national baseball league, the Onomonies barely stayed in the black.
”Even with a low payroll and the luxury of playing in a multi-use stadium, Tokyo’s ability to generate a profit was surprising low,” said Janni Kim, the EHCC Asian operations chief.
Tokyo is not the only expansion team to struggle out of the gate. The Texas Hold’em and Not So Red Sox, both had poor opening seasons, forcing them to relocate. Since the moves, the Hispanics and Piglets have seen their revenue jump.
There is no plan to move the Omyokas, as team officials hope that with the development of their young talent will come a fiercer fan loyalty.
”The market is ripe for gains,” said Kim. “It is only a matter of time before Tokyo becomes a playoff contender. With that will come the money.”
Plymouth had the worst 2005 financially, losing millions of dollars to high priced and ineffective contracts, compounded by poor attendance numbers. For the third season in a row, Weymouth netted the most profit selling out all 12 of their home games.
Listen DePleyohs writes a column for Baseball Tri-Weekly. He enjoys french cuisine, long walks on the beach, and singing karaoke in foreign countries.
