The recent MLB-ESPN divorce, though approaching in slow motion for months, sent shockwaves across the sports, media, and financial worlds. For the Braves, however, the news ultimately amounts to a “non-event,” and the team predicted that an even better situation could soon arrive for the league’s national rights.
In an earnings call Wednesday to review the club’s fourth-quarter and full-year financial results for 2024, Braves chairman Terry McGuirk placed a very optimistic spin on the fallout from the league’s pending split from ESPN.
“This will have no effect whatsoever on [the Braves’] economics,” McGuirk said of the MLB-ESPN breakup. “I think the market is going to be surprised at the enthusiasm and uptake on these sets of rights that are becoming available for next year. I know that the interest is very strong, and I’m sure you’ll hear more from [commissioner] Rob Manfred on this in the coming weeks.”
McGuirk is close to Manfred and has served on a variety of key league committees.
The comments arrived six days after MLB and ESPN announced plans to part ways after the 2025 season. A reunion of some sort remains possible, though unlikely. In the meantime, Fox is ramping up its MLB national broadcast plans heavily for the upcoming season.
Local Media Rise
The Braves also conveyed a hefty dose of optimism for their retooled local-media situation, which involved an altered deal with the newly reorganized Main Street Sports that includes streaming rights, as well as a separate over-the-air agreement with Gray Media to simulcast 15 regular-season games alongside Main Street’s FanDuel Sports Network.
“There are now more ways for our fans to view our games and follow our content, and ultimately, that’s to the benefit of our fans and to the business,” said Braves president and CEO Derek Schiller.
The team has had a quieter offseason compared to many top rivals such as the Dodgers and Mets, and speculation has grown in some corners that recent disruption in the media business contributed to that. Braves executives, however, insisted the team remains a title contender, and will benefit from the pending return of injured stars such as Ronald Acuña Jr.
“Over the last three or four years, we have been a top-10 salary organization [in MLB] and we expect that to be the same again this year,” McGuirk said. “[President of baseball operations and GM] Alex Anthopoulos has always had the resources he needs to put a championship group on the field. I see no different situation this year.”
Broader Results
The Braves, meanwhile, reported full-year 2024 financial results that included a 3% rise in total revenue to nearly $663 million, a 14% bump in their mixed-use development revenue at The Battery to $67.3 million, and a 15% reduction in operating losses to $39.7 million.
The results, however, also showed the uniqueness of the club’s business model as the Braves also posted an adjusted operating income of more than $45 million last year from The Battery—a total far greater than the comparable figure from the baseball team itself.
Truist Park will be the host venue for the MLB All-Star Game on July 15.
