With few to no fans in the stands during a 60-game season, Major League Baseball teams are undoubtedly going to suffer a financial hit this year. The Padres are among the teams in line to take a beating in that regard, executive chairman Ron Fowler explained to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
“People don’t want to believe we’re going to lose, cash on cash, well over $100 million. I can assure you we are,” said Fowler, who added: “We’ve already borrowed $100 million. We are looking to increase our loan availability, and we are looking to make a significant capital contribution — more money into the team.”
Despite his disappointment, Fowler stressed to Acee that he doesn’t want to come off as a whiner. He’s instead trying to look forward to a baseball season and hoping the Padres will end their 13-year playoff drought or at least finish above .500 for the first time since 2010. San Diego went just 70-92 last year, which Fowler called an “embarrassing” campaign in September. However, in the wake of an active offseason, Fowler’s optimistic about the roster general manager A.J. Preller has assembled for 2020. He told Acee, “If we catch a couple breaks, we might be looking at a wild card.”
Regardless of what happens on the field this year, though, Fowler expects to enter 2021 with concerns about teams’ financial states, including his own club’s. Because it’s unclear how many (if any) fans will be allowed to attend games then, “We are planning for restricted revenue next year and doing what is necessary to be able to operate in that environment,” Fowler said. “We will adjust accordingly. To expect we are going to return to 2019 in terms of business is not real, I don’t expect that to be the case at all.”
Of course, after the 2021 season, the owners and players could be in for a labor war centering on the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement. The fact that the two sides spent the past couple months in a public spat over the 2020 campaign could signal trouble going forward. It remains to be seen whether the league and the players will get on the same page in the next year-plus. For his part, Fowler’s not thrilled with the union’s chief negotiator, Bruce Meyer. Fowler, a key member of MLB’s labor committee, said of recent talks with the MLBPA and Meyer:“They had someone new who had a different view of how things should be done. That created a number of problems. We often thought we were negotiating with ourselves, and that’s not a good thing to do.”
Although he’s dissatisfied with Meyer, Fowler’s hope is obviously that the owners and players will achieve peace in CBA negotiations. For that to happen, though, he observed: “We definitely have to do it without it being negotiated in the press. We have to make sure we are communicating with our players what’s real and what’s not.”
Nice that they spend some money now but Fowler still sucks.
You’re worse
Any idea what makes you so bitter?
When you own and run the McDonalds franchise you can afford to spend Ferrari money on your personal car. When you own and run a local taco shop you buy a used car. The San Diego Padres, unfortunately, are more taco shop than McDonalds.
Another owner crying poor when everyone knows theyre full of it.
The crying poverty line only goes so far. And remember, if ownership is *really* unhappy, they can sell for a large capital gain. Since 1973, every franchise has sold for more, generally much more , than what they paid for it.
I am sure you can sell your house for a huge financial gain too, but that won’t keep you from b*tch*ng when you lose your job and are forced to sell. Or does your statement only apply to others and not to yourself?
Oh stop.
Ironic that owners who I’m sure claim to be fiscally conservative expect the taxpayer (who already gave them money to build the stadium) to feel bad for them while they borrowed more than they can pay back
Wrong ownership. This group bought the team and the stadium
I think owners will continue to struggle to get any sort of sympathy from fans, as long as they continue to be so opaque when it comes to club finances.
Sure, losing 100 million/any significant part of revenue sucks. But without context, it means nothing.
If that 100 million is is a very large part of the revenue stream and will severely hurt the team’s chances of remaining financially viable (which we all severely doubt), it’d be one thing.
But if between the various other revenue streams, MLB clubs remain in good financial health, and having no fans in the stands will merely make owners slightly less wealthy (which is probably closer to reality), then it’s a bad look for owners, period.
If tears are to be shed, they could be on behalf of “career minor league” players. They are going extinct, or nearly so.
Even if we assume owners are hurting, they can still go out and borrow $100 million (or more, undoubtedly secured by the massive equity built up in franchise valuations) to fund operations.
The test will be how long it takes getting back to “normal”. Some clubs will feel real pressure if it takes 2 or 3 years to restore all of their revenue streams. It could take that long, too, even if an effective covid vaccine is developed and distributed.
And don’t forget the CBA that is about to expire. If that creates a strike or lock out and no more revenue for a season or part thereof then all teams will have the same financial result for another year. The covid pandemic has merely added another year of financial instability for both players and owners.
It is so easy to criticize the Padres. Spending too much is their problem. The dumbest thing about the Padres is that they are only finally realizing they need to build from young stars and stop wasting money on guys that other teams let go of in order to avoid paying.
Dumbest thing is giving 526 mil guaranteed to Hosmer, Machado, and Myers. They are paying them. 70 mil total next year.
Then you would have other Padre fans complaining they don’t spend money. They can’t win with you arm chair Owners/GM’s/Managers
Spending $ wisely and like drunken sailors.
Honestly he’s one of the better ones. I’m pro-player (unlike the old stadium). Ditch Manfred and maybe we have a chance for 2022. Clark should go too. We need leadership driven to find commonality. Not the BS we currently have to deal with.
So, they have to…take out a business loan? The horror.
I think his comments are pretty clear.
He isn’t looking for or expecting sympathy and really wasn’t even “complaining”.
They asked questions and he answers them.
I for one am grateful for Fowler.
Just look to the recent draft for another example.
They are spending money to build a longtime winner….that’s really all you can ask for from the guys with the wallets.
This I can reason with. Pumping money into the team does more to build a winner than Bob Nutting for example. He loses me at “I had to borrow $100,000,000” though. If I could borrow $100,000,000 in 10 years I would buy the Pirates, bring back them 70s uniforms for 1 home game a week, and Jo Adell (or whoever is the big ticket superstar in 10 years) would get a $400,000,000 contract.
Fattloudmouthkemp, 2 posts and I can’t stand you.
Padres will not be above 500 in 2020. They will probably finish last again. Padre’s won’t finish 36 games back as they did in 2019 but will be last in the division.
Who wins the World Series, o’ wise soothsayer?
Are you implying that the league will only get 35 games in?
Padres are odds on in LV to finish above .500 I guess your wrong since the bookies are seldom wrong.
All of their revenue streams? Teams should budget off what they receive solely on their MLB teams. These owners have other outside of baseball revenue streams and we shouldn’t insist they use that money to find a team. Give me a break. Keep borrowing is also a stupid way to do business. Future value is not realized value. It is just off an appraisal. Look back to 2008-2010 when people borrowed off their home value….several went bankrupt. Financial leverage is not a good thing.
Absolutely not. Pro Sports teams are toys for billionaires and should be given to oil sheikhs, Steinbrenner types, etc. that use them a dick measuring contest with their fellow billionaires. Don’t let Bob Nutting buy a team just to add to his bottom line.
if you can’t afford to run the team, sell it!
It’s funny how so many people are so quick to tell other people (owners) to just do things that they would never do themselves.
Just take out a $100 million loan. No problem! Kinda leaves out the fact that loans have to be repaid WITH interest That’s kinda like saying “Are you having money trouble because of Covid? No problem! Take out a 2nd mortgage on your house. Problem solved!” How can you complain about money, your house is worth $400,00-$1,000,000 if you live in San Diego. I mean, that makes you a millionaire, doesn’t it? Can’t repay the loan? Just sell your house. Like I said, it’s worth a fortune!
Fowler is minority owner owns small % just does all the talking and eating
Fowler is majority owner now, he had a 49% stake back when Moores was still the boss. He is also the Executive Chairman so that’s why he speaks for all owners. (O’Malleys and Seidlers included)
He still is complete loser as leader of Padres and shut his trap until he can lead a competing team
So, the owner that has opened his pocketbook to the tune of billions and essentially rescued the franchise “still is complete loser as leader of the Padres…”? Sure, pal.
So… The Padres and Major League Baseball have a war with two frontlines.
They have got this plannedemic to deal with, then they have the stuff that’s motivating the whole “taking a knee” stuff. (By the way, “systemic racism” exists in cities run by Democrats, with black mayors and black police chiefs, go figure… Then there’s black on black crime that’s ignored in Dem cities like Chicago. What matters??? Who matters???)
I’m already alienated from the Padres because I haven’t been able to listen to the home games on the radio in my home for years. They jumped to an FM station in the wildly varied topography of San Diego County. I cut the cord on my cable TV when the Padres had a conflict with the cable companies and stopped broadcasting their games years ago. Now, I could listen to San Francisco Giants night games, the Los Angeles Dodgers and California/Anaheim/Way South Los Angeles Angel games on the AM band. So screw the Padres; bad decisions on their part.
As soon as the teams start taking a knee, I will be lost permanently.
The competition for my mindspace and consumer dollars is stiff. Like shopping for a car; as soon as as I have finally had it with a brand, I’ll never go back. (Ask the blown head gasket masters, Subaru and the horrible Jatco transmission-equipped Nissan & Mitsubishi.)
Keep it up, MLBPA. You’ve lost my family’s entertainment dollar, you’ve lost my empathy and I am not alone.
Sir, this is an Arby’s….
I want a double-double!
Lol
Don’t let the door hit you…
Why do politics have to find their way back into everything? Last time I checked, MLBTR was about baseball.
While much of this post might seem like rambling lunacy (he appears to own AM but not FM radio?) he’s 100% correct about Subaru and Jatco. Just FTR.
Between this and your funny Fiat/Jeep quip recently, I’m sensing you’re a mechanic! And perhaps he can clarify the AM/FM confusion but I suggest he means that all sections of San Diego don’t get all the radio stations. I’m sure he could resolve his issue with this new invention called an antenna… or tune in through the MLB app… or subscribe to basic cable as every Padre game is shown with the best broadcast booth in the game! Still looking forward to my first PNC trip but at least our home park is one of the best, too! Take it easy Josh!
Has anyone checked his diaper? Perhaps he just needs to be changed.