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MLS Team Income Streams: D.C. United Opens the Books

Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

The MLS web site has an article about D.C. United's stadium plans, which appear to be moving forward. The D.C. gov't just received a report on the financials of the deal, a report that includes a bunch of actual data about income streams in MLS. It doesn't mention specific teams other than United, but it does have some averages and medians. Since we sometimes talk about Portland Timbers finances here, I thought it would be nice to have some data, even if it's not for the Timbers.

The following numbers are for 2013 unless otherwise indicated, and are for MLS games and not other events at the stadium. Each number is the net value, not gross.

Tickets sold by team:

  • MLS median per person: $25.60
  • Average for top-third teams per person: $28.00
  • DCU 2017 total estimate: $8.7 million

Food/beverage concessions:

  • MLS median per person: $9.50
  • Average for top-third teams per person: $12.60
  • DCU 2017 net estimate: $1.8 million

Premium (club/suite) concessions:

  • DCU estimate per club attendee: $20
  • DCU estimate per suite attendee: $50
  • DCU 2017 net estimate: $0.29 million

Merchandise:

  • MLS median per person: $2.70
  • Average for top-third teams per person: $3.70
  • DCU 2017 net estimate: $0.35 million

Parking (not relevant for Timbers):

  • DCU income estimate per car: $8 + 70% of profit
  • DCU 2017 net estimate: $0.19 million

Sponsorship:

  • DCU net estimate: $5.6 million ($2.5 M of this is jerseys)

Broadcasting:

  • MLS average net: -$0.3 million (a loss, due to production costs)
  • MLS average net for top-third teams: +$0.6 million

Youth development:

  • DCU estimate: $0.77 million (not clear if this is gross or net)

Additional ticket "rebate" (from Ticketmaster or equivalent):

  • DCU estimate per person: $0.50
  • DCU net estimate: $0.01 million

Suite sales:

  • DCU number: 21 suites (how many at PP?), with 20 sold
  • DCU per-suite annual net: $37,000
  • DCU net estimate: $0.74 million

Club seat sales:

  • MLS average number: 1100 seats (how many at PP?), with most sold
  • DCU 2017 net estimate: $1.1 million (MLS games)

TOTAL NET 2017 INCOME ESTIMATE: $19.25 million

Okay, that was the income side of the ledger. If anyone wants to wade through the report (DC_Soccer_Cost-Benefit_Analysis_FINAL.pdf) to get the expense side, here it is:

https://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/245635013?access_key=key-BzSdT88AmWHtzFX6hp5M

See page 42 onward. The short story on expenses is that DCU's 2013 expenses were $16.2 million.

That appears to leave a profit of about $3 million, but (a) the income side is for 2017 while the expense side is 2013, and (b) I'm sure there's stuff missing from both sides of the ledger.

This FanPost was written by a Stumptown Footy community member and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the site or its staff.

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