Yankees ticket sales fetch $199 million before 2024 season kicks off

Tuesday May 21, 2024

The New York Yankees continue to demonstrate their status as one of baseball’s most popular attractions, having sold an impressive $199 million in tickets prior to the start of the 2024 season. This figure is roughly on par with last year’s ticket sales, despite a slight lag attributed to the absence of a home game in March this year, with opening day at Yankee Stadium taking place on April 8.

According to recent filings through the municipal bond disclosure system, the Yankees generated $199.02 million in revenue from seat and suite license sales for the 2024 season as of March 31. In comparison, the team sold $209 million in tickets through the first quarter of the previous year, benefiting from a home game in March.

The Yankees’ spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment regarding the ticket sales figures.

Regular municipal bond disclosures indicate that the Yankees secure a significant portion of their annual ticket revenue before the baseball season gains momentum. In the 2023 season, which saw the team finish just above .500 and miss the playoffs, the club sold $279 million in tickets, a relatively disappointing outcome. However, postseason appearances can substantially boost club revenue, as evidenced by the $379 million in ticket sales generated during the 2022 season when the team qualified for the playoffs.

The Yankees’ crowd was engaged — James Messerschmidt/NYP

Yankees drawing big crowds

The New York Yankees are currently ranked fourth in average attendance, drawing 38,607 fans per game, as reported by ESPN.com. The franchise’s decision to acquire slugger Juan Soto in December has created a formidable lineup, with Soto batting ahead of Aaron Judge. As of Sunday, Soto is hitting .317 with 11 home runs, while Judge is batting .266 with 12 home runs. The Yankees boast a 32-15 record, the best in the American League, making them a force to be reckoned with on the field.

The Yankees disclose their ticket and suite license proceeds due to the revenue’s role in securing the bonds sold to finance the construction of their current stadium, which is the third version of Yankee Stadium. Fitch Ratings data reveals that the weakest season for ticket sales was 2016, a non-playoff year, when the club sold $231 million in tickets. The current stadium has been in operation since 2009.

It is important to note that the bond disclosures do not include other revenue streams generated by the team, such as concessions, media, and merchandise sales. According to the Sportico 2024 MLB valuations, the Yankees generated a total revenue of $720 million in 2023. In contrast, the Oakland A’s, the team with the lowest revenue in baseball last year, reported a total revenue of just $241 million, as per Sportico’s data.

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