NBA Revenue Drop 10% to $ 8.3 Billion in 2019-20: Report

NBA revenue fell 10% to $ 8.3 billion for the 2019-20 season interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, ESPN reported Wednesday, saying the league lost $ 800 million in ticket revenue alone.

Citing financial figures shared with league clubs and obtained by ESPN, the report says the NBA lost $ 400 million in endorsements and merchandise.

The cost of a split with China from a long association over tweets by then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey was estimated at $ 200 million of “net negative impact” according to the report.

The losses would have been much worse if the NBA hadn’t completed the season and staged the playoffs in a bubble in Orlando, saying that $ 1.5 billion in revenue was recovered by restarting the season despite bubble spending being $ $ 190 million, $ 10 million more than originally estimated. sources told ESPN.

The details emerged as the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association discussed potential 2020-21 season start dates and financial terms to update the collective bargaining agreement in the wake of the pandemic.

The NBA told clubs that there would be a possible overall loss of revenue of 40%, about $ 4 billion, if the 2020-21 season were to unfold without spectators or entry receipts.

The report said the NBA wants a Dec. 22 start to the 2020-21 campaign and a 72-game season for each club with a playoff entry tournament and a conclusion in time to have NBA talent in the competition. Olympic basketball in Tokyo.

Another option would start in mind: January around the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday that would delay the end of the season until mid-September and make NBA games compete with the Olympics and the NFL for audiences. televisions.

While the league wants games in local stadiums with spectators, and is open to the idea of ​​teams playing only regional or conference rivals to reduce travel costs and exposure to Covid-19, they also look at situations of bubbles like those used in the major leagues. Baseball playoffs.