This is not a surprise because we all know the Yankees are a friggin’ cash cow, but just saying that is one thing. Seeing the real numbers is a different deal altogether. Get this report from CNBC’s Darren Rovell:
In other words, the Yankees’ postseason ticket revenue alone brought in enough money to cover the payroll for 12 Major League teams this year.
Rovell goes on to report that the Yankees are suspected to take in about $600 million. Even with a $200 million payroll, a luxury tax of $25 million and however much they pay in revenue sharing, they’re still able -- if they choose to anyway -- buy and sell more or less anyone they want.
That they have actually instituted something which approaches a budget in the past couple of years is fairly sobering. I mean, according to Rovell, the Yankees entire season-long ticket revenue was $52 million in 1997 and $157 million in 2005. Now that they’ve more than doubled that latter figure without raising the payroll that much, where is all that extra money going?
I have this image of a Bond villain or Cobra Commander-style island fortress being constructed somewhere. I have this image of the Yankees achieving nuclear capability before Iran does. I’d quote that “Minnie the Moocher” lyric about a diamond car and a platinum wheel again if I hand’t just done it yesterday.