If/when we are sold....?

[doctorbj]

We all know the Orioles will be sold eventually (please sooner than later!).

Someone posted a quasi/semi-insider note that discussions are going on with a bunch of local investors.

Who do you think would consider buying the team? if it's a bunch of local people, is there anyone with deep pockets and willingness to spend, even if not in the PAdres/Yankees/Dodgers level? Kevin Plank has been mentioned in the past but with I believe suggestions that he would not be interested. Otherwise I don't believe we will compete even after a sale if sold locally. Mark Cuban has been thrown out there, with no evidence of interest.

So, i would appreciate thoughts from all of you, who have much more knowledge than this 79 y.o.,  who would like to see at least one more big run in the post-season.

[RZNJ]

That tweet was from November 18.  Not sure why SG reposted it.   You’d think there might be a least something further if there really were serious talks going on.

[maybenxtyr]

I felt almost certain that the team would be sold when the one inevitable happened to their father. After some thinking about it, I'm kinda curious about a couple of things.

 

1: if Georgia Angelos is listed as a current owner would that put them in a position to avoid the inheritance tax?

 

2: regardless of how few numbers are actually public knowledge, it is very profitable to own a team and run it anyway you want. Spending or not it doesn't matter. I'm somewhat skeptical now that they would sell, at least in the near term. It's basically a golden goose where tax payers pay for your housing and renovations, and you have carte blanche on using the facility. 

 

Revenue sharing, merchandise sharing, and TV revenue has to be a rather startling number. That's all prior to any ticket sales and concessions. Depending on the estate planning, I've convinced myself that they will probably not be in any hurry to sell.

[Sports Guy]

I can tell you for sure that Plank isn’t interested in owning a sports team.

[Frobby]

I will posit that there are four possible types of owners:

1.  Super-wealthy owners who can subsidize their team’s operations without really feeling it and are happy to do so.  

2.  Super-wealthy owners who could subsidize their team’s operations but choose to run their team more as a business that shouldn’t lose money.  

3.  Owners who cannot afford to significantly subsidize their teams but are happy to run them on a close to break even business.

4.  Owners for whom the team is the principal source of their income, who are intent on extracting as much profit as they can from the team.  

I think it’s a pipe dream that a super-wealthy, team-subsidizing owner is going to buy the Orioles.  You’d hope for someone who’s happy to run the team as a self-sustaining business and doesn’t need to rely on the team for income.  

I think we need to see what happens with the Nats.  I think whatever investors have interest there but don’t end up acquiring the team, could have interest in the Orioles. 



 

[WietersCorner]

Can someone reach out to Bezos? That would be great 

[Frobby]

8 minutes ago, WietersCorner said:

Can someone reach out to Bezos? That would be great 

He’s not willing to subsidize the Washington Post in an unlimited fashion, I can tell you that.  They’re shuttering their weekly magazine and have had some layoffs too.   

[owknows]

26 minutes ago, Frobby said:

I will posit that there are four possible types of owners:

1.  Super-wealthy owners who can subsidize their team’s operations without really feeling it and are happy to do so.  

2.  Super-wealthy owners who could subsidize their team’s operations but choose to run their team more as a business that shouldn’t lose money.  

3.  Owners who cannot afford to significantly subsidize their teams but are happy to run them on a close to break even business.

4.  Owners for whom the team is the principal source of their income, who are intent on extracting as much profit as they can from the team.  

I think it’s a pipe dream that a super-wealthy, team-subsidizing owner is going to buy the Orioles.  You’d hope for someone who’s happy to run the team as a self-sustaining business and doesn’t need to rely on the team for income.  

I think we need to see what happens with the Nats.  I think whatever investors have interest there but don’t end up acquiring the team, could have interest in the Orioles. 



 

I'd prefer door number 2.

A successful team is an efficient team that doesn't squander resources.

[Can_of_corn]

1 minute ago, Frobby said:

He’s not willing to subsidize the Washington Post in an unlimited fashion, I can tell you that.  They’re shuttering their weekly magazine and have had some layoffs too.   

Isn't Bezos' ex-wife big into charity causes?  Maybe give her a call?

[HakunaSakata]

The only thing that makes me doubt the team is for sale is the fact that it hasn't been publicized. I can't think of a single reason why it wouldn't be beneficial to try and facilitate a bidding war. I mean, Dan Snyder held a press conference to announce he was "considering" selling the team for god's sake. 

[interloper]

1 hour ago, Frobby said:

I will posit that there are four possible types of owners:

1.  Super-wealthy owners who can subsidize their team’s operations without really feeling it and are happy to do so.  

2.  Super-wealthy owners who could subsidize their team’s operations but choose to run their team more as a business that shouldn’t lose money.  

3.  Owners who cannot afford to significantly subsidize their teams but are happy to run them on a close to break even business.

4.  Owners for whom the team is the principal source of their income, who are intent on extracting as much profit as they can from the team.  

 

Out of curiosity - based on what little we know, which of these 4 categories would you place the Angelos family/ownership group in? 

[AnythingO's]

3 minutes ago, interloper said:

Out of curiosity - based on what little we know, which of these 4 categories would you place the Angelos family/ownership group in? 

Option 4

[interloper]

34 minutes ago, HakunaSakata said:

The only thing that makes me doubt the team is for sale is the fact that it hasn't been publicized. I can't think of a single reason why it wouldn't be beneficial to try and facilitate a bidding war. I mean, Dan Snyder held a press conference to announce he was "considering" selling the team for god's sake. 

I think a sale is likely eventually, but it may be put on ice for the time being for 3 reasons:

1. Peter has not passed
2. The family lawsuit
3. The MASN mess

Anyway, that's why I think we haven't heard much lately. 

[Frobby]

24 minutes ago, interloper said:

Out of curiosity - based on what little we know, which of these 4 categories would you place the Angelos family/ownership group in? 

3 or 4.  There have been times where the Orioles appear to have been run as a basically break even business.  But the apparent faltering of the law firm as an income source, and profit-taking the last few years, suggest they belong in the latter category now.  But I might change my opinion depending on developments.  

To be clear, I was perfectly fine with the O’s cutting payroll the last several years while rebuilding the team.  That was only logical.   I’m not fine with the O’s failing to make logical investments in the payroll now that they’re in position to be a competitive team.  But, I haven’t concluded that they won’t be making such investments.   They haven’t done it yet, so we’ll see.  
 

[tntoriole]

Billionaires living in MD ….

Bisciotti and Lerner.. no .. are the wealthiest

 Bisciotti’s cousin , Jim Davis has 4.4 billion net worth 

The third richest Marylander is Mitchell Rales at #158 with a net worth of $5.8 billion. He and his brother run the Danaher industrial firm. The 66-year-old lives in Potomac. 

I have no idea as to any interest by any of these individuals 

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/steve-bisciotti-ted-lerner-7-maryland-billionares-richest-in-united-states-forbes-400/