All articles tagged with #small market teams
The 2025 NBA Finals Game 7 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA Finals game since 2019, but overall the series had among the lowest viewership of the century, averaging 10.27 million viewers, largely due to the small-market teams involved.
The NBA Finals featuring small-market teams Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder is unlikely to significantly impact the league's short-term revenue, as its major income sources like TV rights are fixed through long-term deals. While merchandise sales and ticket revenue may decline compared to larger markets, ratings are not directly tied to financial success in the short term, and the league's future earnings are secured by existing media contracts. The series' ratings are expected to be modest, but longer series could boost ad revenue for broadcasters.
The 2025 NBA Finals between small-market teams Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers will serve as a key test for the league's parity era, highlighting the potential for exciting matchups beyond traditional market giants and exploring how underdog stories and emerging stars can drive fan interest and ratings.
The Kansas City Royals' 11-year, $288.7 million extension for shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. challenges the notion that small-market teams cannot make significant investments in star players. Several low-revenue teams have made substantial deals in recent years, demonstrating that every club, regardless of market size, can lock up star players for over $100 million. While these contracts carry risks, they show that the playing field in baseball is not entirely uneven. Despite calls for a salary cap, it remains unlikely in MLB, but other measures to enhance competitive balance should be explored.
The Milwaukee Brewers traded ace right-hander Corbin Burnes to avoid losing him in free agency and receiving only a draft pick in return. The move reflects the team's need to navigate the challenges of playing in a small media market and competing against large-market clubs. While the trade weakens the team in the short term, it positions them better for the future with the acquisition of prospects and a draft pick. The Brewers may continue to make trades to maintain competitiveness, despite the challenges of operating as a small-market team in the MLB.
As the second half of the MLB season begins, three of the six lowest-spending teams are in playoff position, while three of the highest-spending teams are not. This challenges the notion that payroll disparity is the defining problem in baseball. However, it is still early in the season, and the standings may change. Historically, teams with low payrolls have struggled to advance deep into the playoffs. The success of small-market teams this year could be an outlier, and larger-market teams may still make a comeback. The Angels, with one of the highest payrolls, may consider trading Shohei Ohtani to address their problems.