Baseball in Mexico, a profitable business
Many things travel beyond borders, among them, baseball.
A sport that originated in the United States, has spread its influence to its southern neighboring country. Mexico, with its strong affinity for baseball, which has only increased over time, has turned this sport into a profitable business.
Attendance and interest
In the USA, Major League Baseball games had nearly 62 million attendees in the last season.
Professional baseball in Mexico had over 11 million attendees.
In Mexico, there is more interest in Major League Baseball and the World Baseball Classic compared to countries like Japan, Korea, and Colombia, according to a survey of individuals aged 16 to 69.
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Sources of income and sponsorships
Each team in the Mexican Pacific League has four main sources of income: ticket sales, food and beverages, sponsorships, and merchandise. Television rights and major sponsorships are centrally marketed, and the revenue is distributed equally among the teams.
Larger teams have access to more resources due to the support of major companies, while others are smaller and family-owned.
For some teams, sponsorships are the main source of income, followed by ticket sales, stadium concessions, TV rights, and merchandise.
There has been a growing interest from brands to have a presence in Mexican baseball, leading to an increase in the number of sponsors.
Stadium attendance is a significant source of revenue for many teams.
Major brands such as Comex, Caliente, and G500 are now official sponsors of the league.
Growth and investments
The Mexican Baseball League has experienced significant growth in recent years, with revenues increasing by nearly 700%.
In recent years, significant investments have been made in the modernization of stadiums in Mexico.
It is estimated that over 315,000 baseball team caps will be sold in Mexico in 2023, representing approximately 250 million pesos.
Challenges and potential
Compared to the United States, Mexican baseball still has a long way to go in terms of revenue and team value.
Mexican baseball faces significant challenges and needs to capitalize on global trends, such as the popularity of live events and the competition between streaming platforms and TV channels.
There are questions about how the impact of baseball in Mexico would change if it were a single organization, and whether the involvement of private equity funds could influence the sport.
Current conditions seem favorable for raising the profile of baseball in Mexico, especially after Mexico's participation in the World Baseball Classic.
