The Los Angeles Dodgers don't need Shohei Ohtani, with his new 10-year, $700 million (deferred) contract, to help them sell tickets. They’ve been the leader in filling up stadiums in Major League Baseball for a decade. And they certainly don't need him to sell their local television rights. They're a decade into a 25-year contract that pays $334 million per year (more than enough to cover the 2024 payroll). They don't even need Ohtani to help them be competitive (though he'll certainly help). They've been to the playoffs for 11 straight years and won the World Series in 2020.

But amidst these successes, the Dodgers face a chronic, long-term problem: MLB and other American sports leagues are struggling to attract new fans at home. So, to make up for the shortfall, they're turning to international markets to build audience and revenue. But to be successful, they don't simply need a great sport and broadcast. They need transcendent athletes from the markets and regions they're trying to attract. Shohei Ohtani is that athlete.

QOSHE - Shohei Ohtani Can Be More Valuable to MLB Than an American - Adam Minter
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Shohei Ohtani Can Be More Valuable to MLB Than an American

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16.12.2023

The Los Angeles Dodgers don't need Shohei Ohtani, with his new 10-year, $700 million (deferred) contract, to help them sell tickets. They’ve been the leader in filling up stadiums in Major League Baseball for a decade. And they certainly don't need him........

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