NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (NYSE: MSGS) today reported financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended September 30, 2024.  

Last month, the New York Knicks ("Knicks") and New York Rangers ("Rangers") began their 2024-25 regular seasons at the Madison Square Garden Arena. Recent Company operating highlights include:

• The combined average season ticket renewal rate for the Knicks and Rangers is approximately 97% for the 2024-25 seasons;
• The Company announced a new multi-year marketing partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi that includes naming 'Experience Abu Dhabi' as the Official Patch Partner of the New York Knicks;
• The Company also recently signed a new multi-year sponsorship deal with Lenovo and its subsidiary Motorola Mobility, as well as multi-year sponsorship renewals with Verizon and Benjamin Moore; and
• The suites business continues to benefit from strong renewals and new sales activity, including the event-level club space, which was introduced during the 2023-24 seasons and was recently expanded.

In the fiscal 2024 first quarter, the Company generated revenues of $53.3 million, an increase of $10.3 million, or 24%, as compared to the prior year period. In addition, the Company reported an operating loss of $8.3 million, an improvement of $6.6 million, or 44%, and an adjusted operating loss of $2.3 million, an improvement of $7.7 million, or 77%, both as compared to the prior year period.⁽¹⁾

Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. Executive Chairman and CEO James L. Dolan said, "The new fiscal year already includes several operational highlights across our key revenue categories, including in ticketing, sponsorships and suites. We look forward to continuing this momentum through the Knicks' and Rangers' seasons and remain confident that we are well-positioned to generate long-term shareholder value."

Financial Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023: 

Summary of Financial Results

For the fiscal 2025 first quarter, revenues of $53.3 million increased $10.3 million, or 24%, as compared to the prior year period. This increase primarily reflects higher revenues of $9.7 million due to an increase in certain league distributions unrelated to national media rights fees.

Direct operating expenses of $8.2 million increased $4.7 million as compared to the prior year period. This increase primarily reflects higher net provisions for league revenue sharing expense (net of escrow and excluding playoffs) and NBA luxury tax of $4.1 million due to the net impact of adjustments to prior seasons' revenue sharing expense (net of escrow).

Selling, general and administrative expenses of $52.6 million decreased $1.0 million, or 2%, as compared to the prior year period.

Operating loss of $8.3 million improved $6.6 million, or 44%, and adjusted operating loss of $2.3 million improved $7.7 million, or 77%, both as compared to the prior year period, primarily due to the increase in revenues and, to a lesser extent, lower selling, general and administrative expenses, partially offset by higher direct operating expenses.

About Madison Square Garden Sports Corp.

Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (MSG Sports) is a leading professional sports company, with a collection of assets that includes the New York Knicks (NBA) and the New York Rangers (NHL), as well as two development league teams – the Westchester Knicks (NBAGL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). MSG Sports also operates a professional sports team performance center – the MSG Training Center in Greenburgh, NY. More information is available at www.msgsports.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We define adjusted operating income (loss), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as operating income (loss) excluding (i) depreciation, amortization and impairments of property and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets, (ii) share-based compensation expense or benefit, (iii) restructuring charges or credits, (iv) gains or losses on sales or dispositions of businesses, (v) the impact of purchase accounting adjustments related to business acquisitions, and (vi) gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities under the Company's Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. Because it is based upon operating income (loss), adjusted operating income (loss) also excludes interest expense (including cash interest expense) and other non-operating income and expense items. We believe that the exclusion of share-based compensation expense or benefit allows investors to better track the performance of our business without regard to the settlement of an obligation that is not expected to be made in cash. In addition, we believe that the exclusion of gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities under the Company's Executive Deferred Compensation Plan provides investors with a clearer picture of the Company's operating performance given that, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities under the Company's Executive Deferred Compensation Plan are recognized in Operating (income) loss whereas gains and losses related to the remeasurement of the assets under the Company's Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, which are equal to and therefore fully offset the gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities, are recognized in Miscellaneous income (expense), net, which is not reflected in Operating income (loss).

We believe adjusted operating income (loss) is an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating performance of our Company. Adjusted operating income (loss) and similar measures with similar titles are common performance measures used by investors and analysts to analyze our performance. Internally, we use revenues and adjusted operating income (loss) as the most important indicators of our business performance, and evaluate management's effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators. Adjusted operating income (loss) should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for operating income (loss), net income (loss), cash flows from operating activities, and other measures of performance and/or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Since adjusted operating income (loss) is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, this measure may not be comparable to similar measures with similar titles used by other companies. For a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to adjusted operating income (loss), please see page 5 of this earnings release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results, developments and events may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including financial community and rating agency perceptions of the Company and its business, operations, financial condition and the industry in which it operates, and the factors described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections titled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained therein. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.  

Contacts:

Ari Danes, CFA

Investor Relations and Financial Communications

(212) 465-6072

Justin Blaber

Financial Communications

(212) 465-6109

Grace Kaminer

Investor Relations

(212) 631-5076

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

ADJUSTMENTS TO RECONCILE OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) TO

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

The following is a description of the adjustments to operating loss in arriving at adjusted operating loss as described in this earnings release:

• Depreciation and amortization. This adjustment eliminates depreciation, amortization and impairments of property and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets in all periods.
• Share-based compensation. This adjustment eliminates the compensation expense related to restricted stock units and stock options granted under the Company's employee stock plan and non-employee director plan in all periods.
• Remeasurement of deferred compensation plan liabilities. This adjustment eliminates the impact of gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities under the Company's executive deferred compensation plan.

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SOURCE Madison Square Garden Sports Corp.