Playoff-related revenues increased $71.8 million, primarily due to the Rangers and the Knicks playing additional playoff games at The Garden in the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter, as well as higher average per-game revenues in the current year period.

Regular season ticket-related revenues increased $14.4 million as compared to the prior year period, primarily due to the Rangers and the Knicks playing more regular season home games at The Garden during the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter and, to a lesser extent, higher average per-game revenue.

Suite revenues increased $5.9 million as compared to the prior year period, primarily due to the Rangers and the Knicks playing more regular season home games at The Garden during the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter and, to a lesser extent, higher net sales of suite products, including revenue related to new premium hospitality offerings which were made available at the start of the 2023-24 seasons.

Sponsorship and signage revenues increased $3.5 million as compared to the prior year period, primarily due to the Rangers and the Knicks playing more regular season games at The Garden during the current year period.

Revenues from league distributions increased $3.2 million as compared to the prior year period, primarily due to a non-recurring territorial fee from the NHL in the current year period, partially offset by the timing of recognition of certain other league distributions in the prior year period.

Direct operating expenses of $107.7 million increased $27.4 million, or 34%, as compared to the prior year period. Playoff-related expenses increased $27.6 million, as compared to the prior year period, primarily due to additional home playoff games. Other team operating expenses increased $6.1 million and arena operating lease costs increased $2.8 million, both as compared to the prior year period, primarily due to the Rangers and the Knicks playing more regular season games at The Garden during the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter. These increases were partially offset by a $6.0 million decrease in net provisions for certain team personnel transactions as compared to the prior year period. In addition, net provisions for league revenue sharing expense (net of escrow and excluding the playoffs) and NBA luxury tax decreased $4.2 million as compared to the prior year period.

Selling, general and administrative expenses of $66.4 million increased $8.5 million, or 15%, as compared to the prior year period. This increase primarily reflects higher playoff-related expenses of $2.7 million, higher employee compensation and related benefits of $2.7 million and higher operating lease costs of $2.3 million.

Operating income of $52.3 million increased $64.5 million and adjusted operating income of $56.5 million increased $64.3 million, both as compared to the prior year period, primarily due to the increase in revenues, partially offset by higher direct operating expenses and, to a lesser extent, higher selling, general and administrative 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
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, the Company amended its definition of adjusted operating income (loss) so that the impact of the non-cash portion of operating lease costs related to the Company's arena license agreements with MSG Entertainment is no longer excluded in the calculation of adjusted operating income (loss) in all periods presented.

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. 

 

Conference Call Information:
The conference call will be Webcast live today at 10:00 a.m. ET at investor.msgsports.com
Conference call dial-in number is 888-660-6386 / Conference ID Number 6996895
Conference call replay number is 800-770-2030 / Conference ID Number 6996895 until August 20, 2024

 

 

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 income (loss) to arrive at adjusted operating income (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, performance 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.