Atlanta Braves Holdings, Inc. (“ABH”) (Nasdaq: BATRA, BATRK) today reported fourth quarter and year end 2023 results.

Headlines include⁽¹⁾:

• Total revenue grew 9% to $641 million in 2023
  • Baseball revenue up 9% to $582 million
  • Mixed-use development revenue up 10% to $59 million
• Mixed-use development generated $39 million of Adjusted OIBDA⁽²⁾ in 2023
• Extended Alex Anthopoulos as President of Baseball Operations and General Manager through 2031 season

“The Braves are a unique and valuable sports property with leading on-field and off-field business performance. Congrats to the team on capping off the 2023 season with their sixth consecutive NL East title and unprecedented player accolades,” said Greg Maffei, Chairman and CEO of ABH. “Strong on-field performance yielded robust revenue growth for the full year, and early indicators for the 2024 season show increased demand.”

“We are thrilled with both the team and financial performance at the Braves in 2023,” said Terry McGuirk, Chairman and CEO of Braves Holdings, LLC. “Our management continues to focus on optimizing the ballpark, with upgrades planned for 2024 to drive more commercial opportunities and an improved fan experience. Season tickets, including premium seats, are already sold out in anticipation of another exciting season. The Battery benefitted from increased foot traffic and strong sales across the development and we expect another strong year ahead.”

Corporate Updates

On July 18, 2023, Liberty Media Corporation (“Liberty Media”) completed the split-off of the Braves and its associated mixed-use development (the “Split-Off”) into the separate public company ABH. The businesses and assets at ABH consist of Braves Holdings, LLC, the owner and operator of the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball Club, and certain assets and liabilities associated with the Braves’ ballpark and mixed-use development, called The Battery Atlanta, which were previously attributed to the Braves Group tracking stock of Liberty Media. For purposes of this presentation, ABH standalone results, assets and liabilities represent the combination of the historical financial information of the Braves Group until the date of the Split-Off. Although ABH was reported as a combined company until the date of the Split-Off, it is now a consolidated company and all periods reported in this presentation are referred to as consolidated.

Discussion of Results

Baseball revenue is derived from two primary sources on an annual basis: (i) baseball event revenue (ticket sales, concessions, advertising sponsorships, suites and premium seat fees) and (ii) broadcasting revenue (national and local broadcast rights). Mixed-use development revenue is derived from the Battery Atlanta mixed-use facilities and primarily includes rental income.

The following table disaggregates revenue by segment and by source:

There were 83 and 3 home games (including postseason) played in the full year and fourth quarter of 2023, respectively, compared to 83 and 4 home games played in the comparable prior year periods.

Baseball revenue increased 9% for the full year. Baseball event and retail and licensing revenue grew primarily due to increased ticket demand and attendance at regular season home games. Baseball event revenue also increased due to new advertising sponsorships and contractual rate increases from existing sponsors. Broadcasting revenue increased due to contractual rate increases. Retail and licensing revenue also benefited from demand for City Connect apparel, partially offset by a reduction in demand for World Series Champions apparel compared to the prior season. Other revenue declined due to fewer concerts at the ballpark compared to the prior year period and a reduction in World Series trophy tour revenue, partially offset by higher spring training revenue with six additional spring training games compared to the prior year period and revenue from special events held at the ballpark. Baseball revenue decreased 7% in the fourth quarter primarily driven by fewer home games played, partially offset by stronger postseason revenue and more concerts held at the ballpark compared to the prior year period.

Mixed-use development revenue increased 10% for the full year and 4% in the fourth quarter due to increases in rental income related to tenant recoveries and various new lease agreements, as well as higher sponsorship revenue.

Operating income and Adjusted OIBDA decreased in the full year and fourth quarter. Baseball operating costs increased primarily due to higher player salaries, including offseason trade activity in the fourth quarter, as well as increases under MLB’s revenue sharing plan. These costs also increased for the full year due to higher minor league team and player expenses, variable concession and retail operating costs attributable to increased attendance and spring training related expenses. Selling, general and administrative expense increased in the full year primarily driven by costs related to the Split-Off and increased in the fourth quarter primarily driven by higher personnel costs.

FOOTNOTES

Important Notice: Atlanta Braves Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: BATRA, BATRK) will be available to answer questions on Liberty Media’s earnings conference call which will begin at 10:00 a.m. (E.T.) on February 28, 2024. The call can be accessed by dialing (877) 704-2829 or (215) 268-9864, passcode 13742815 at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. The call will also be broadcast live across the Internet and archived on our website. To access the webcast go to https://www.bravesholdings.com/investors/news-events/ir-calendar. Links to this press release will also be available on the ABH website.

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about business strategies, product and marketing strategies, future financial performance and prospects, expectations regarding the 2024 season and mixed-use development upgrades, and other matters that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including, without limitation, ABH’s historical financial information not being representative of its future financial position, results of operations, or cash flows, ABH’s ability to recognize anticipated benefits from the Split-Off, possible changes in the regulatory and competitive environment in which ABH operates (including an expansion of MLB), the unfavorable outcome of pending or future litigation, operational risks of ABH and its business affiliates, including operations outside of the U.S., ABH’s indebtedness and its ability to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms and cash in amounts sufficient to service debt and other financial obligations, tax matters, ABH’s ability to use net operating loss and disallowed business interest carryforwards, compliance with government regulations and potential adverse outcomes of regulatory proceedings, changes in the nature of key strategic relationships with broadcasters, partners, vendors and joint venturers, the impact of organized labor, the performance and management of the mixed-use development, disruptions in ABH’s information systems and information system security, ABH’s use and protection of personal data and the impact of inflation and weak economic conditions on consumer demand. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and ABH expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in ABH’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Please refer to the publicly filed documents of ABH, including the most recently filed Form 10-K, for additional information about ABH and about the risks and uncertainties related to ABH’s business which may affect the statements made in this press release.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES AND SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES

SCHEDULE 1: Reconciliation of Adjusted OIBDA to Operating Income (Loss)

To provide investors with additional information regarding our financial results, this press release includes a presentation of Adjusted OIBDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, for ABH together with reconciliations to operating income, as determined under GAAP. ABH defines Adjusted OIBDA as operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, separately reported litigation settlements, restructuring, acquisition and impairment charges.

ABH believes Adjusted OIBDA is an important indicator of the operational strength and performance of its businesses by identifying those items that are not directly a reflection of each business’ performance or indicative of ongoing business trends. In addition, this measure allows management to view operating results and perform analytical comparisons and benchmarking between businesses and identify strategies to improve performance. Because Adjusted OIBDA is used as a measure of operating performance, ABH views operating income as the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Adjusted OIBDA is not meant to replace or supersede operating income or any other GAAP measure, but rather to supplement such GAAP measures in order to present investors with the same information that ABH management considers in assessing the results of operations and performance of its assets.

The following table provides a reconciliation of Adjusted OIBDA for ABH to operating income (loss) calculated in accordance with GAAP for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2023.

SCHEDULE 2: Cash and Debt

The following presentation is provided to separately identify cash and debt information. ABH cash increased $18 million during the fourth quarter as net borrowing and cash from operations primarily due to working capital changes more than offset capital expenditures. ABH debt increased $14 million in the fourth quarter primarily due to borrowing on the mixed-use development term debt to support current capital projects.

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