5. Live sports
The suspension of sports leagues like the NBA, NHL, XFL and more due to the coronavirus situation have left a big question mark when we are talking about this industry. FiveThirtyEight estimates that, since about 21 percent of the NBA season remained when games were halted, the league stands to lose $350 million-$450 million from ticket sales alone if those games are not played–and that does not even include lost playoff revenues.
The league could also lose up to $200 million in non-ticket revenue, from sources like parking, concessions, merchandise, and more. Still, many NBA franchises–along with their owners and star players–have committed millions of dollars to ensure that arena staff hourly workers are paid during the pandemic. There are an estimated 300 staff workers in a 20,000-seat arena, like those that host NBA games.
The NHL does not make as much as the NBA but could lose a big share of its expected yearly revenue. Because the league does not draw as many TV viewers, it actually relies more heavily on ticket sales. The MLB could be affected too, as it will not begin games until mid-May, at the earliest.
