Cincinnati Reds President and Chief Operating Officer Phil Castellini was on the radio this morning for (home) Opening Day festivities with Mo Egger and Scott Sloan on 700 WLW (the full segment can be found here). The Reds have seemingly been on an all out public relations blitz with three different articles showing up on the Cincinnati Enquirer’s website in the last three days praising ownership for not selling the team and or trying to make it seem as if they can’t afford to compete by sharing graphs and charts with plenty of incomplete data that no author even put their name on, merely having the article by “The Enquirer”.
Mo Egger presented this question to Phil Castellini: Sloaney (co-host of this segment Scott Sloan) asked you about the quote ‘Show a little faith in us’, right? And I saw you got raked through the coals. And you have people saying faith is earned, 15 years of ownership and they haven’t won to the extent we like and so you had my faith, but you’ve lost it. Why should that fan maintain trust in you?
You can listen to this specific portion of the interview at the link above at the 10-minute mark.
Here is Phil Castellini’s answer to “why should the fans maintain trust in you?”:
“Well where are you gonna go? Let’s start there. Sell the team to who? That’s the other thing – you want to have this debate? If you want to look at what would you do with this team to have it be more profitable, make more money, compete more in the current economic system that this game exists – it would be to pick it up and move it somewhere else. And so be careful what you ask for. I think we’re doing the best we can do with the resources that we have. We’re no more pleased with the results than the fans. I’m not sitting here saying anyone should be happy. I’m not polishing trophies in the office right now and that’s what we’re here to do. But you know, the bottom line is, and I do think we’ve had to shift the discipline. We’ve tried a lot of things that didn’t work. They came this close to working and they didn’t. Nobody’s got to tell me it didn’t work. I think we’ve learned from those things. And trust me, Nick is a guy on a mission. He is a bull in a China shop that has his way to do it and that way’s to grow your own and he’s doing just that.”
The first words to why fans should trust you is where are you going to go? Then the talk is about profits and making more money before how you compete? But then you talk about how to do that you need to move the team somewhere else because the current economic system is set up against you, and if you sold someone else could take the team to another city?
Whew. That was, uh, something. Let’s break down a few things that Phil Castellini said.
Where are the fans going to go? Well, he’s got us there. Thanks to Major League Baseball’s Anti-Trust exemption another team can’t just open up shop in Cincinnati. If you want to actually go to a game in person in Cincinnati, you’re out of luck and stuck with the Reds. Of course where else can the fans go has an endless amount of answers. They don’t have to go to another baseball game. They could just spend their time and money on something else. And plenty of them have.
As for who the current ownership group could sell to…. let’s find out. There are plenty of people out there who want to own a professional sports team. Of course you’ve said your family/group isn’t planning on selling, so this is a little bit pointless.
Let’s talk about this economic system real quick…. only the Atlanta Braves have open books, so we don’t know the actual economics of the Cincinnati Reds. There are two things we can do: Take your word for it, which seems like a questionable thing to do because you are clearly very biased in what you will say publicly about the finances, or we can look at the sourced information from a place like Forbes.
From 2016-2022 the estimated revenue for the Reds has been between $237M and $266M (not including the covid year). The San Diego Padres have been between $244M and $299M (not including the covid year). That seems to put the two teams in a similar “economic environment”. Yet the Reds went out and shed payroll this year while the Padres have the 5th highest payroll in baseball this season. It certainly seems that other teams have figured it out, Phil. And yeah, the Padres also lost a bunch of money due to the covid year, too – 50% more than the Reds did according to the numbers sourced by Forbes.
As for the threat of be careful what you ask for because someone else might buy the team and move it….. come on, stop it with this boogeyman that every professional sports franchise tries to lay on the fans. In the last 50 years one team in Major League Baseball has been relocated – the Montreal Expos. That’s it. Fifty whole years. One team. And that ignores that the Reds have a lease with Hamilton County through 2037. That’s 15 more seasons before the “new owner” could even THINK about moving the team.
But we’ll be fair and give it to Phil Castellini, even if he says we don’t need to tell him – he was 100% right that they have tried a lot of things that didn’t work.
Happy (home) Opening Day, everyone!
Updated at 9:25pm ET
Brandon Saho of WLWT in Cincinnati asked Phil Castellini about his words on the radio earlier today, still prior to the game, and he had this to say.
Before Opening Day, WLWT's Brandon Saho asked Reds President and COO Phil Castellini about his message to the fans after his comments during an earlier radio interview. Here’s his response:
More >> https://t.co/Gpu3SZufX0 pic.twitter.com/0GpQJw2MjV
— WLWT (@WLWT) April 12, 2022
Nearly seven hours later the Reds and Phil Castellini released the following statement, and we’ll let you take it for what you will along with all of the other things that he said today:
“I apologize to Reds fans and regret the comments that I made earlier today. We love this city, we love this team, and we love our fans. I understand how our fans feel and I am sorry.”
If Dick Williams and his family’s money have been lying in wait to attempt a palace putsch I’d say the time is at hand.
Translation of what Phil Castellini said: “Our family is willingly taking on the immense financial hardships that come with owning and operating this historic team in this market because we don’t believe anyone else will do so here. We are making these sacrifices on behalf of the community, because we believe if we were to sell, this team would certainly be moved by new owners. We are being treated and characterized very unfairly.”
just to be fair, I listened to the recorded feed on WLW. All I can say is either Phil had been drinking or he is one dumb son. Even if you think all of what he said you never actually let those words come out of your mouth unless you are lit. I expect a huge apology coming out from ownership this week. What a buffoon!
They absolutely could sell the team and the new owner would likely be ok keeping it in Cincinnati. Lots of sports franchises are bought from investors from out of the area and keep it in its historical area. Of the lessor franchises, Brewers, Pirates, Diamondbacks, Guardians, Mariners, Marlins, Padres, and Royals were all kept in their historical areas.
Well said!
At least we know where Krall gets the dumb things he says from. smh
Doug , the last half of your article was the best piece of sports writing I’ve read in past 5 years Just brilliant sir thank you!
Why, because it served as confirmation bias for what you believe, or because you don’t read much? Doug has proved many times on these pages that economics is not a particularly strong suit of his.
My strong suit is made of kevlar, Doc.
And until the Reds open their books to show us, instead of just expecting us to believe what they tell us when it flies in the face of well sourced material that suggests otherwise, not a single thing has been “proven” that I don’t know much about economics.
Well Doc, can you counter Doug’s arguments with facts or simply more ad hominem attacks? The small market argument is weak at best. Let’s have MLB open the books and show us the reality. Let’s start with the anti-trust exemption. Follow that by the federal tax treatment, i.e., contracts as depreciable assets. How about revenue sharing? How about those large media contracts signed during the lockout? Regional media contracts? Reds-branded merchandise? Does Phil make Bob look sympathetic? Probably. In another year or two, we can be screaming sell the team Phil. Bottom line, too much nepotism. And attacking fans is the ultimate indication that the ownership is clueless.
Why would you attack Doug? What proof do you have that economics is not a strong suit of his?
While opening the books would reveal exactly what the Reds earn or lose in a given season, the Forbes data pretty clearly shows the Reds operate at or near breakeven annually. More importantly, it’s crystal clear that the Reds and other similar size market teams operate with significantly less financial resources than most other teams. The fact that the Reds are at a structural disadvantage to the majority of MLB teams really isn’t in question. MLB’s business model/CBA doesn’t help the Reds, but setting that aside for a minute:
Phil C’s statement was tone deaf. First, I agree, this team is going nowhere anytime soon–I simply don’t see relocation as a near-term threat for all of the reasons you laid out.
Second, as for other options … if you are a cord-cutter (or simply don’t have cable), it’s actually easier to follow an out of market team.
Third, they’ve tried a lot of things that didn’t work. Other small market teams have been successful w/out losing money. Sounds like the CEO isn’t doing a very good job and perhaps should be replaced.
I’m hesitant to attach too much significance to Forbes estimates. While their method may be consistently applied, they are estimates based on inferences that may or may not be accurate.
@LDS, they are estimates, but this is what Forbes does. I’ve never seen anyone question their methodology the MLB or any other sports and their franchise valuations have been in the ballpark for all recent sales.
That said, it really doesn’t take a trained analyst to look at underlying team values and see that a team like Yankees, for example, that is worth five time what the Reds are worth is netting a LOT more money on an annual basis.
Economics isn’t a strong suit of the Castellini’s if they struggle to make money in a total monopoly with an ever decreasing threshold for getting playoff money, a tax payer funded stadium and a plethora of tv deals.
So I’m confused. “Open the books”? Attendance numbers are available. This team has not been out of the lower half of the NL since 1995. Spending the majority of that time in the bottom 3rd of attendance. And we expect the team to spend more?
I worked security for this team from 2008-2015. Some pretty competitive years & still attendance was in the lower 3rd. If the people of this city want this team to spend more money then the people need to start showing up to the games. As long as this team is supported like a lower 3rd team it will continue to operate like one.
Also comparing the Padres is very deceiving. The Reds have significantly out spent them over the last 20yrs. The Padres have broke the hundred million mark 4 times, 3 of them being the last 3yrs. Meanwhile the Reds have done so 7 times. The Padres have had numerous years under 50 million.
Ticket sales are less than 30% of revenue for MLB teams. Also, starting in 2022 every MLB team will receive a guaranteed $60.1 million via national TV deals (averaging out the money from the life of those deals). Likely every local tv deal averages >$40m per year. So, every single team is getting $100m+ guaranteed before selling a ticket. Not to mention all the other advertising deals etc.
This team’s management is in this for the almighty dollar not because they love the team as they stated when they purchased the Reds. Have made the playoffs 4 times in roughly 15 years…… inept management and not one person could argue this fact.
Be that as it may. It is a business. Why would any business spend more money than they bring in? Again if the team is going to be supported like a bottom barrel team, then expect them to spend like one.
And in those 15yrs how many times have the Padres made the playoffs?
Also, if every team gets a 100 million, then the Reds are in the exact same spot. That is where attendance & merchandise come in to play.
@BK, I worked for a very large privately held company for more than a decade. We always found the financial press opinions of the financial state of the company hilarious. They were analytically feasible and totally off the mark. Is Forbes right? Who knows. Is Castellini being honest? Unlikely. Could the Reds spend more and still be profitable? Probably.
@LDS, these are all assumptions based off of your feelings. That is not the way the real world works. So a Forbes article gives information & your response is to say Castellini is lying?
@LDS, the difference here is that the Forbes data actually supports what Mr. Bob Castellini has publicly stated for years–the team operates on a breakeven basis. Moreover, MLB is a game where the teams compete for players with drastically uneven resources. Six teams have about twice the revenue of the Reds and that delta on resources translates to discretionary spending capability for them when compared to the Reds and other similarly sized market teams. Those differences absolutely matter and put the Reds at a real, not imaginary disadvantage.
We also know what the Reds spend on payroll and their spending has consistently outpaced their market size. The Reds problem has not been a spending problem (at least not one they have a lot of control over). There problem is an inability to stick with a strategy, particularly one that fits their market size.
Wow-doesn’t sound like little Phil is interested in building the fan base
What a peach. Bumbling Bob is the apple of my eye. Orange you glad he’s still in charge and hasn’t given the team away? And to think we actually had no reason for sour grapes.
its fruitless?
Baseball needs a salary floor…and yes…a cap too. It’s a shame that fans in small market cities like Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Kansas City have to deal with consistent losing and small windows of opportunity. Where as, teams in big markets like LA, NY, Boston have fairly consistent winning with small windows of losing.
Fans get really tired of hearing about market size, payroll, and resources. A salary floor needs to be the simple price of admission to owning a MLB team. The fans and the sport deserve better.
I am not smart enough to know what the answer is but the current system isn’t working. MLB is in danger of becoming a regional sport regulated to costal cities and a few other selected large markets (Chicago, St.Louis etc.). You would think the owners would recognize this as a problem.
It’s not the owners keeping baseball from going to a salary cap/floor structure. The players simply won’t go for it. At all.
I think part of the answer is to quit allowing people like Phil (Fredo) Castellini to blame “the current system” as an excuse. First of all, it is the same system that was in place in 2006. Second, it’s a system that allows you to keep 90% of the players you develop under team control for the primes of their careers. MLB salaries have went DOWN the last 3 years due to owners realizing that most players peak at 27-28, so it’s dumb to sign them to big deals after you lose team control. The “current system” also allows you to have the top two rookies in the the NL last year on Minimum deals for two years, as well as the best RHP prospect on the Minimum for 3. We ain’t buying it Fredo. #SelltheTeamBob
So it is the fan’s fault for being pessimistic after the Castellinis have been running the show for the last 16 years with nothing successful to show for it? Fine. If the Reds do manage to be successful though, then the Reds fans don’t need, nor should they want, any accolades about our support from Reds management. If you don’t show empathy during this prolonged downturn and instead sell us out with childish threats, then I darn sure don’t want to hear a peep out of these disconnected clowns when and if success does arrive. Phil’s immature gibberish only goes to further illustrate that we are all clearly not on the same team.
Salary cap and floor is not really the problem imo, it’s the lack of revenue sharing. MLB needs more of its TVdeals to be league-wide with equal sharing. The NFL works in all market sizes, but MLB struggles. The Reds were right in the middle last year, paying half what the Dodgers spent, and decided it was too much. Then the league went and increased the luxury cap! For starters, MLB teams need to buy back the rights to Sunday game broadcasts, then offer a league-wide Sunday package to the big 4 networks to get all home-market games over the air at least that one day every week. And the owners need to work together to stop these 15 year RSN deals, they exacerbate payroll disparity and have really hurt MLB’s ability to transition from cable to streaming. (And the irony is , MLB was a pioneer in streaming tech! I’m probably most mad about that… instead of using their BAM advantage to lead pro sports into streaming age, they just sold the rights.)
Your are correct on revenue sharing being a key culprit. However not sure this ownership team has had a clue in running a major league organization the last 15 years.
Let’s roll the dice and find out.
Just an observation on the comment “where ya gonna go?”. I grew up in Ohio and have been a long time Reds fan. I moved from Ohio many years ago but still remain a loyal fan of the Reds. I suppose there are a lot of fans in my situation. The point is I don’t live in Ohio and near Cincinnati anymore. It would be very easy for me to switch allegiances to another team. Where am I gonna go? To Truist Park Phil and cheer for the Braves. They get better coverage down here. They have much much better management and they field a competitive team every year. They don’t make the dumb mistakes the Reds do. If they have a hole on the team they address that need with a solid aquistion, not bandaids, duct tape, and baling wire. So Phil, I would not be quite so arrogant and flippant with that attitude that you have all your fanbase stuck with you, with your management style of come hell and high water.
If the team moved, I am sure Cincinnati would land a minor league franchise. I mean, I would hate to see the city to lose the Reds, but you are right, there are other entertainment options.
This is Phil’s “Let them eat cake” moment. I can’t think of anything that will tick off this fan base more.
He must be a joy to work for.
There is a AA team here. I go see the Lookouts every year when they come to town. It is a nice outing at a brand new great ballpark (Toyota Field in Madison, AL). It isn’t MLB but it is fun.
Success is never owned, its rented and the rent is due every day. There’s been some lapses in paying the rent from this ownership group. Perhaps Krall can change organizational roster construction in a more consistent way that truly builds around drafting developing and acquiring young talent and sustain that.
I have only heard Phil talk 2 or 3 times, but his arrogance is very similar to his father, he just speaks a little faster. These men, along with probably most of the other owners, are there to hold a “trophy” asset while also knowing they won’t be subject to a capital call or any other calamity faced by businesses that don’t have the anti-trust exemption. Should we trust him? Of course it doesn’t matter as the author (and Phil) have already stated.
I listened to the whole thing. Besides everything else, he also was very clear that Nick Krall is a figurehead. Directly quoted “We have Nick on a strict disciplined strategy to grow our own” He praised Krall for “getting creative”. It seems obvious by now that Dick Williams stepped down because ownership decided they were going to take control of the baseball decisions. Phil just decided to confirm what we already knew.
Good news: I think what they have been doing is going to work. I have been critical myself, but I am going to pause the criticism. Why? The young pitchers are impressing me. I have to give someone in the Reds organization some credit for this.
If the question is “where are you going to go to find a new owner?” That’s a legit question.
Any new owner will likely want to turn a profit. And they will not turn a profit and be competitive in Cincinnati. They might turn a profit and be competitive in Vegas.
I’m not sure I’d say what Phil said out loud. But, based off the data we have, I’m not sure he’s wrong about the economics.
I will agree with Doug – the best things the Red could do it open the books. If current ownership group is breaking even and not taking shareholder distributions, then let’s see the books.
I have the following reactions and thoughts about the interview (not the individual): Castellini’s response is arrogant, tone-deaf, immature, condescending and aggressive. It is PR malpractice and I surmise he knows that his comments were inadvisable and doesn’t care. You know what? We do have choices and you won’t be seeing me at a Reds game anytime soon, Mr. Castellini.
If I was a PR firm hired by the Castellinis to improve public perception of the team, I would advise them that under no circumstances should they agree to be interviewed by any media. The pre-scripted ones aren’t well-received, and the candid ones allow the owners to say inflammatory things without thinking them through first.
I am not in favor of this, by the way. I believe that it’s important to know all we can about the people in positions of power. But a sharp PR firm would tell them, never say yes to an interview ever again.
+5,000
Both bob and now Phil went back on live to Bill Cunningham show to clean up comments
PC said best fans and baseball town in the world and the Reds arent going anywhere and a pep rally speech
Embedded in this is an audio clip to hear the actual quotes.
https://twitter.com/CBSSportsMLB
Phil needs to not give interviews.
Ineptitude. This is what happens when the ownership and the GM fail to have public relations ability or skill. Or, when you rely on your broadcast team to do your PR for you as opposed their jobs.
If you can’t prepare well for an interview, why should we be excited about you running our team?
“Well where are you gonna go? Let’s start there. Sell the team to who? That’s the other thing – you want to have this debate? If you want to look at what would you do with this team to have it be more profitable, make more money, compete more in the current economic system that this game exists – it would be to pick it up and move it somewhere else. And so be careful what you ask for.” – Phil Castellini
So, the managing ownership of the team is basically calling the fans “fairweather fans”. I have been following the Reds pretty consistently since 1970. Although lately, my interest is falling off. And for the life of me, I don’t understand why?!!!
Here’s something, Phil, that maybe you ought to try. Look at “small market” teams that have had some success (hint, the Tampa Bay Rays) and try and study why they have cyclical success. And here’s another thing; hire people to run the team that are actually baseball professionals. I know that “everybody knows all about baseball”, but then again, since the farm system that was built up BEFORE the Castellini’s arrived as managing partners has been run out, this team has been….pretty lousy.
Think about buying a successful tool and die shop, and then hiring your best golf buddy to run it, who knows nothing about making machine tools, but he’s a smart guy and buys a new Cadillac every year.
That should do it.
I cannot imagine the late Bob Howsam, who built up the Big Red Machine team, talking to the Media like this. Bob was a very smart man, but also very humble and soft spoken.
And yes, I CAN imagine the Reds’ moving away, and perhaps the Commissioner’s Office WANTING that to happen. I think there are several franchises in “small markets” (Pittsburgh, Kansas City to name two) that are not doing well, and for “the good of baseball”, the Commissioner might want them to move to Mexico City, Monterrey (Mexico), San Antonio, Jacksonville (FL), or some other large market city that does not have a baseball franchise.
And the Castellini’s would love to get their share of the $1.5 Billion selling price.
Keep the pressure on these a-holes.
The abject arrogance in his statements is appalling. He shows he cares nothing about the game, the fans, or ultimately the most storied franchise in MLB. I, like the rest of you, am powerless to have my voice heard in any tangible way. All I can do is NOT plan a trip to see the Reds this season and spend my money elsewhere. That’s a drop in the bucket and, for what little it does, only reinforces the arrogance Phil demonstrated so clearly.
Sell it. There are plenty who would buy it and they have to keep it in Cincy for now. don’t threaten us with your garbage rhetoric. We’re tired of the intentional mediocrity.
Enough said. Let’s play some ball and knock down a Guardian or two today.
100%
Arrogance and a lack of leadership.
The following Reds owners have been successful in my lifetime (born 1951).
Bill DeWitt (1961 NL Pennant).
Francis Dale and Louis Nippert (Big Red Machine in 1970s). Two WS championships. Four NL pennants.
Marge Schott (WS champions in 1990).
Dat’s all. In 70 years. Four successful owners.
Old timer you and I are the same age. The Reds were once a great franchise. Then Dick Wagner came along and the successes have been few since then,
Well, Dick Wagner and the end of the reserve clause, if memory serves.
I confess, I have had the “be careful what you wish for” thought regarding Reds owenership myself. Live in Cleveland, and if you want to see what really cheap ownership looks like, the Indian… rrr, Guardians were at $30 million this year before the recent extensions, and that was also with a team that was close to contending at points over the last couple seasons. I think an argument can be made that the Reds spent poorly on Mousakas et al. rather than not spending at all like the way teams like the Indian.. rrr, Guardians, Pirates and Orioles have done in recent years.
Alhough the better argument probably is that the whole system is broken.
Local Cincinnati media have picked up on the story. It will be interesting to learn in the coming days who, if anyone, has their media passes revoked. I have seen both an Enquirer.com and WLWT.com post about it.
I have never heard such obtuse comments from the upper level of Red’s management going back to the days when Red’s political news basically came from the sports page of the Enquirer or Post. The Castellini’s will be bought out within the next year, the Cincinnati business community will see to that, and Dick Williams will return as the Red’s CEO.
Where you going to go? Not to a reds game that is for sure, not until Bob sells the team.
Mega dittos! Mr. Executive genius Phil showed his true colors.
Doug, you hit this one out of the park. I love your San Diego comparison not to mention the lease agreement. This is the same group that tried to silence Hal McCoy when he dared criticize the Red’s front office. That Phil Castellini interview was laced with veiled threats from start to finish in the same vein as the McCoy incident.
You guys will love this…. I wore my “Sell the Team, Bob” tee shirt to Goodyear and sat one row behind Bob to shove it down his throat. Check it out on my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/charles.levan.7146/
Do you realize that the Reds have drastically outspent the Padres over the last 20yrs.
“Where are the fans going to go? Well, he’s got us there.”
Not me. He doesn’t got me. I’m a Cincinnati ex-pat living in NYC. I’m a multi-generational Reds fan raising 2 more who have NEVER lived in Cincy. I feel aggressively loyal to this club, but there are two of them down the street that compete Every. Single. Year. And the 7 train is a lot cheaper than a flight into CVG.
Maybe Bob should be careful what HE asks for.
*Phil
Great article. Yeah, this lifelong fan has split from the Reds and will not be watching much MLB these days. So, my response to Phil C. is “I don’t believe you. And if you really can’t be successful in this environment, then maybe the team SHOULD be moved. Baseball is only going to exist as a niche game on the highest pro level if the economics aren’t fixed. And fewer and fewer of the Reds fan base are willing to deal with the continued poor product on the field.” Half tempted to email those sentiments. I could probably guess at his email addy.
They’re roasting him on CBSsports.com too. Hope they all pile on.
My goodness, as Barry Larkin would say.
The Castellani’s don’t get out much, do they? Are they unaware that this bumble fest of an off-season was observed widely by the national baseball press, not just a few fans in the Cincinnati area? And that the national press collectively shook their heads at the organization? And that they expressed was empathy for Reds fans in that shaking of heads? My Goodness!!
Of note: The team’s performance against the World Champions, capped by the debut of one Hunter Greene, SHOULD have lead to a feel-good home opening. But no, dear Phil has to smear the fans. And make no mistake: Phil Castellini SMEARED the fans on the Home Opener. Nice job. Clown car material.
I think the Major League Agreement (between the owners) precludes owners from “opening the books” for their franchise, except where required by securities laws.
The Braves have to do so under federal law.
I would believe that prospective buyers would be able to see a club’s audited financial statements.
Potential buyers should be able to review audited financial statements as part of their due diligence for any prospective purchase of the ballclub.
Of course, but they also would (as in any similar transaction) need to sign a strict non-disclosure agreement.
ownership said clearly the way to do it in this market is to “grow your own”……If i am not mistaken, was not Jessie Winker a homegrown product? Where is he now?
Exactly. That was the biggest mistake of all, letting him go. What a bunch of rich ))&*%$#**&^$(substitute your word of choice)
These teams did not lose money. They received PPP Loans and they were forgiven if their payroll coming out of COVID was at least as high a before COVID took hold. They made money tax-free.
Owners that worry about the extent of their profit are the problem in MLB. They should have more money than their family tree could ever spend to even qualify to own a team. It should be a sacrifice to the City to set aside profits for winning the City a championship. You can then sell the team at a huge profit if that is all you care about.
I respect any fan, manager, coach, player or owner that is part of the Reds, but don’t hint about moving the oldest team in MLB history.
Per federalpay.org the Red’s Community Fund and the Red’s Museum received PPP loans. I found no record of the team receiving PPP funds in the database.
https://www.federalpay.org/paycheck-protection-program
Sell the team and move them. but sell the team. Nashville will welcome them.
Well owner of the reds we can stop watching, supporting, or going to reds games.
Already been said, but what a arrogant individual.. Also, thank you Doug for the comparison.
Also like has been mentioned. I don’t believe in the whole “small market” excuse
there’s enough reds fans out there that we could all put in money and buy this team I’ll put in $100 for a .01% share of this team
The Green Bay Packers are owned by the public. My children and I are shareholders of the Packers.
I live in Wisconsin and am aware of the unique ownership structure of the Packers. Do you have any voting rights on any business matters?
Not directly. We vote for the Board of Director members. They appoint the President (Mark Murphy at present). We can attend the annual shareholder meetings at Lambeau.
Board members seem to listen to what the fans/owners have to say; and, of course everyone’s favorite diva: Aaron Rodgers.
“Well where would you go”? I’ll tell you Phil. I won’t go to Reds games. Not with that kind of attitude. So should I be grateful you won’t move the team? Is that it? Just so you know Phil your trades before the start of the season are mentioned in an article at ESPN. It’s an article about the new labor agreement not preventing teams from tanking as hoped. Also some of the players you traded basically said it’s a shame Reds fans have to put up with moves like you made. I’m sure you won’t read this Phil and it wouldn’t matter if you did. You don’t care about the fans including ones like me who have given up. So where else will I go? Not GABP. I’m not giving you one dime.
Hmm seems like the Castellini’s didn’t like that billboard. Lol and I disagree about small market teams. You can make money here. Put a legitimate product on the field and people will come to the stadium. When there is 10,000 at a game, it seems like people are going somewhere else Phil.
Phil, the oldest franchise in baseball isn’t being moved. You are just the current stewards of the team. At least Carl Linder understood that. Also the market is fine, it’s the product you have put out there that isn’t. If you actually build a winning team, you will gain more revenue with increases in tickets and concessions. Phil I know you’re not going to read this, and Doug would delete it if I told you where you could go, so I just leave off the ending that should be here.
Don’t you troglodytes understand how lucky you are to be graced with the presence of the castillini trust fund baby clown car? Don’t you get that they lower themselves to own your team? You aren’t business ppl. You don’t get how hard it is to make money when you have a stadium provided for free by tax payers, a business that is a total monopoly, tv contracts that far exceed what you actually deserve and delicious revenue sharing. It’s so difficult.
Great comment, and so very true
“Ah, nice team you got there …. it’d be a shame to see somethin’ happen to it.”
Phil you are a spoiled Brat. We have been waiting for championship baseball for a long time, Do use all a favor and sell the team to someone who wants to win. I will not spend a dime on a team who looks like the Pirates. Congratulations you have put your foot in your mouth. It’s going to be a long summer
I have went to the reds caravan for many years now and talked to both Big Bob and little phil, and can tell you that it exactly how little phil talks to everyone. You may not likes what Big Bob said but he didn’t belittle you. Little phil seams to get his rocks off doing just that. Every question he would answer with “do you know how much that costs”? or “we can’t afford that at as small market”. And he would say it in a “I am the king” voice. Most people just stopped talking to him. After that I knew that the Reds were in trouble when he was put in charge and its been downhill since.
This individual just demonstrated why and how the Reds have ended up where they have been for 16 years and are currently. Phil C. is just a joke who would not be in any management position with a professional sports team without daddy. An arrogant doof like this eventually gets fired by successful organizations. Now’s the time! BTW, I have followed the Reds since 1956. Sad to see my team led by people like this – what a way to ruin Opening Day!
PC’s tone-deafness is absolutely galling. There are a hundred ways he could have addressed the questions from interviewers while defending the FO’s actions, and instead he chose animosity and annoyance over negative fan reactions. What an absolute maroon.
Family friendly rules on this blog can be tough sometimes.
What was particularly revealing about his comment is that it was unfiltered. When Mo Egger pushed him on why he felt the fans should have faith in them, he just said what he believes. There was no pause to give some thought as to what might be the PR-appropriate answer. IMO, it was the response of someone who is burdened by his marriage to balance sheets and angered by the public’s lack of caring and understanding of just how difficult the past two years have been financially.
If he is threatening the moving of the Reds as a defense, the question is, “where would they move to?”
The top 26 media markets all have a team, and the Reds are 36, so there are some options.
#17 Orlando 1.7M
Miami & Tampa have shown baseball doesn’t draw in Florida. As big as Orlando is, a move there would be no better than the perpetual sell-mode Marlins.
#20 Sacramento 1.3M
Like the Florida teams, the Kings finished 29th of 30 NBA teams in attendance. The previous year they had fans, they finished 27th in attendance. Perhaps the math of added tv $ trumps the loss of $ at the gate and from merch, but probably not enough to make such a drastic move?
#21 Portland 1.3M
A move here would depend on the owner’s politics, as Portland is known as an incredibly liberal city. It would depend on how comfortable they are with the politics/culture supporting a team.
#22 Charlotte 1.3M
#24 Raleigh / Durham 1.2M
North Carolina would be a real possibility. It’s an untapped MLB market, and 2 of the top 25 media markets are within the state.
#25 Indianapolis 1.2M
#29 Nashville 1.1M
#33 Columbus 1.0M
These all kind of go together. C’bus & Indy are within 1 1/2 hr of Cincy, while Nashville is a long day trip (like going to Chicago). All driveable, and would have an small Reds base already in place, as Nashville used to have the Reds’ AAA affiliate, and the other 2 are fairly close. They are also likely close enough that the Reds could potentially keep the FoxSportsOhio deal for the Cincy are, and add an additional deal for their new location.
Anything else (Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Hartford, Greenville/Spartansburg) only provide marginal, at best, increases over the current market of Cincinnati, and therefore, don’t really make sense.
So I’d ponder a theoretical move would be to either N.Carolina or one of the larger markets near Cincy.
So there would be some options. Not a ton of options. But at least enough to try to scare Reds’ fans into submission.
Good analysis. You have 2 Florida teams that have worse attendance issues than Cincy. Another key item is Cincy if became a winner again it could be a regional draw for weekend travel from places like Columbus, WV and KY. However you have to have a winner and put a decent product on the field.
Good post! I’ll add Cincinnati is the best fit regionally as it can service Indianapolis, Columbus, and even Nashville. Also, I anticipate MLB will expand once Oakland’s and Tampa’s ballpark situations are resolved which will take out the two best available locations in theory. As I stated above, I don’t see the Reds moving in the next decade plus–this is a hollow threat.
Somewhere Mike Brown is shaking his head and having a good laugh. Thanks for showing your true colors snake oil Phil. Enjoy all those empty seats post Opening Day. Oh boooo-whoo, we’re a small market.
Sell the team Bob. And fire Phil while you’re at it.
Even if they want to operate at a lower budget they are so inept when it comes to sell because they constantly shift courses of when to compete and when they want to rebuild. They hold on for too long and have no clear strategy. Its just terrible all the way around
If they weren’t making a profit.
They would be looking to sell the team?
Some reality checks:
1) The only way to turn around a situation like this, as the Bengals demonstrated, is for the team to win. That’s all that fans truly want. Many are now singing Mike Brown’s praises. Who thought that would have ever been possible?
2) The Castellinis aren’t selling, and the team isn’t relocating.
3) The rub becomes that the owners have demonstrated that they really have no idea how to create a winning organization.
Well, as to #3, you could have said that about the Brown family, too, until they stumbled into Burrow.
The NFL has robust revenue sharing and a salary cap system. If your team stinks for multiple years in the NFL, then there is no question that the front office is to blame. The Cowboys, for example, have nobody to blame but Jerry Jones, and Jacksonville seems perennially hopeless.
Baseball teams have more widely varying revenue, and a team like the Reds needs to be very well-managed to excel on the field. Alas, the team is certainly not very well-managed, and it is squarely the Castellini family’s fault that it is not. I suppose that it is theoretically possible that Phil will turn it around, but I don’t see that he has the leadership skills needed to microwave a bowl of oatmeal.
Well said!
It’s really a shame. I got to know Dick Williams he was on the team I played on at Refs Fantasy camp. At another camp we actually did a little video inviting Phil Castellini to join the camp the following year. If he had, maybe he could see and appreciate where the fans are at. I know a lot of people claimed nepotism with Dick Williams, but he really new his stuff and truly cared about Redleg Nation.
I actually had a lot of faith in Dick Williams running the team. He got out because he saw the writing on the wall from Bob and Phil.
I bet the sell the team shirts are selling even better now that Phil opened his big mouth. I honestly don’t know if I can do it anymore until the team is sold. This ownership is simply a bunch of liars. Bring winning baseball back, Bah! Bring championship baseball back Bah. I have not seen this happen in most of the seasons that have been run by the Castellini family.
Not directly. We vote for the Board of Director members. They appoint the President (Mark Murphy at present). We can attend the annual shareholder meetings at Lambeau.
Board members seem to listen to what the fans/owners have to say; and, of course everyone’s favorite diva: Aaron Rodgers.
If the Reds were a New York based team the Castellini’s would not be able to B.S. the fans and get away with it. New York’s media and their fan base would have them figuratively tarred and feathered. Cincinnati’s media kneels at the feet of the Castellini’s.
The Castellini’s true colors have shown through with Phil Castellini’s comments.
I don’t think they are getting away with, they are being broadly thrashed across a number of outlets. Hopefully, the other owners have taken note that it’s time to change out the CEO and COO.
We can only hope!! and Hope is not a good strategy. Here is to Hope though.
“We understand how the fans feel, and I’m sorry.”
Castellini translation to English
“Waaaaaahhhhh…come on people…just be happy with what we give you! Being rich means the only thing left to do is get richer…how are we supposed to do that if we don’t play over half a team making the minimum or close to it?! Wahhhhhh!”