KBO League’s Boom: Crowds & Sales Hit All-Time Highs, Attracting Corporate Giants

1. KBO League: Crowds & Sales Breaking Records

Fans cheering for the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank Kia League Hanwha Kia Tigers and Doosan Bears at the Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

Korean Professional Baseball (KBO) league is grinning from ear to ear – both from enthusiastic spectators and robust earnings. Last year, it welcomed 10,887,705 fans, surpassing the previous record of 8,406,888 in 2017. Notably, 221 games (30.7% of 720 games) were sold out, with Hanwha Eagles leading the pack, selling out more than half of their 66.2% capacity. A team official attributes this success to the introduction of the automatic pitching judgment system (ABS) and increased recognition of ‘good value for money’ among younger generations (MZ).

Furthermore, revenues and profits have skyrocketed. In 2024, the combined sales of the 10 teams amount to ₩682.5 billion (around $552 million), showing an 11% rise from 2023, and operating profit grew by 17.8% to ₩32.6 billion (Approx. $26.4 million). Astonishingly, seven out of 10 clubs closed in the black last year. Since 2019 (just before the COVID-19 pandemic), sales have surged by 32.2%, and operating profit by an astounding 448.1%. Safe to say, “baseball is thriving again.”

2. Does Owning a KBO Team MakeFinancial Sense for Parent Companies?

Geun-young Chung designer

The biggest beneficiaries of the clubs are those who win championships – and this is particularly true for Kia Tigers, who took home the integrated championship last year. Kia’s revenue jumped by 69.6%, from ₩45.4 billion to ₩77.1 billion, the largest increase among all teams. A Kia official credits this growth to commercialization businesses and increased income.

In fact, Kia Tigers’ home stadium in Gwangju received a record 1.26 million visitors last year, surpassing the previous record of 1 million in 2017. Despite recording an operating loss of ₩73.5 billion, Kia’s management views this as an “investment in good performance,” as they rewarded athletes and employees and organized additional events celebrating their championship.

With the exception of Kiwoom Heroes and NC Dinos, most clubs experienced revenue growth or stability. LG Twins, despite a slight decrease in 2024, still reported a significant increase compared to 2023. All 10 clubs reported higher revenue compared to five years ago.

3. The Allure of KBO for Corporate Giants

Kia Tigers celebrating their Korean Series victory in Gwangju-Kia Champions Field.

With growing appeal and booming revenues, it’s no surprise that eight out of the 20 largest corporate groups in South Korea now own or are affiliated with a professional baseball team. Despite the high investment costs and questionable connection to core business performance, corporations like LG, Hanwha, Doosan, and Samsung continue to see value in supporting baseball teams.

4. KBO: The Epitome of ‘Win-Win’ Business

KBO Bread, an official licensed product, at a convenience store in Seoul.

KBO’s success story is a testament to the power of a win-win business model. Fans enjoy exciting games, teams reap financial rewards, and parent corporations gain massive brand exposure and potential synergies. As KBO continues breaking attendance and sales records, it’s clear that the league has answered Jin Yang-cheol’s question: yes, KBO teams indeed generate significant revenue and value for their parent companies.

With enduring appeal and a promising future, the KBO league continues to captivate fans and investors alike. As the season unfolds, let’s look forward to more thrilling games, excited fans, and continued success both on and off the field.

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