The Joe Pomp Show How Disney Tried (and Failed) at Owning a Pro Sports Team
Jan 2, 2025
Explore Disney's ambitious yet troubled venture into professional sports ownership. Discover the highs and lows of owning the Mighty Ducks and the Anaheim Angels, including the astonishing financial losses and mismanagement issues. Uncover the hilarious details of a $450,000 pregame intro that seems too outrageous to be real. Dive into the conflict between making shareholders happy and winning games, revealing the challenges that ultimately led to Disney's exit from the sports world.
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Extravagant Pregame Show
- The Mighty Ducks' first home game featured a 20-minute, $450,000 pregame show.
- Despite the extravagant show, the Ducks lost 7-2 to the Red Wings.
Initial Success
- The Mighty Ducks' inaugural season was a financial success, selling out many home games.
- They brought in $10 million in their first season, setting an NHL record for an expansion team.
Management Missteps
- Disney made some management missteps, like not signing Mark McGwire and mismanaging the Angels' staff.
- They also gave Mo Vaughn a large contract, only for him to get injured in his first game.