Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (NYSE: MSGS) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.

The fiscal 2021 fourth quarter was highlighted by the New York Knicks’ (“Knicks”) return to the NBA playoffs. In mid-May, New York State eased capacity restrictions, enabling the team to welcome what was, at that time, the largest indoor crowds to gather in New York State since the start of the pandemic for its three home playoff games at Madison Square Garden Arena (“The Garden”).

Prior to the playoffs, both the Knicks and New York Rangers (“Rangers”) concluded their 2020-21 regular seasons during the fiscal 2021 fourth quarter with home games at The Garden restricted to 10% capacity. The Knicks and Rangers played 13 and 11 regular season home games in the quarter, respectively, with limited attendance, as compared to no games for either team in the prior year period due to the suspensions of the 2019-20 NBA and NHL seasons in mid-March 2020.

Results for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021 reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including government-mandated assembly restrictions at The Garden and the shortened 2020-21 NBA and NHL regular seasons. For fiscal 2021, the Company generated $415.7 million in revenues as compared to $603.3 million in revenues in the prior year. In addition, the Company had an operating loss of $78.4 million and an adjusted operating loss of $12.5 million, compared to an operating loss of $93.9 million and an adjusted operating loss of $27.5 million in the prior year.⁽¹⁾

For the fiscal 2021 fourth quarter, the Company reported revenues of $146.9 million, as compared to negative revenues of $7.0 million in the prior year quarter. In addition, the Company had an operating loss of $20.8 million and adjusted operating loss of $5.8 million in the fiscal 2021 fourth quarter, compared to an operating loss of $44.9 million and an adjusted operating loss of $33.6 million in the prior year quarter.

Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. President and CEO Andrew Lustgarten said: “Despite a challenging year, we had a tremendous response from Knicks’ and Rangers’ fans last season, including sell-out games and robust local ratings. For 2021-22, we look forward to building on this enthusiasm as we prepare for capacity crowds and full 82-game seasons. We have already seen robust season ticket renewals, along with strong momentum on the marketing partnership front – both clear reminders of the role sports plays in bringing people together – and we remain confident in our ability to drive long-term value for our shareholders.”

Results from Operations

Results for the quarter and year ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:

^{Note: Does not foot due to rounding}

Summary of Reported Results from Continuing Operations

For the fiscal 2021 fourth quarter, the Company reported revenues of $146.9 million as compared to negative revenues of $7.0 million in the prior year period. The overall increase in revenue was primarily driven by higher league distributions, local media rights fees from MSG Networks, sponsorship and signage revenues, playoff-related revenues and regular season ticket-related revenues.

League distributions increased $82.8 million and local media rights fees from MSG Networks increased $29.3 million, both as compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to the impact of the suspended 2019-20 regular seasons in the prior year period and the timing of the 2020-21 NBA and NHL regular seasons in the current year period. The increase in league distributions was also due to the recognition of a $21.0 million NHL expansion fee in the current period. In addition, local media rights fees were negatively impacted in the current year quarter by the reduced 2020-21 NBA and NHL regular season schedules.

Sponsorship and signage revenues increased $16.7 million and regular season ticket-related revenues increased $10.4 million, both as compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to the impact of regular season home games played with limited attendance in the current year quarter as compared to no games played in the prior year period. Playoff-related revenues were $15.2 million in the current year quarter, which reflects the impact of the Knicks’ three first round playoff home games.

For the fiscal 2021 fourth quarter, direct operating expenses were $98.9 million as compared to a $17.6 million credit recorded in the prior year period, primarily due to the impact of the suspended 2019-20 regular seasons in the prior year period and the timing of the shortened 2020-21 NBA and NHL regular seasons in the current year period. Team personnel compensation increased $46.7 million, while net provisions for league revenue sharing expense (net of escrow and excluding playoffs) and NBA luxury tax were a $15.3 million credit in the current year quarter as compared to a $42.7 million credit in the prior year period. Other team operating expenses increased $16.9 million as compared with the prior year quarter. Direct operating expenses for the fiscal 2021 fourth quarter also included $12.9 million of operating lease costs, including deferred operating lease costs, under the Arena License Agreements with MSG Entertainment and $9.8 million of playoff related expenses. In addition, net provisions for certain team personnel transactions increased $6.4 million as compared to the prior year period.

For the fiscal 2021 fourth quarter, selling, general and administrative expenses were $68.0 million, an increase of 27%, or $14.6 million, as compared to the prior year period primarily due to higher teams-related compensation and benefits, including severance related to team executives, playoff-related expenses and fees related to the Company’s Sponsorship Sales and Service Representation Agreements with MSG Entertainment. The overall increase in expenses was partially offset by lower corporate overhead costs, which in the prior year period included certain corporate expenses that the Company has not incurred since the spin-off of MSG Entertainment and does not expect to incur in future periods, but which did not meet the criteria for inclusion in discontinued operations (see note 1 on previous page).

Fiscal 2021 fourth quarter operating loss of $20.8 million improved 54%, or $24.2 million, and adjusted operating loss of $5.8 million improved 83%, or $27.8 million, both as compared with the prior year period. This primarily reflects the overall increase in revenues, partially offset by higher direct operating expenses and, to a lesser extent, higher selling, general and administrative expenses.

Other Matters

As of June 30, 2021, the Company had $309.9 million of liquidity, comprised of the following components:

• $64.9 million of cash and cash equivalents;
• $55 million in borrowing capacity under the Knicks senior secured revolving credit facility;
• $115 million in borrowing capacity under the Rangers senior secured revolving credit facility; and
• $75 million available under the Knicks Holdings unsecured revolving credit facility.

As of June 30, 2021, total debt outstanding was $385 million, comprised of $355 million under the Company's Knicks and Rangers senior secured revolving credit facilities and $30 million advanced from the NHL.⁽³⁾ The Company's deferred revenue obligations as of the end of fiscal 2021 were approximately $146 million, net of billed, but not yet collected deferred revenue, as compared to approximately $133 million as of March 31, 2021. The increase was primarily due to the collection of season ticket deposits, partially offset by the recognition of local and national media rights revenue during the fiscal fourth quarter. The majority of the deferred revenue balance as of year-end was comprised of tickets and suites, which will be addressed through games played and, to the extent necessary, through make-goods, credits and/or refunds, as well as the $30 million from the NBA that was provided in the fiscal second quarter.

About Madison Square Garden Sports Corp.

Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (MSG Sports) is a leading professional sports company, with a collection of assets that includes: the New York Knicks (NBA) and the New York Rangers (NHL); two development league teams - the Westchester Knicks (NBAGL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL); and esports teams through Counter Logic Gaming, a leading North American esports organization, and Knicks Gaming, an NBA 2K League franchise. MSG Sports also operates two professional sports team performance centers - the MSG Training Center in Greenburgh, NY and the CLG Performance Center in Los Angeles, CA. More information is available at www.msgsports.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We define adjusted operating income (loss), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as operating income (loss) before (i) deferred rent expense under the Arena License Agreements with Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., (ii) depreciation, amortization and impairments of property and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets, (iii) share-based compensation expense or benefit, (iv) restructuring charges or credits, (v) gains or losses on sales or dispositions of businesses, and (vi) the impact of purchase accounting adjustments related to business acquisitions. Because it is based upon operating income (loss), adjusted operating income (loss) also excludes interest expense (including cash interest expense) and other non-operating income and expense items. We believe that the exclusion of share-based compensation expense or benefit allows investors to better track the performance of our business without regard to the settlement of an obligation that is not expected to be made in cash. We believe that given the length of the Arena License Agreements and resulting magnitude of the difference in deferred rent expense and the cash rent payments, the exclusion of deferred rent expense provides investors with a clearer picture of the Company's operating performance.

We believe adjusted operating income (loss) is an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating performance of our Company. Adjusted operating income (loss) and similar measures with similar titles are common performance measures used by investors and analysts to analyze our performance. Internally, we use revenues and adjusted operating income (loss) as the most important indicators of our business performance, and evaluate management’s effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators. Adjusted operating income (loss) should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for operating income (loss), net income (loss), cash flows from operating activities, and other measures of performance and/or liquidity presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Since adjusted operating income (loss) is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, this measure may not be comparable to similar measures with similar titles used by other companies. For a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to adjusted operating income (loss), please see page 5 of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results, developments and events may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including financial community and rating agency perceptions of the Company and its business, operations, financial condition and the industry in which it operates, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained therein. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.

Conference Call Information:

The conference call will be Webcast live today at 10:00 a.m. ET at investor.msgsports.com

Conference call dial-in number is 877-347-9170 / Conference ID Number 1098034

Conference call replay number is 855-859-2056 / Conference ID Number 1098034 until August 26, 2021

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

ADJUSTMENTS TO RECONCILE OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) TO

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

(Unaudited)

The following is a description of the adjustments to operating loss in arriving at adjusted operating loss as described in this earnings release:

• Deferred rent. This adjustment eliminates the impact of the non-cash portion of rent expense associated with the Arena License Agreements with MSG Entertainment.
• Depreciation and amortization. This adjustment eliminates depreciation, amortization and impairments of property and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets in all periods.
• Share-based compensation. This adjustment eliminates the compensation expense related to restricted stock units and stock options granted under the Company's employee stock plan and non-employee director plan in all periods.
• Restructuring charges. This adjustment eliminates costs related to termination benefits provided to employees as part of the Company's workforce reduction in August 2020.
• Purchase accounting adjustments. This adjustment eliminates the impact of various purchase accounting adjustments related to the CLG acquisition.

^{(1) Includes depreciation and amortization related to purchase accounting adjustments.}

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210819005383/en/