Maybe Everything Really is Bigger in Texas

An article on dallasnews.com talks about the Texas Rangers signing a 20-year TV contract with Fox Sports Southwest which will bring in around $1.5 billion over the course of the deal. The initial reporting of this in a USA Today online article doubled this figure making the deal seem even more outlandish. As it stands, this deal will bring in between $75 and $80 million a year for the Rangers. While this new contract won’t take effect until after the 2014 season, some money will be paid before the next MLB season.

With this contract, the Rangers will be bringing close to 50 percent more than NFL teams make on their RV deals. It will effect another Dallas team, the Stars (NHL). Since Fox is paying so much for the Rangers and the Mavericks have a deal with Fox Sports Net, the Stars will be left in the dust when it comes to making a deal for air time. Although, there is always Comcast.

I think this is a bit ridiculous. I understand a company wanting to ensure they’ll have programming, but this is extreme. First off, it’s a 20-year deal. With the way major league sports go, the Rangers might not be worth $80 million a year even next season. It will be nice to have guaranteed programming, but will it be worth it if people don't want to watch the Rangers lose? (And yes, I might be jaded by the fair-weather Braves fans around here.)

Second, they’re disregarding the Stars! As an avid hockey fan, I’m going to think any deal that pushes an NHL team to the wayside is atrocious. Plus one of my favorite players (Adam Burish) signed on with the Stars over the summer and Dallas needs to see what he can do.