Overview
Club ownership and management encompasses the full scope of operating a professional baseball franchise as a business entity. NPB clubs have historically functioned as advertising vehicles for their parent corporations, with the parent company's name featured in the team name and operating losses routinely absorbed. However, the 2004 restructuring crisis - triggered by the Kintetsu Buffaloes' dissolution - exposed the unsustainability of this dependency model and catalyzed a fundamental shift. Since then, clubs have pursued self-sustaining business models through diversified revenue streams: maximizing ticket sales, expanding merchandise operations, self-managing stadiums, and deepening community engagement. The SoftBank Hawks built a thriving entertainment complex around PayPay Dome, while the DeNA BayStars dramatically increased franchise value by acquiring and integrating Yokohama Stadium operations. Broadcasting rights remain a critical revenue pillar, with the Pacific League's joint streaming venture 'Pacific League TV' notably boosting league-wide earnings. Nevertheless, significant financial disparities persist between clubs, and the structural reliance on parent company funding has not been fully eliminated.