NEW YORK, Nov. 08, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Madison Square Garden Company (NYSE: MSG) today reported financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended September 30, 2019.
For the fiscal 2020 first quarter, the Company generated revenues of $214.8 million, a decrease of 2% as compared to the prior year quarter.  The Company also generated an operating loss of $89.3 million and an adjusted operating loss of $41.1 million, as compared to an operating loss of $50.8 million and an adjusted operating loss of $9.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2019.⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾  This was primarily due to higher expenses in Corporate and Other, mainly the result of increased employee compensation related to Corporate and the Company’s MSG Sphere initiative, as well as additional expenses in MSG Sphere-related content development and technology.  In addition, results for the MSG Sports segment include a significant charge related to a player waiver recorded during the fiscal 2020 first quarter.Executive Chairman and CEO James L. Dolan said, “We expect fiscal 2020 to be a defining year as we move forward with our proposed spin-off and plans for MSG Sphere in Las Vegas.  We firmly believe the separation of our sports and entertainment businesses would better highlight the unique value of our assets and brands, while enabling both new companies to pursue their own distinct business plan.  In addition, we are continuing to make significant progress on the construction of MSG Sphere in Las Vegas.  We remain confident that we are executing on a strategy that positions our Company for long-term growth and value creation for shareholders.”
Results from Operations
Segment results for the quarters ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:Note: Does not foot due to roundingSee page 3 of this earnings release for the definition of adjusted operating income (loss) included in the discussion of non-GAAP financial measures.The Company records TAO Group’s operating results in its consolidated statements of operations on a three-month lag basis.Corporate and Other primarily consists of i) unallocated corporate general and administrative costs, including professional fees for initiatives such as the Company’s proposed spin-off of its Entertainment business; ii) unallocated venue-related depreciation and amortization expense; iii) MSG Sphere personnel, technology and content development; and iv) inter-segment eliminations.
MSG Entertainment
For the fiscal 2020 first quarter, MSG Entertainment revenues of $159.0 million decreased 2%, as compared to the prior year period.  During the prior year first quarter, the Company hosted a large-scale special event at Radio City Music Hall, but did not host a comparable event during the fiscal 2020 first quarter.  In addition, the wind-down of Obscura Digital’s third-party business impacted the year-over-year comparability of revenue results.  These decreases were mostly offset by higher event-related revenues from concerts and higher revenues at TAO Group.Fiscal 2020 first quarter operating income decreased by $4.3 million to a loss of $2.6 million and adjusted operating income decreased by $2.8 million to $6.2 million, both as compared to the prior year period.  This primarily reflects the decrease in revenues and higher selling, general and administrative expenses, partially offset by lower direct operating expenses.  The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily due to higher employee compensation and related benefits and higher professional fees, partially offset by lower costs related to Obscura Digital and the absence of pre-opening expenses for TAO Group.  The decrease in direct operating expenses primarily reflects lower Obscura Digital costs, the absence of a large-scale special event at Radio City Music Hall, as well as other net expense decreases, partially offset by higher expenses related to concerts and higher TAO Group costs.MSG Sports
For the fiscal 2020 first quarter, MSG Sports revenues of $56.0 million increased 1%, as compared to the prior year period.  This primarily reflects higher revenues from other live sporting events, slightly offset by a decrease in ticket-related revenues, which includes the impact of the absence of New York Liberty games as the professional sports franchise was sold in January 2019.Fiscal 2020 first quarter operating loss increased by $16.1 million to $20.2 million and adjusted operating income decreased by $14.2 million to a loss of $13.7 million, both as compared to the prior year period.  This primarily reflects higher direct operating expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses, slightly offset by the increase in revenues.  The increase in direct operating expenses was primarily driven by a $10.2 million charge related to a player waiver recorded during the fiscal 2020 first quarter, partially offset by other net expense decreases.  The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily due to higher employee compensation and related benefits.Corporate and Other
For the fiscal 2020 first quarter, Corporate and Other’s operating loss of $60.9 million and adjusted operating loss of $33.7 million increased by $17.5 million and $14.2 million, respectively, both as compared with the prior year period.  The increased loss reflects higher employee compensation related to Corporate and the Company’s MSG Sphere initiative, as well as additional expenses in MSG Sphere-related content development and technology.Other Matters
The Company yesterday announced that its board of directors has unanimously approved pursuing a revised plan for the proposed separation of its sports and entertainment businesses. The Company is now pursuing a spin-off of its entertainment businesses from its sports businesses and, as part of this revised structure, the entertainment company would not retain an equity interest in the sports company.  The proposed transaction is still expected to be completed during the first quarter of calendar 2020, subject to certain conditions.About The Madison Square Garden Company
The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) is a world leader in live sports and entertainment experiences.  The company presents or hosts a broad array of premier events in its diverse collection of iconic venues: New York’s Madison Square Garden, Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre; the Forum in Inglewood, CA; and The Chicago Theatre.  Other MSG properties include legendary sports franchises: 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, MSG’s NBA 2K League franchise.  In addition, the Company features the popular original production – the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes – and through Boston Calling Events, produces New England’s preeminent Boston Calling Music Festival.  Also under the MSG umbrella is Tao Group Hospitality, a world-class hospitality group with globally-recognized entertainment, dining and nightlife brands including Tao, Marquee, Lavo, Avenue, Beauty & Essex and Cathédrale.  More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com.Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We define adjusted operating income (loss), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as operating income (loss) before 1) depreciation, amortization and impairments of property and equipment and intangible assets, 2) share-based compensation expense or benefit, 3) restructuring charges or credits, 4) gains or losses on sales or dispositions of businesses and 5) 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 the various operating units of our business without regard to the settlement of an obligation that is not expected to be made in cash.We believe adjusted operating income (loss) are appropriate measures for evaluating the operating performance of our business segments and the Company on a consolidated basis.  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 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.#  #  #Contacts:
Conference Call Information:
The conference call will be Webcast live today at 10:00 a.m. ET at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com
Conference call dial-in number is 877-347-9170 / Conference ID Number 6172498
Conference call replay number is 855-859-2056 / Conference ID Number 6172498 until November 15, 2019CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
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(Unaudited)ADJUSTMENTS TO RECONCILE OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) TO
ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)The following is a description of the adjustments to operating income (loss) in arriving at adjusted operating income (loss) as described in this earnings release:Share-based compensation. This adjustment eliminates the compensation expense relating to restricted stock units and stock options granted under our employee stock plan and non-employee director plan in all periods.Depreciation and amortization.  This adjustment eliminates depreciation, amortization and impairments of property and equipment and intangible assets in all periods.Purchase accounting adjustments. This adjustment eliminates the impact of various purchase accounting adjustments related to business acquisitions, primarily favorable / unfavorable lease agreements of the acquiree._________________(1)   Includes depreciation and amortization related to purchase accounting adjustments.

CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS DATA
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(Unaudited)REVENUESOPERATING INCOME (LOSS) AND ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
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(Unaudited)CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)
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(Unaudited)SELECTED CASH FLOW INFORMATION
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