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Shohei Ohtani’s jaw-dropping $700 million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers has some similarities to other contracts for the world’s biggest sports stars, including soccer icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, along with NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
In terms of his marketability, experts point to Taylor Swift. The global music sensation’s broad appeal—one that bridges the gap between generations and expands to other countries—is an extremely rare phenomenon that Ohtani shares. There’s no doubt the Dodgers hope they can leverage the Japanese star’s arrival into even more money for a franchise that is already one of the most popular in Major League Baseball.
The reason the Dodgers made that kind of commitment is simple: It’s probably worth it. Not just because he could help win the World Series, but because of the value he brings even if he doesn’t.
“If Ohtani is marketed right, he’s a globally iconic player,” said Mike Lewis, a sports business specialist at Emory University. “Baseball has sometimes struggled to gain national attention, but he’s the kind of guy who attracts millions of eyeballs, and not just from the U.S.”
As of Dec. 10, the Dodgers’ Instagram account had 3.2 million followers. Ohtani on his own has 6.3 million.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. The average fan understands that Ohtani will generate revenue with more tickets, concessions, and jerseys sold.
But no player drives more interest internationally, especially in Ohtani’s native Japan, with a baseball-obsessed population of 126 million. Ohtani already has a deep group of sponsors targeting audiences on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, including New Balance, ASICS, and Porsche Japan.
For the creative folks in the advertising industry, the possibilities are almost endless.
There’s also the fact that among athletes, he’s fairly low-risk. He hasn’t had a hint of controversy throughout his career, producing a squeaky-clean image that any potential advertiser can get behind. In fact, fans know surprisingly little about his personal life—something that only seems to add intrigue.
“He’s handsome and he’s a huge box office draw,” Leigh Steinberg, an American sports agent, said. “There are very few players who can match that. He has appeal to all.”
This article was provided by The Associated Press.