The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks professional baseball team and its operating company, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Marketing Corp., posted operating profits of ¥5.8 billion for the period ended February 2013, doubling last year’s figure. These are the highest earnings since SoftBank Corp. assumed management of the team in 2005. Last March, SoftBank purchased the Hawk’s home stadium, Yahoo Dome (now, Yafuoku Dome), from Singaporean investment company GIC Real Estate for ¥87 billion, thereby eliminating the annual dome rental fee of ¥5 billion. This led to a dramatic uptick in earnings even after taking loan interest payments into account. At ¥2.7 billion, the Hawks also posted the highest sales on record due to popular events. The attendance of 24.475 million at 72 home games last year was the highest in the Pacific League and the third highest in Japanese professional baseball behind the Tokyo Giants and the Hanshin Tigers. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, June 17
