Fiscal 2024 Revenues of $959.3 Million, up 13% Versus Prior Year and Above High-End of Guidance Range(1) Fiscal 2024 Operating Income of $111.9 Million and AOI of $211.5 Million, Both Above High-End of Guidance Range(1)(2) NEW YORK, Aug. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (NYSE:MSGE) ("MSG Entertainment" or the "Company") today reported financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter and full-year ended June 30, 2024. Fiscal 2024 marked the first full year of operations for MSG Entertainment as a standalone public company. During the year, the Company hosted approximately 6.3 million guests at over 960 events, which reflects robust growth in the number of events in the Company's bookings business, as well as regular season and playoff games at The Garden for both the Knicks and Rangers. It also reflects over 1 million tickets sold across 193 shows for the Christmas Spectacular production, which generated record-setting revenues in fiscal 2024. Positive operating momentum throughout the year led the Company to increase its financial guidance twice during fiscal 2024. A strong fiscal fourth quarter led by The Garden resulted in full year financial results that exceeded the high-end of the Company's guidance ranges for revenues, operating income and adjusted operating income.(1)(2) Financial results for the three and twelve months ended June 30, 2024 reflect the Company on a fully standalone basis. Results for the prior year through April 20, 2023, which was the date of the spin-off from Sphere Entertainment Co. ("Sphere Entertainment"), are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for the preparation of carve-out financial statements. These prior year results (through April 20, 2023) do not include all of the expenses that would have been incurred by MSG Entertainment had it been a standalone company for the periods presented. Therefore, results for the three and twelve months ended June 30, 2024 are not fully comparable with results for the prior year periods. For fiscal 2024, the Company reported revenues of $959.3 million, an increase of $107.8 million, or 13%, as compared to the prior year. In addition, the Company reported operating income of $111.9 million, an increase of $6.9 million, and adjusted operating income of $211.5 million, an increase of $9.9 million, both as compared to the prior year.(2) For the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter, the Company reported revenues of $186.1 million, an increase of $38.1 million, or 26%, as compared to the prior year quarter. In addition, the Company reported an operating loss of $8.9 million and adjusted operating income of $13.1 million, representing improvements of $12.9 million and $12.4 million, respectively, as compared to the prior year quarter.(2) Executive Chairman and CEO James L. Dolan said, "We delivered strong financial results in our first full year as a standalone entertainment company. Looking ahead, we believe our Company – with its unique portfolio of live entertainment offerings – is well positioned to generate robust adjusted operating income growth in fiscal 2025." Results for the Three and Twelve Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023: Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended June 30, Change June 30, Change $ millions 2024 2023 $ % 2024 2023 $ % Revenues $    186.1 $    147.9 $     38.1 26 % $    959.3 $    851.5 $   107.8 13 % Operating Income (Loss) $       (8.9) $     (21.8) $     12.9 59 % $    111.9 $    105.0 $       6.9 7 % Adjusted Operating Income $      13.1 $        0.7 $     12.4 NM $    211.5 $    201.6 $       9.9 5 %   Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding. NM — Absolute percentages greater than 200% and comparisons from positive to negative values or to zero values are considered not meaningful. (1) The Company's most recent financial guidance for fiscal 2024 was for revenues of $940-$950 million, operating income of $100-$110 million, and adjusted operating income of $200-210 million. (2) See page 3 of this earnings release for the definition of adjusted operating income (loss) included in the discussion of non-GAAP financial measures. During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company amended this definition so that the non-cash portion of operating lease revenue related to the Company's Arena License Agreements with Madison Square Garden Sports Corp.  ("MSG Sports") is no longer excluded in all periods presented. For the three and twelve months ended June 30, 2024, the non-cash portion of operating lease revenue was $2.5 million and $25.3 million, respectively, and for the three and twelve months ended June 30, 2023 the non-cash portion of operating lease revenue was $1.5 million and $26.5 million, respectively.   Entertainment Offerings, Arena License Fees and Other LeasingFiscal 2024 fourth quarter revenues from entertainment offerings of $142.9 million increased $23.3 million, or 20%, as compared to the prior year period, primarily due to higher event-related revenues, an increase in revenues subject to the sharing of economics with MSG Sports pursuant to the Arena License Agreements and, to a lesser extent, an increase in venue-related sponsorship, signage and suite license fees. Event-related revenues increased $13.2 million, primarily due to an increase in the number of concerts at The Garden as compared to the prior year quarter. Revenues subject to the sharing of economics with MSG Sports pursuant to the Arena License Agreements increased $7.7 million, primarily due to higher suite license fee revenues as compared to the prior year quarter. Venue-related sponsorship, signage and suite license fees revenues increased $1.5 million as compared to the prior year quarter. Fiscal 2024 fourth quarter arena license fees and other leasing revenues of $8.5 million increased $3.6 million, or 75%, as compared to the prior year period, primarily due to higher arena license fees, the result of more Rangers and Knicks regular season games played at The Garden as compared to the prior year quarter. Fiscal 2024 fourth quarter direct operating expenses associated with entertainment offerings, arena license fees and other leasing of $99.7 million increased $11.7 million, or 13%, as compared to the prior year quarter.  Event-related expenses increased $5.1 million, primarily due to higher expenses incurred as a result of the increase in event-related revenues. Expenses associated with the sharing of economics with MSG Sports pursuant to the Arena License Agreements increased $5.8 million, primarily due to higher expenses incurred as a result of the increase in suite license fee revenues. Food, Beverage and MerchandiseFiscal 2024 fourth quarter food, beverage and merchandise revenues of $34.7 million increased $11.2 million, or 48%, as compared to the prior year period. This reflects higher food and beverage sales at Rangers and Knicks games at The Garden (primarily due to more regular season and playoff home games) and, to a lesser extent, an increase in food and beverage sales at concerts and other live sporting and entertainment events at the Company's venues, all as compared to the prior year quarter. Fiscal 2024 fourth quarter food, beverage and merchandise direct operating expenses of $22.7 million increased $8.1 million, or 56%, as compared to the prior year quarter, primarily driven by the related increase in food and beverage revenues. Selling, General and Administrative ExpensesFiscal 2024 fourth quarter selling, general and administrative expenses of $55.8 million increased $3.1 million, or 6%, as compared with the prior year period.  Fiscal 2024 fourth quarter results reflect the Company on a fully standalone basis. Results for the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter reflect the allocation of corporate and administrative costs based on the accounting requirements for the preparation of carve-out financial statements through the April 20, 2023 spin-off date and reflect the Company on a fully standalone basis for the balance of the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter. Therefore, results for the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter do not include all of the expenses that would have been incurred by MSG Entertainment had it been a standalone company for the entire period. Operating Income and Adjusted Operating IncomeFiscal 2024 fourth quarter operating loss of $8.9 million improved $12.9 million and adjusted operating income of $13.1 million increased $12.4 million, both as compared to the prior year quarter. The improvement in operating loss and the increase in adjusted operating income were primarily due to higher revenues, partially offset by higher direct operating expenses and, to a lesser extent, higher selling, general and administrative expenses. About Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSG Entertainment) is a leader in live entertainment, delivering unforgettable experiences while forging deep connections with diverse and passionate audiences. The Company's portfolio includes a collection of world-renowned venues – New York's Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and Beacon Theatre; and The Chicago Theatre – that showcase a broad array of sporting events, concerts, family shows, and special events for millions of guests annually. In addition, the Company features the original production, the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, which has been a holiday tradition for 90 years. More information is available at www.msgentertainment.com. Non-GAAP Financial MeasuresDuring the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company amended its definition of adjusted operating income (loss) so that the impact of the non-cash portion of operating lease revenue related to the Company's Arena License Agreements with MSG Sports is no longer excluded in the calculation of adjusted operating income (loss) in all periods presented. We define adjusted operating income (loss), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as operating income (loss) excluding (i) depreciation, amortization and impairments of property and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets, (ii) share-based compensation expense or benefit, (iii) restructuring charges or credits, (iv) merger, spin-off, and acquisition-related costs, including merger-related litigation expenses, (v) gains or losses on sales or dispositions of businesses and associated settlements, (vi) the impact of purchase accounting adjustments related to business acquisitions, (vii) gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities under the executive deferred compensation plan, and (viii) amortization for capitalized cloud computing arrangement costs. 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 eliminate merger, spin-off, and acquisition-related costs, when applicable, because the Company does not consider such costs to be indicative of the ongoing operating performance of the Company as they result from an event that is of a non-recurring nature, thereby enhancing comparability. In addition, management believes that the exclusion of gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities under the executive deferred compensation plan, provides investors with a clearer picture of the Company's operating performance given that, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities under the executive deferred compensation plan are recognized in Operating (income) loss whereas gains and losses related to the remeasurement of the assets under the executive deferred compensation plan, which are equal to and therefore fully offset the gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities, are recognized in Other income (expense), net, which is not reflected in Operating income (loss). We believe adjusted operating income (loss) is an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating ...