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Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 February 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 13% to $459.9 million: The company reported revenue of $459.9 million, up $52.5 million or 13% from $407.4 million a year earlier. Six-month revenue was $618.2 million, also up 13%. Source
  • Adjusted operating income rose 16%: Adjusted operating income was $190.4 million, up $26.4 million or 16%. Reported operating income was $163.8 million, up 18%, after higher direct operating expenses and higher SG&A. Source
  • Christmas Spectacular sold 1.2 million tickets: The 92nd holiday season, which ended in January, sold over 1.2 million tickets across 215 paid performances. The prior season had about 1.1 million tickets across 200 shows. Source
  • SG&A rose 20% on pay and transition costs: SG&A was $68.4 million, up $11.2 million or 20%, mainly on higher employee compensation and benefits. Executive management transition costs were $4.0 million, against $4.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Bookings events grew in number: The number of bookings events grew against the prior-year quarter, within a schedule of events at the company's venues. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose to $184.2 million: Net cash from operating activities was $184.2 million for the six months, against $85.5 million a year earlier. Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash ended at $157.6 million, up from $43.5 million at June 30, 2025. Source

“We have seen strong momentum across our business in fiscal ‘26, including for the Christmas Spectacular production and bookings.”

Executive Chairman and CEO James L. Dolan

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 13% to $459.9 million: The company reported revenue of $459.9 million, up $52.5 million or 13% from $407.4 million a year earlier. Six-month revenue was $618.2 million, also up 13%. Source
  • Adjusted operating income rose 16%: Adjusted operating income was $190.4 million, up $26.4 million or 16%. Reported operating income was $163.8 million, up 18%, after higher direct operating expenses and higher SG&A. Source
  • Christmas Spectacular sold 1.2 million tickets: The 92nd holiday season, which ended in January, sold over 1.2 million tickets across 215 paid performances. The prior season had about 1.1 million tickets across 200 shows. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS rose: Net income was $92.7 million against $75.9 million a year earlier. Diluted EPS was $1.94 against $1.56, on 47.8 million diluted weighted-average shares against 48.6 million. Source

Revenue lines and venue events

  • Entertainment offerings revenue up 13%: Entertainment offerings revenue was $360.5 million, up $42.2 million. The Christmas Spectacular presentation contributed $18.6 million of the increase, on 14 more performances and higher ticket revenue. Source
  • Other live events added $11.8 million: Other live entertainment and sporting events rose $11.8 million, mainly on higher per-event revenue and, to a lesser extent, more events at The Garden. Source
  • Concert revenue declined $1.2 million: Concert revenue fell $1.2 million on fewer concerts at The Garden, mostly offset by higher per-concert revenue and more concerts at the company's theaters. Source
  • Arena license fees rose 18%: Arena license fees and other leasing revenue was $35.2 million, up $5.3 million or 18%. The company attributed the increase to four more Knicks and Rangers games combined and higher other leasing revenue. Source

“Looking ahead, we remain on track to drive robust growth in both revenue and adjusted operating income this fiscal year.”

Executive Chairman and CEO James L. Dolan

Food, beverage and merchandise

  • Food and beverage revenue rose 8%: Food, beverage and merchandise revenue was $64.3 million, up $5.0 million or 8%. Knicks and Rangers games added $3.3 million of food and beverage sales, from more games and higher per-game revenue. Source
  • Christmas Spectacular food sales rose $2.7 million: Food, beverage and merchandise sales for the Christmas Spectacular rose $2.7 million, on higher per-show revenue and, to a lesser extent, 14 additional performances. Other live events added $2.3 million. Source
  • Concert food and beverage sales fell: Food and beverage sales at concerts held at the company's venues fell $3.3 million, mainly on fewer concerts at The Garden. Source

Costs and operating expenses

  • SG&A rose 20% on pay and transition costs: SG&A was $68.4 million, up $11.2 million or 20%, mainly on higher employee compensation and benefits. Executive management transition costs were $4.0 million, against $4.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Entertainment direct costs up 7%: Direct operating expenses for entertainment, arena license fees and other leasing were $176.1 million, up $11.8 million or 7%. Expenses shared with MSG Sports rose $5.3 million, and Christmas Spectacular expenses rose $5.0 million. Source
  • Food and beverage costs up 12%: Food, beverage and merchandise direct operating expenses were $36.6 million, up $3.8 million or 12%, mainly from the related rise in sales at the company's venues. Source
  • Impairment and restructuring charges recorded: Six-month impairment of long-lived assets and related lease costs was $15.1 million, of which $1.3 million fell in the quarter. Restructuring charges in the quarter were $1.1 million. Source

Demand, bookings and the season

  • Bookings events grew in number: The number of bookings events grew against the prior-year quarter, within a schedule of events at the company's venues. Source
  • Deferred revenue rose to $250.0 million: Deferred revenue was $250.0 million at December 31, 2025, against $228.6 million at June 30, 2025. The release does not say what drove the change. Source
  • Knicks and Rangers seasons started: The Knicks and Rangers 2025-26 regular seasons began at The Garden during the quarter, which the company listed among its activities for the period. Source
  • Growth wording changed from prior quarter: The first-quarter release said the company was increasingly confident in solid growth for fiscal 2026. This release says it remains on track for robust growth, and neither release gives a figure.

Cash, balance sheet and capital

  • Operating cash flow rose to $184.2 million: Net cash from operating activities was $184.2 million for the six months, against $85.5 million a year earlier. Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash ended at $157.6 million, up from $43.5 million at June 30, 2025. Source
  • Investing and financing outflows: Six-month investing outflows were $15.3 million and financing outflows were $54.9 million, against $16.3 million and $47.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Treasury stock rose to $205.2 million: Treasury stock at cost was $205.2 million at December 31, 2025, against $180.2 million at June 30, 2025. The release does not describe share repurchases in the quarter. Source
  • Long-term debt declined on paydown: Non-current long-term debt was $554.6 million at December 31, 2025, against $568.8 million at June 30, 2025. Current long-term debt was $30.5 million at both dates. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Christmas Spectacular tickets sold Sourceover 1.2 million
Christmas Spectacular paid performances Source215
Knicks and Rangers games at The Garden, change versus prior-year quarter Sourcefour more games combined

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it remains on track for growth in both measures this fiscal year; the release gives no numeric target. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.