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Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Quarter revenue up, operating income down: Revenue rose $3.8 million (2%) to $246.3 million. Operating income and adjusted operating income both fell in the quarter. Source
  • Operating and adjusted income declined: Operating income fell $11.2 million (41%) to $16.1 million. Adjusted operating income fell $11.8 million (20%) to $46.0 million. Source
  • Entertainment offerings revenue up 3%: Entertainment offerings revenue was $165.7 million, up $5.5 million (3%). Sharing with MSG Sports and venue sponsorship and suite fees contributed to the increase. Source
  • Other live events revenue declined: Revenue from other live entertainment and sporting events fell $7.7 million, including the absence of a multi-day special event at Radio City Music Hall in the prior-year quarter. Per-event revenue was higher. Source
  • SG&A rose 17%: SG&A was $61.0 million, up $8.8 million (17%), on higher employee compensation and benefits, higher rent expense and other cost increases. Source
  • Direct operating costs rose 10%: Direct operating expenses for entertainment offerings, arena license fees and other leasing were $118.3 million, up $10.3 million (10%). Sharing-related expenses rose $5.0 million and concert expenses rose $2.6 million. Source
  • Nine-month operating cash flow increased: Net cash provided by operating activities was $368.1 million for the nine months, against $142.3 million a year earlier. Source

“We continue to bring an array of live events to our venues, and demand for those entertainment offerings remains strong.”

Executive Chairman and CEO James L. Dolan

Results and growth drivers

  • Quarter revenue up, operating income down: Revenue rose $3.8 million (2%) to $246.3 million. Operating income and adjusted operating income both fell in the quarter. Source
  • Operating and adjusted income declined: Operating income fell $11.2 million (41%) to $16.1 million. Adjusted operating income fell $11.8 million (20%) to $46.0 million. Source
  • Nine-month revenue and adjusted income grew: Nine-month revenue rose $75.9 million (10%) to $864.5 million. Nine-month adjusted operating income rose $19.8 million (9%) to $243.5 million; operating income rose $2.3 million (2%). Source
  • Diluted EPS and net income lower: Diluted EPS was $0.11 against $0.17 a year earlier; net income was $5.1 million against $8.0 million. Nine-month diluted EPS was $1.59 against $1.33. Source
  • Lower tax and interest costs: Income tax expense was $3.1 million against $7.3 million. Interest expense was $9.4 million against $11.8 million a year earlier. Source

Venues and arena revenue

  • Entertainment offerings revenue up 3%: Entertainment offerings revenue was $165.7 million, up $5.5 million (3%). Sharing with MSG Sports and venue sponsorship and suite fees contributed to the increase. Source
  • Revenue shared with MSG Sports rose: Revenue subject to sharing with MSG Sports under the Arena License Agreements rose $5.4 million, mainly from higher suite license fee revenue excluding amounts retained by the company. Source
  • Sponsorship, signage and suite fees rose: Venue-related sponsorship, signage and suite license fees rose $3.1 million, from higher suite license fees excluding amounts shared with MSG Sports and higher sponsorship and signage revenue. Source
  • Arena license fees fell 3%: Arena license fees and other leasing revenue was $35.5 million, down $1.0 million (3%), due to fewer Knicks and Rangers games at The Garden, partly offset by higher other leasing revenue. Source

“The fiscal 2026 third quarter was highlighted by a diverse mix of live entertainment and sporting events across the Company's portfolio of venues.”

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., press release

Food, beverage and merchandise

  • Food, beverage and merchandise revenue slipped: Revenue was $45.1 million, down $0.7 million (2%), as lower game-day sales were partly offset by higher concert food and beverage sales. Source
  • Game-day food and beverage sales fell: Food and beverage sales at Knicks and Rangers games fell $2.8 million, linked to fewer games played at The Garden. Source
  • Concert food and beverage sales rose: Food and beverage sales at concerts held at the company's venues rose $2.4 million, mainly from more concerts at The Garden. Source
  • Food and beverage direct costs fell: Direct operating expenses for food, beverage and merchandise were $28.5 million, down $2.4 million (8%), mainly on lower game-day food and beverage costs, partly offset by concert costs. Source

Demand and event volumes

  • Concert revenue rose on more Garden shows: Concert revenue rose $3.7 million, reflecting more concerts at The Garden, partly offset by fewer concerts at the company's theaters. Source
  • Other live events revenue declined: Revenue from other live entertainment and sporting events fell $7.7 million, including the absence of a multi-day special event at Radio City Music Hall in the prior-year quarter. Per-event revenue was higher. Source
  • Christmas Spectacular revenue rose: Christmas Spectacular presentation revenue rose $1.3 million on higher ticket-related revenue. The quarter included the last performances of this year's run. Source

Costs and operating income

  • SG&A rose 17%: SG&A was $61.0 million, up $8.8 million (17%), on higher employee compensation and benefits, higher rent expense and other cost increases. Source
  • Direct operating costs rose 10%: Direct operating expenses for entertainment offerings, arena license fees and other leasing were $118.3 million, up $10.3 million (10%). Sharing-related expenses rose $5.0 million and concert expenses rose $2.6 million. Source
  • Venue operating costs increased: Venue operating costs rose $2.4 million, mainly on higher employee compensation and benefits and higher repairs and maintenance expenses. Source
  • Restructuring charges of $8.6 million: Restructuring charges were $8.6 million in the quarter, against $0.1 million a year earlier. The company named them, with SG&A and direct costs, among the causes of lower operating income. Source
  • Adjusted operating income fell on costs: Adjusted operating income fell $11.8 million, mainly from higher direct operating and SG&A expenses, partly offset by higher revenue. Source

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Nine-month operating cash flow increased: Net cash provided by operating activities was $368.1 million for the nine months, against $142.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash balance rose to $323.7 million: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash was $323.7 million at March 31, 2026, up from $43.5 million at June 30, 2025. Source
  • Investing and financing outflows: Nine-month net cash used in investing activities was $25.5 million, and net cash used in financing activities was $62.5 million. Source
  • Treasury stock increased $25.0 million: Treasury stock at cost rose to $205.2 million from $180.2 million, with 6,106 shares held against 5,483 at June 30, 2025. The release does not describe the repurchases. Source

Balance sheet and debt

  • Equity moved from deficit to $48.0 million: Total equity was $48.0 million at March 31, 2026, against a deficit of $13.3 million at June 30, 2025. Source
  • Non-current debt declined: Long-term debt, net of deferred financing costs, was $547.5 million, down from $568.8 million at June 30, 2025. Current long-term debt was $30.5 million. Source
  • Accounts payable and accrued liabilities rose: Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities were $340.1 million, up from $184.4 million at June 30, 2025. Source
  • Deferred revenue rose: Deferred revenue was $287.2 million at March 31, 2026, against $228.6 million at June 30, 2025. Source

Non-GAAP adjustments

  • Depreciation and amortization excluded: Depreciation and amortization of $13.8 million in the quarter is excluded from adjusted operating income, against $14.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Share-based compensation excluded: Share-based compensation of $6.7 million was excluded, against $6.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted operating income defined: Management defines adjusted operating income as operating income excluding listed items. The quarter total is $46.0 million. Source
  • Impairment add-back of $0.9 million: Impairment of long-lived assets and related lease costs of $0.9 million was added back, against $9.7 million in the prior-year quarter. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Knicks and Rangers games at The Garden (change vs prior-year quarter) Sourcefive fewer combined
Christmas Spectacular performances (change vs prior-year quarter) Sourceone additional

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it remains on track to deliver robust growth in revenue and adjusted operating income in fiscal 2026, as it approaches the fiscal year end. 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.