Regional Sports Network To Benefit Astros & Rockets

Published: 8^th Mar 12 7:21 pm

Chris Hengst
College Football and MLB Blogger

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Thomas Campbell-US PRESSWIRE

By no means a savior, Comcast SportsNet Houston still offers something to the Houston Astros when it debuts next October: the opportunity to spend like future American League West foes Texas and Los Angeles.

The 2012 season represents the final one for the Astros on Fox Sports Southwest. After, Houston sports fans will be able to find both the Astros and Rockets on the same regional network. Run by the NBC Sports Group with ownership portions committed to both franchises, the revenues should substantially increase at Minute Maid Park and Toyota Center.

If there’s a frustrating truth to sports currently, it’s that money and specifically television money is the ultimate trump card.

The Angels could afford Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson because of the multi-billion dollar regional network signed last December.

The Rangers, aided by massive financial gains from Fox Sports Southwest, blew away the other posted bids for Japanese sensation Yu Darvish.

For the Rockets, it’s always ideal to see more profit but owner Les Alexander has never gone cheap if an interested superstar was on the market. He allowed Daryl Morey to pursue Chris Bosh, to nearly trade for Pau Gasol and approved deals for Clyde Drexler, Scottie Pippen and Charles Barkley. The Rockets don’t play in a city like Miami, New York or Los Angeles though and that’s been the issue attracting top-tier free agent talent.

The Astros, recently sold to Jim Crane, cut payroll in advance of his first season at the helm but obviously will let that number rise as revenues increase courtesy of Comcast. A team with 90-100 losses doesn’t need to spend hundreds of millions in free agency but using those funds for draft picks and rebuilding the international scouting department seem like wise short-term goals.

As the farm system improves, then Houston can try wooing the mega-stars to Minute Maid. And local television revenue allows that.

It’s not a guarantee for either franchise that more money equates to more success, but it can’t hurt.