Sphere Entertainment (SPHR) 10-K2022 FY Annual report

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. is a Delaware corporation with our principal executive offices at Two Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY, 10121. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to “we,” “us,” “our,” “MSG Entertainment” or the “Company” refer collectively to Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., a holding company, and its direct and indirect subsidiaries. We conduct substantially all of our business activities discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K through MSG Entertainment Group, LLC and its direct and indirect subsidiaries.

The Company reports on a fiscal year basis ending on June 30th. In this annual report on Form 10-K, the fiscal years ended on June 30, 2022, 2021 and 2020 are referred to as “Fiscal Year 2022,” “Fiscal Year 2021” and “Fiscal Year 2020”, respectively, and the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 is referred to as “Fiscal Year 2023.”

MSG Entertainment is a leader in live entertainment comprised of iconic venues, marquee entertainment brands, regional sports and entertainment networks, popular dining and nightlife offerings, and a premier music festival. As of June 30, 2022, we managed our business through three operating segments:

Our strategy is to leverage our Company’s portfolio of marquee assets and brands — which includes renowned venues, entertainment brands and regional sports and entertainment networks —to create world-class live experiences. This unique collection of assets, coupled with our deep relationships in the entertainment and sports industries, our strong connection with diverse and passionate audiences, and our continued commitment to innovation, are what set the Company apart and represent a substantial opportunity for growth.

Our Company delivers unforgettable live experiences — all in extraordinary settings located in some of the country’s most important entertainment markets. This creates a significant demand for an association with our brands by a wide selection of artists, sporting events, premier companies and the public. And with a foundation of iconic venues, our Company has a proven ability to leverage the strength of our industry relationships, marketing assets, customer database and live event expertise to create compelling performance, promotion and distribution opportunities for artists, events and productions.

Specifically, through our Entertainment segment, the Company produces, presents and hosts a variety of live entertainment events, such as concerts, sporting events, family shows, performing arts events, special events and wholly-owned productions. In addition, the Company hosts two of the most recognized franchises in professional sports — the NBA’s Knicks and the NHL’s Rangers. These live events are held at the Company’s venues, The Garden, Hulu Theater, Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, and The Chicago Theatre. With seating capacities and configurations that range from 2,800 to 21,000, our diverse collection of venues enables us to showcase a multitude of acts and events that cover a wide spectrum of genres to diverse audiences. The Company is also expanding its portfolio of venues with the construction of MSG Sphere at The Venetian in Las Vegas.

In addition, our Entertainment segment includes our controlling interest in BCE, the entertainment production company that owns and operates the Boston Calling Music Festival.

Our Company is an established industry leader that books a wide variety of live entertainment events in our venues, which perennially include some of the biggest names in music and entertainment. Over the last several years, our venues have been key destinations for artists such as the Eagles, U2, Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney, Drake, Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, Harry Styles, Dead and Company, Phish, Fleetwood Mac, Kacey Musgraves, Eric Clapton, Josh Groban, Andrea Boccelli, Jennifer Lopez, Carrie Underwood, Justin Timberlake, P!nk, Chris Stapleton, Radiohead, Barbra Streisand, Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande, Sebastian Maniscalco, Trevor Noah, John Mulaney and Dave Chappelle.

In addition, we have successfully developed new ways to increase the utilization of our venues, while creating unique experiences for artists and fans with our various residencies — including The Garden’s first music franchise: Billy Joel at The Garden. This extraordinary residency is at a historic 81 performances and counting since it began in January 2014, bringing Billy Joel’s lifetime performances at The World’s Most Famous Arena to 127 (through July 2022). The Company’s other current residencies include the multi-year, dual-city residency of Tedeschi Trucks Band at both the Beacon Theatre and The Chicago Theatre. The Company has also in recent years successfully created other unique bookings and residencies across its portfolio of venues, including Jerry Seinfeld at the Beacon Theatre, Dave Chappelle at Radio City Music Hall, Phish’s 13-night “Baker’s Dozen” run at The Garden, Ali Wong at the Beacon Theatre, Trey Anastasio’s eight-week virtual residency at the Beacon Theatre — a first for the Company — and Josh Groban’s “Great Big Radio City Show.”

Although we primarily license our venues to third-party promoters for a fee, we also promote or co-promote shows. If we serve as promoters or co-promoters of a show, we have economic risk relating to the event.

MSG Sports’ professional sports teams, the Knicks and Rangers, are two of the most recognized franchises in sports, with passionate, multi-generational fanbases. The Company has long-term Arena License Agreements with MSG Sports that require

the Knicks and the Rangers to play their home games at The Garden, allowing us to continue hosting their long-time fans at The World’s Most Famous Arena.

Our Company also promotes, produces and/or presents a broad array of other live sporting events, including professional boxing, college basketball, college hockey, professional bull riding, mixed martial arts, esports and wrestling. Many of these events are among the most popular in our history and are perennial highlights on our annual calendar, as well as some of The Garden’s longest-running associations.

Professional boxing has had a long history with The Garden. The Garden famously hosted Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s 1971 “Fight of the Century,” considered among the greatest sporting events in modern history, as well as numerous other boxing greats, including: Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Sugar Ray Robinson, Willie Pep, Emile Griffith, George Foreman, Roberto Duran, Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Ray Leonard, Lennox Lewis, Roy Jones, Jr., Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Miguel Cotto and Wladimir Klitschko. In recent years, boxing’s top fighters have called The Garden home, including former unified lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez, former three weight class champion Vasyl Lomachenko and super middleweight Edgar Berlanga. In 2022, for the first-time in The Garden’s history, two women headlined a boxing event when Katie Taylor faced off against Amanda Serrano in front of a sold-out crowd for the undisputed lightweight championship.

Since the return of professional mixed martial arts in New York State in 2016, The Garden regularly hosts top UFC events, as well as Bellator MMA events and the Professional Fighters League, which has held events at Hulu Theater, including its inaugural World Championships.

For the first time in venue history, the Madison Square Garden Complex hosted professional darts when the US Darts Masters and the North American Championship took place at Hulu Theater in 2022, which also marked the first time a professional darts championship was held in New York City.

Other world-class sporting events have included the NBA All-Star Game in 2015, and the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball East Regional Finals, which The Garden hosted in 2014 and 2017. The widely popular season-ending tournament is set to return to The Garden in 2023.

In 2021, the production returned for a shortened run — a result of the COVID-19 pandemic — welcoming over 400,000 guests across 101 performances and serving as a source of joy and inspiration for many fans.

With the return of the beloved lyrical number “Snow” in 2021, the Rockettes now perform in nine numbers throughout the 90-minute production — with more technically complex and different styles of dance than ever before.

We continue to pursue opportunities to generate greater brand awareness, including through television and public appearances and dance education offerings. We are also committed to ensuring that the best dancers from all backgrounds, cultures, races, religions and ethnicities can become Rockettes, and are actively strengthening our relationships within the dance community, expanding where we hold auditions and scouting sessions, and eliminating financial barriers to entry, including for Rockettes Conservatory, our dancer development program. Rockettes Conservatory is an invite-only, week-long intensive training program held at Radio City Music Hall and offered at no cost to participants. The program was designed as an investment in promising dancers’ futures, and in addition to becoming an inclusive talent pipeline for future Rockettes, conservatory ensures the dance company continues to evolve by attracting the best dancers. Additionally, to create a more inclusive line by broadening the number of dancers eligible to become Rockettes, the organization announced an expanded height requirement beginning with the April 2022 audition.

The Company operates a mix of iconic performance venues that continue to build on their historic prominence as destinations for unforgettable experiences and events.

We own or operate under long-term leases a total of five venues in New York City and Chicago. These venues are: The Garden, Hulu Theater, Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre in New York City; and The Chicago Theatre. The Company is also building a new venue in Las Vegas, MSG Sphere at The Venetian and, in 2018, we purchased land in Stratford, London which we expect will become home to a future MSG Sphere.

Broadway play to perform at The Garden with an entirely free performance for 18,000 New York City public school students. The Garden also continues to be home to two of MSG Sports’ professional sports franchises — the Knicks and Rangers.

The current Madison Square Garden Complex, located between 31st and 33rd Streets and Seventh and Eighth Avenues on Manhattan’s West Side, opened on February 11, 1968 with a salute to the United Service Organizations hosted by Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. From a structural standpoint, the construction of the current Garden was considered an engineering wonder for its time, including its famous circular shape and unique, cable supported ceiling, which contributes to its intimate feel. It was the first large structure built over an active railroad track. The builder, R.E. McKee, had a national reputation and was later recognized as a “Master Builder” by the construction industry. Architect Charles Luckman had one of the largest firms in the country and designed such buildings as the Prudential Tower in Boston, NASA’s flight center in Houston and the Forum in Inglewood, CA.

Following a three-year, top-to-bottom renovation, in October 2013, The Garden was fully transformed, featuring improved sightlines, additional entertainment and dining options, new concourses, upgraded hospitality areas, new technology, unique historic exhibits, and a completely transformed interior, where the intimacy of the arena bowl and The Garden’s world-famous ceiling were maintained. Focused on the total fan experience, the renovation was designed to benefit everyone in attendance, whether first-time visitors, season ticket subscribers, athletes, artists, suite holders or marketing partners. The Garden’s transformation ensured that attending an event at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” remained unlike anywhere else.

We own the Madison Square Garden Complex, the platform on which it is built and development rights (including air rights) above our property. Madison Square Garden sits atop Pennsylvania Station (“Penn Station”), a major commuter hub in Manhattan, which is owned by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). While the development rights we own would permit us to expand in the future, any such use of development rights would require various approvals from the City of New York. The Garden seats up to approximately 21,000 spectators for entertainment and sporting events and, along with Hulu Theater, contains approximately 1,100,000 square feet of floor space over 11 levels.

In 1978, Radio City Music Hall was designated a New York City landmark by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission and a national landmark on the National Register of Historic Places. We acquired the lease in 1997, and in 1999, performed a complete restoration that returned the legendary theater to its original grandeur. The acclaimed restoration touched all aspects of the venue, including burnishing the ceilings of Radio City Music Hall with 720,000 sheets of gold and aluminum leaf, replacing the existing stage curtain with a new 112-foot wide golden silk curtain, and cleaning the three-story tall mural “The Fountain of Youth,” by Ezra Winter, which looms above the grand staircase. State-of-the-art sound systems, lighting and HDTV capabilities

were also installed.

We lease Radio City Music Hall, located at Sixth Avenue and 50th Street in Manhattan, pursuant to a long-term lease agreement. In July 2021, the Company extended the term of the lease, previously set to expire in 2023, until August 31, 2038 with an option to renew for an additional 10 years by providing two years’ notice prior to expiration.

In December 2021, the Company extended the term of our lease on the Beacon Theatre, previously set to expire in 2026, until December 31, 2036 with an option to renew for an additional 10 years by providing notice prior to expiration.

In October 2007, to provide us with an anchor for content and distribution in a key market in the Midwest, we purchased the legendary The Chicago Theatre, a venue with approximately 3,600 seats. The Chicago Theatre, which features its famous six-story-high “C-H-I-C-A-G-O” marquee, was built in 1921 and designed in the French Baroque style by architects Cornelius W. Rapp and George L. Rapp. It is the oldest surviving example of this architectural style in Chicago today, and was designated a Chicago landmark building in 1983.

The Company is progressing with its creation of MSG Sphere at The Venetian, adjacent to the Strip in Las Vegas, which will utilize cutting-edge technologies to create immersive experiences on an unprecedented scale. MSG Sphere is an entirely new medium, uniquely built for immersive entertainment experiences, and key design features include:

These technologies will come together to create a powerful platform, which we believe will make MSG Sphere the venue of choice for a wide variety of content — including original immersive attractions, concerts, residencies, and corporate and marquee events.

For this project, the Company began serving as construction manager in December 2020, providing it with significant transparency and control over the construction process, including direct engagement and supervision of subcontractors.

Because of the transformative nature of these venues, we believe there could be other markets — both domestic and international — where MSG Sphere can be successful. The design of MSG Sphere will be flexible to accommodate a wide range of sizes and capacities — from large-scale to smaller and more intimate — based on the needs of any individual market.

As we explore selectively extending the MSG Sphere network beyond Las Vegas to other markets around the world, the Company’s intention is to utilize several options, such as non-recourse debt financing, joint ventures, equity partners and a managed venue model.

In February 2018, we announced the purchase of land in Stratford, London, which we expect will become home to a future MSG Sphere. The Company submitted a planning application to the local planning authority in March 2019 and that process, which requires various stages of review to be completed and approvals to be granted, is ongoing. Therefore, we do not have a definitive timeline at this time.

See “Part II — Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources — MSG Spheres.”

MSG Networks, which the Company acquired in July 2021, is an industry leader in sports production, content development and distribution. It includes two award-winning regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network and MSG+, a companion streaming service, MSG GO, and other digital properties.

The foundation of MSG Networks’ programming is its professional sports coverage. MSG Network and MSG+ feature a wide range of compelling sports content, including exclusive live local games and other programming of the Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, Devils and Sabres, as well as significant coverage of the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills. MSG Networks also showcases a wide array of other sports and entertainment programming, which includes Westchester Knicks basketball, New York Riptide lacrosse, as well as horse racing, soccer, poker, tennis, mixed martial arts and boxing programs.

MSG Network and MSG+ collectively air hundreds of live professional games each year, along with a comprehensive lineup of other sporting events and original programming designed to give fans behind-the-scenes access and insight into the teams and players they love. This content includes pre- and post-game coverage throughout the seasons, along with team-related programming that features coaches, players and more, all of which capitalizes on the enthusiasm for the teams featured on MSG Network and MSG+.

MSG Networks is also positioned as one of the premium destinations for sports gaming content. In Fiscal Year 2022, MSG Networks debuted three new sports gaming shows prior to the legalization of mobile sports gaming in New York — The Bettor Half Hour, The Betting Exchange, and Odds with Ends. Each show features a mix of sports gaming experts and former New York athletes delivering sports gaming content in a fun and informative way.

Tao Group Hospitality develops, owns and operates many of the most successful entertainment dining and nightlife venues in the world. Since opening its first venue in 2000, Tao Group Hospitality has been creating some of the hospitality industry’s most innovative experiences. In April 2021, Tao Group Hospitality acquired Hakkasan, creating a global leader in premium hospitality. Following the acquisition, the Company has an approximately 67% indirect controlling interest in the combined business.

Tao Group Hospitality’s portfolio features over 70 branded locations within 60 venues (a single venue may have multiple branded locations on-site) in over 20 markets across five continents – with a collection of world-renowned brands, including: Tao, Marquee, Lavo, Beauty & Essex, Cathédrale, Hakkasan and Omnia. Tao Group Hospitality has multiple branded locations in New York City, Las Vegas, Southern California, London, Singapore, Los Cabos, Chicago, Mumbai and one branded location in each of the following markets: Miami, Honolulu, Connecticut, Shanghai, Marrakech, Oslo, Sydney, Bodrum, Riyadh, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Mexico City. Through a combination of license, management and lease agreements, Tao Group Hospitality has a vast network of partners that provide the company with additional opportunities for expansion and brand development both domestically and internationally.

Tao Group Hospitality is continuing to actively develop opportunities to expand in select markets both domestically and internationally. In Fiscal Year 2022, Tao Group Hospitality opened two brand new locations, Ling Ling Mexico City as well as Lavo Ristorante in Los Angeles, and subsequent to the end of Fiscal Year 2022, Tao Group Hospitality opened Fleur Room in Los Angeles. Tao Group Hospitality has a pipeline of new branded locations planned for Fiscal Year 2023, including a waterfront restaurant in Miami.

The Company employs Tao Group Hospitality’s expertise to create new and innovative premium hospitality experiences that can be integrated across the Entertainment segment’s live offerings, driving value and growth across the Company. This includes at The Garden, where Tao Group Hospitality is playing an increasingly larger role in the food and hospitality offerings. In addition, Tao Group Hospitality operates, in partnership with the Company, Suite Sixteen at The Garden — a members-only suite that combines Tao-style luxury with top sports and entertainment events to deliver a unique premium experience for fans. Tao Group Hospitality is also a strategic partner with the Company in Las Vegas, where it is helping to create a world-class guest experience for MSG Sphere at The Venetian. Tao Group Hospitality has a 17-year history in the Las Vegas market, where — with the acquisition of Hakkasan — it now has 14 branded locations.

Our Company explores investment opportunities that strengthen its existing position within the entertainment landscape and/or allow us to exploit our assets and core competencies for growth.

In July 2018, the Company acquired a 30% interest in SACO Technologies Inc. (“SACO”), a global provider of high-performance LED video lighting and media solutions. The Company is utilizing SACO as a preferred display technology provider for MSG Sphere and is benefiting from agreed-upon commercial terms. In addition, the Company also has other investments in various entertainment, hospitality companies and related technology companies, accounted for under the equity method.

The rules, regulations, policies and procedures affecting our business are subject to change. The following paragraphs describe the existing legal and regulatory requirements that are most significant to our business today; they do not purport to describe all present and proposed laws and regulations affecting our business.

Our Entertainment and Tao Group Hospitality businesses are subject to the general powers of federal, state and local government, as well as foreign governmental authorities, to deal with matters of health and public safety.

Our Entertainment business is subject to legislation governing the sale and resale of tickets and consumer protection statutes generally.

We are subject to data privacy and protection laws, regulations, policies and contractual obligations that apply to the collection, transmission, storage, processing and use of personal information or personal data, which among other things, impose certain requirements relating to the privacy and security of personal information. The variety of laws and regulations governing data privacy and protection, and the use of the internet as a commercial medium are rapidly evolving, extensive and complex, and may include provisions and obligations that are inconsistent with one another or uncertain in their scope or application.

The data protection landscape is rapidly evolving in the United States. For example, California passed a comprehensive data privacy law, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (the “CCPA”), and other states including Virginia and Colorado have also passed similar laws. Additionally, the California Privacy Rights Act (the “CPRA”) will impose additional data protection obligations on covered businesses, including additional consumer rights procedures and obligations, limitations on data uses, new audit requirements for higher risk data, and constraints on certain uses of sensitive data. The majority of the CPRA provisions will go into effect on January 1, 2023, and additional compliance investment and potential business process changes may be required. Further, there are several legislative proposals in the United States, at both the federal and state level, that could impose new privacy and security obligations.

In addition, governmental authorities and private litigants continue to bring actions against companies for online collection, use, dissemination and security practices that are unfair or deceptive.

Our international operations are subject to laws and regulations of the countries in which they operate, as well as international bodies, such as the European Union. We are subject to laws and regulations relating to, among other things, foreign privacy and data protection, such as the E.U. General Data Protection Regulation, currency and repatriation of funds, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act. These laws and regulations apply to the activities of the Company and, in some cases, to individual directors, officers and employees of the Company and agents acting on our behalf. Certain of these laws impose stringent requirements on how we can conduct our foreign operations and could place restrictions on our business and partnering activities.

Our MSG Networks business is also subject to regulation by the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”). The FCC imposes regulations directly on programming networks and also on certain Distributors that affect programming networks indirectly.

Our programming networks must provide closed captioning of video programming for the hearing impaired and meet certain captioning quality standards. The FCC and certain of our affiliation agreements require us to certify compliance with such standards. We are also required to provide closed captioning on certain video content delivered via the Internet.

FCC rules require multichannel video programming distributors (“MVPDs”) to ensure that all commercials comply with specified volume standards, and certain of our affiliation agreements require us to certify compliance with such standards.

Any programming intended primarily for children 12 years of age and under and associated Internet websites that we may offer must comply with certain limits on commercial matter and certain of our affiliation agreements require us to certify compliance with such standards.

Distributors are prohibited from transmitting obscene programming, and certain of our affiliation agreements require us to refrain from including such programming on our networks.

The FCC has made changes to the program carriage rules, which prohibit Distributors from favoring their affiliated programming networks over unaffiliated similarly situated programming networks in the rates, terms and conditions of carriage agreements between programming networks and cable operators or other MVPDs. Some of these recent changes to the rules could make it more difficult for our programming networks to challenge a Distributor’s decision to decline to carry one of our programming networks or to discriminate against one of our programming networks.

The FCC periodically considers examining whether to adopt rules regulating how programmers package and price their networks, such as whether programming networks require Distributors to purchase and carry undesired programming in return for the right to carry desired programming and, if so, whether such arrangements should be prohibited.

Our Tao Group Hospitality business competes with other restaurants and nightlife venues in over 20 markets across five continents. Two of the primary geographic areas in which we operate, New York City and Las Vegas, are among the most competitive markets in the world, with thousands of restaurants and nightlife venues. We also have significant operations in Southern California and London. Our restaurants and nightlife venues outside of New York City and Las Vegas similarly compete with other dining and nightlife options in their respective markets and elsewhere. We compete with these other options on the basis of the quality, location and atmosphere, including the nature and condition of the setting, of our venues, our service, the price, quality and presentation of our food, and the overall experience we provide.

The health and safety of our employees, contractors, performing artists, athletes and guests at our venues is our top priority. In response to COVID-19, measures have been taken to ensure that health and safety protocols are in place and enforced throughout our offices and our venues. We also supported our employees through our relief fund, wellness programming and remote working capabilities. We believe we have been able to resume our business operations without sacrificing this commitment to keeping our employees and contractors safe while working on-site.

The following is a summary of the principal risks that could adversely affect our business, operations and financial results. For a more complete discussion of the material risks facing our business, please see below.

Our business competes, in certain respects and to varying degrees, with other leisure-time activities such as television, radio, motion pictures, sporting events and other live performances, restaurants and nightlife venues, the Internet, social media and social networking platforms, and online and mobile services, including sites for online content distribution, video on demand and other alternative sources of entertainment and information, in addition to competing for concerts with other event venues, and other restaurants and nightlife venues, for total entertainment dollars in our marketplace.

New or existing programming networks that are owned by or affiliated with broadcast networks such as NBC, ABC, CBS or Fox, or broadcast station owners, such as Sinclair, may have a competitive advantage over our networks in obtaining distribution through the “bundling” of agreements to carry those programming networks with the agreement giving the Distributor the right to carry a broadcast station owned by or affiliated with the network. For example, regional sports and entertainment networks affiliated with broadcast networks are carried by certain Distributors that do not currently carry our networks. Our business depends, in part, upon viewer preferences and audience acceptance of the programming on our networks. These factors are often unpredictable and subject to influences that are beyond our control, such as the quality and appeal of competing programming, the performance of the sports teams whose media rights we control, general economic conditions and the availability of other entertainment options. We may not be able to successfully predict interest in proposed new programming and viewer preferences could cause new programming not to be successful or cause our existing programming to decline in popularity. If our programming does not gain or maintain the level of audience acceptance we, our

advertisers or Distributors expect, it could negatively affect advertising or affiliation fee revenues. An increase in our costs associated with programming, including original programming, may materially negatively affect our business and results of operations.

The extent to which competitive programming, including NBA and NHL games, are available on other programming networks and distribution platforms can adversely affect our competitive position.

The competitive environment in which our MSG Networks business operates may also be affected by technological developments. It is difficult to predict the future effect of technology on our competitive position. With respect to advertising services, factors affecting the degree and extent of competition include prices, reach and audience demographics, among others. Some of our competitors are large companies that have greater financial resources available to them than we do, which could impact our viewership and the resulting advertising revenues.

In order to maintain the competitive positions of our Tao Group Hospitality branded locations, we must invest on a continuous basis in maintaining the high-quality atmosphere of our branded locations, notable performers and promotional events, as well as maintaining and developing new guest relationships. In addition, we must maintain a competitive pricing structure for food and drinks at our branded locations, given the number of alternative venue options available to potential customers. We cannot be assured that such investments will generate revenues that are sufficient to justify our investment or even that exceed our expenses.

As a result of our commercial agreements with MSG Sports, the success of our business is also impacted in part by the popularity of MSG Sports’ Knicks and Rangers franchises with their fan bases and, in varying degrees, the teams achieving on-court and on-ice success, which can generate fan enthusiasm, resulting in additional suite, sponsorship, food and beverage and merchandise sales during the teams’ regular seasons. Furthermore, success in the regular season may qualify the Knicks and Rangers for participation in post-season playoffs, which provides us with additional revenue by increasing the number of games played by the teams at The Garden, potentially helping improve attendance in subsequent seasons and increasing the popularity of our suites and sponsorships.

MSG Sphere in Las Vegas is a complex construction project that relies on subcontractors obtaining components from a variety of sources around the world. The Company initially engaged Hunt Construction Group Inc. (d/b/a AECOM Hunt) (“AECOM”) to oversee and perform construction work for the project (on a cost-plus basis). In December 2020, the Company terminated its construction agreement with AECOM and assumed the role of construction manager to gain greater transparency and control over the construction process, including direct engagement and supervision of subcontractors. In our capacity as construction manager for the project we aim to aggressively manage the cost of the project in this volatile environment to minimize any potential cost increases. While we believe our decision to serve as construction manager will allow greater cost control, it may increase the risks of delays and higher than anticipated costs.

For more information regarding the costs of MSG Spheres, see “Part II — Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources — MSG Spheres.”

In light of the ambitious and unique design of MSG Sphere, including the use of technologies that have not previously been employed in major entertainment venues, the risk of delays and higher than anticipated costs are elevated. In addition to this, as the Company continues with the construction of its Las Vegas venue, the Company may face unexpected project delays, costs and other complications. In April 2020, the Company announced that it was suspending construction of MSG Sphere in Las Vegas due to COVID-19 related factors that were outside of its control, including supply chain issues. This was followed in August 2020, by the Company disclosing that it had resumed full construction with a lengthened timetable in order to better preserve cash through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company remains committed to bringing MSG Sphere to Las Vegas and expects to open the venue in calendar year 2023.

Our ground lease with The Venetian, as amended, for the land where MSG Sphere in Las Vegas is being constructed requires that we achieve substantial completion of the project no later than September 30, 2023, subject to certain permitted extensions. If we do not achieve this outside completion date, The Venetian could terminate the lease.

In February 2018, we announced the purchase of land in Stratford, London, which we expect will become home to a future MSG Sphere. The Company submitted a planning application to the local planning authority in March 2019 and that process, which requires various stages of review to be completed and approvals to be granted, is ongoing. Therefore, we do not have a definitive timeline at this time.

MSG Sphere will employ novel and transformative technologies and new applications of existing technologies. As a result, there can be no assurance that MSG Sphere will achieve the technical, operational and artistic goals the Company is seeking. Any failure to do so could have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations.

While the Company believes that these next-generation venues will enable new experiences and innovative opportunities to engage with audiences, there can be no assurance that customers, artists, promoters, advertisers and marketing partners will embrace this new platform. The substantial cost of building MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, as well as the costs and/or financing needs with respect to MSG Sphere in London, may constrain the Company’s ability to undertake other initiatives during these multi-year construction periods.

We are required to obtain public performance licenses from music performing rights organizations, commonly known as “PROs,” in connection with the performance of musical works at concerts and certain other live events held at our venues. In exchange for public performance licenses, PROs are paid a per-event royalty, traditionally calculated either as a percentage of ticket revenue or a per-ticket amount. The PRO royalty obligation of any individual event is generally paid by, or charged to, the promoter of the event.

If we are unable to obtain these licenses, or are unable to obtain them on favorable terms consistent with past practice, it may have a negative effect on our business and results of operations. An increase in the royalty rate and/or the revenue base on which the royalty rate is applied could substantially increase the cost of presenting concerts and certain other live events at our venues. If we are no longer able to pass all or a portion of these royalties on to promoters (or other venue licensees), it may have a negative effect on our business and results of operations.

Our properties are subject to, and benefit from, certain easements. For example, the “breezeway” into the Madison Square Garden Complex from Seventh Avenue in New York City is a significant easement that we share with other property owners.

Additionally, our planned MSG Sphere in Las Vegas will have the benefit of easements with respect to the planned pedestrian bridge to The Venetian. Our ability to continue to utilize these and other easements, including for advertising and promotional purposes, requires us to comply with a number of conditions. Certain adjoining property owners have easements over our property, which we are required to maintain so long as those property owners meet certain conditions. It is possible that we will be unable to continue to access or maintain any easements on terms favorable to us, or at all, which could have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations.

Many arenas, ballparks and stadiums nationally and in New York City have received significant public support, such as tax exempt financing, other tax benefits, direct subsidies and other contributions, including for public infrastructure critical to the facilities such as parking lots and transit improvements. Our Madison Square Garden Complex benefits from a more limited real estate tax exemption pursuant to an agreement with the City of New York, subject to certain conditions, and legislation enacted by the State of New York in 1982. For Fiscal Year 2022, the tax exemption was $41.9 million. From time to time there

have been calls to repeal or amend the tax exemption. Repeal or amendment would require legislative action by New York State.

We are party to Arena License Agreements with subsidiaries of MSG Sports that require two of MSG Sports’ professional sports teams – the Knicks and Rangers – to play all of their home games at The Garden. Under the Arena License Agreements, which each have a term of 35 years (unless extended), the Knicks and the Rangers pay an annual license fee in connection with their respective use of The Garden. In addition, the Arena License Agreements provide us with additional revenue opportunities. Under the Arena License Agreements, the teams are responsible for 100% of any real property or similar taxes applicable to The Garden.

There can be no assurance that the tax exemption will not be amended in a manner that imposes property tax or repealed in its entirety, either of which could have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations.

MSG Networks’ success is dependent upon affiliation relationships with a limited number of Distributors. Existing affiliation agreements of our programming networks expire during each of the next several years and we cannot provide assurances that we will be able to renew these affiliation agreements or obtain terms as attractive as our existing agreements in the event of a renewal. For example, we have not been able to successfully renew our affiliation agreement with Comcast since its expiration in September 2021.

Our affiliation agreements generally require us to meet certain content criteria, such as minimum thresholds for professional event telecasts throughout the calendar year on our networks. If we do not meet these criteria, remedies may be available to our Distributors, such as fee reductions, rebates or refunds and/or termination of these agreements in some cases. For example, we recorded $10.7 million in Fiscal Year 2022 for affiliate rebates.

In addition, under certain circumstances, an existing affiliation agreement may expire and we and the Distributor may not have finalized negotiations of either a renewal of that agreement or a new agreement for certain periods of time. In certain of these circumstances, Distributors may continue to carry the service(s) until the execution of definitive renewal or replacement agreements (or until we or the Distributor determine that carriage should cease).

Occasionally we may have disputes with Distributors over the terms of our affiliation agreements. If not resolved through business discussions, such disputes could result in litigation and/or actual or threatened termination of an existing agreement. The loss of any of our significant Distributors, the failure to renew on terms as attractive as our existing agreements (or to do so in a timely manner) or disputes with our counterparties relating to the interpretation of their agreements with us, could materially negatively affect our business and results of operations.

The pay television industry is highly concentrated, with a relatively small number of Distributors serving a significant percentage of pay television subscribers that receive our programming networks, thereby affording the largest Distributors significant leverage in their relationship with programming networks, including ours. Substantially all of our affiliation fee revenue comes from our top four Distributors. Further consolidation in the industry could reduce the number of Distributors available to distribute our programming networks and increase the negotiating leverage of certain Distributors, which could adversely affect our revenue. In some cases, if a Distributor is acquired, the affiliation agreement of the acquiring Distributor will govern following the acquisition. In those circumstances, the acquisition of a Distributor that is a party to one or more affiliation agreements with us on terms that are more favorable to us than that of the acquirer could have a material negative impact on our business and results of operations.

We must successfully adapt to technological advances in our industry and the manner in which consumers watch sporting events, including the emergence of alternative distribution platforms. Our ability to exploit new distribution platforms and viewing technologies may affect our ability to maintain and/or grow our business. Emerging forms of content distribution provide different economic models and compete with current distribution methods in ways that are not entirely predictable. Such competition has reduced and could continue to reduce demand for our programming networks or for the offerings of our Distributors and, in turn, reduce our revenue from these sources. Content providers (such as certain broadcast and cable networks) and new content developers, Distributors and syndicators are distributing programming directly to consumers on an OTT basis. In addition to existing direct-to-consumer streaming services such as Amazon Prime, Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, ESPN+, HBO Max and Peacock, additional services have launched and more will likely launch in the near term, which may include sports-focused services that may compete with our networks for viewers and advertising revenue. Such direct-to-consumer OTT distribution of content has contributed to consumers eliminating or downgrading their pay television subscription, which results in certain consumers not receiving our programming networks. If we are unable to offset this loss of subscribers through incremental distribution of our networks or through rate increases, our business and results of operations will be adversely affected. Gaming, television and other console and device manufacturers, Distributors and others, such as Microsoft, Apple and Roku, are offering and/or developing technology to offer video programming, including in some cases, various OTT platforms. Such changes have and may continue to impact the revenues we are able to generate from our traditional distribution methods, by decreasing the viewership of our programming networks and/or by making advertising on our programming networks less valuable to advertisers.

In order to respond to these developments, we may need to implement changes to our business models and strategies and there can be no assurance that any such changes will prove to be successful or that the business models and strategies we develop will be as profitable as our current business models and strategies. For example, we intend to launch a direct-to-consumer offering in the future and there can be no assurance that we will successfully develop and execute our strategy for such offering, and our success may depend on a number of factors, including our ability to: (i) acquire direct-to-consumer rights from the professional sports teams and/or leagues we currently broadcast on our networks; (ii) appropriately price our offering; (iii) offer competitive content and programming and (iv) ensure our direct-to-consumer technology operates efficiently. If we fail to adapt to emerging technologies, our appeal to Distributors and our targeted audiences might decline and there could be a material negative effect on our business and results of operations.

During the last few years, the number of subscribers to traditional MVPD services in the U.S. has been declining. In addition, Distributors have introduced, marketed and/or modified tiers or bundles of programming that have impacted the number of subscribers that receive our programming networks, including tiers or bundles of programming that exclude our programming networks. As a result of these factors, the Company has experienced a decrease in subscribers in each of the last several fiscal years, which has adversely affected our operating results.

If traditional MVPD service offerings are not attractive to consumers due to pricing, increased competition from OTT services, increased dissatisfaction with the quality of traditional MVPD services, poor economic conditions or other factors, more consumers may (i) cancel their traditional MVPD service subscriptions or choose not to subscribe to traditional MVPD services, (ii) elect to instead subscribe to OTT services, which in some cases may be offered at a lower price-point and may not include our programming networks or (iii) elect to subscribe to smaller bundles of programming which may not include our

The pricing and volume of advertising may be affected by shifts in spending away from more traditional media toward online and mobile offerings or towards new ways of purchasing advertising, such as through automated purchasing, dynamic advertising insertion, third parties selling local advertising spots and advertising exchanges, some or all of which may not be as advantageous to the Company as current advertising methods.

In addition, we cannot ensure that our programming will achieve favorable ratings. Our ratings depend partly upon unpredictable and volatile factors, many of which are beyond our control, such as team performance, whether live sports games are being played, viewer preferences, the level of distribution of our programming, competing programming and the availability of other entertainment options. A shift in viewer preferences could cause our advertising revenues to decline as a result of changes to the ratings for our programming and materially negatively affect our business and results of operations.

Our business is dependent upon media rights agreements with professional sports teams. Upon expiration, we may seek renewal of these agreements and, if we do, we may be outbid by competing programming networks or others for these agreements or the renewal costs could substantially exceed our costs under the current agreements. Even if we are able to renew such agreements, the Company’s results could be adversely affected if escalations in sports programming rights costs are unmatched by increases in affiliation and advertising revenues. In addition, one or more of these teams may seek to establish their own programming offering or join one of our competitor’s offerings and, in certain circumstances, we may not have an opportunity to bid for the media rights.

Our MSG Networks business has historically been, and we expect will continue to be, dependent on the popularity of the NBA and NHL teams whose local media rights we control and, in varying degrees, those teams achieving on-court and on-ice success, which can generate fan enthusiasm, resulting in increased viewership and advertising revenues. Furthermore, success in the regular season may qualify a team for participation in the post-season, which generates increased excitement and interest in the teams, which can improve viewership and advertising revenues. Some of our teams have not participated in the post-season for extended periods of time, and may not participate in the post-season in the future. For example, the Knicks qualified for the post-season during the 2020-21 NBA season for the first time since the 2012-13 NBA season and the Sabres have not qualified for the post-season since the 2010-11 NHL season. In addition, if a team declines in popularity or fails to generate fan enthusiasm, this may negatively impact the terms on which our affiliate agreements are renewed. There can be no assurance that any sports team will generate fan enthusiasm or compete in post-season play and the failure to do so could result in a material negative effect on our business and results of operations.

Our MSG Networks business depends, in part, upon viewer preferences and audience acceptance of the programming on our networks. These factors are often unpredictable and subject to influences that are beyond our control, such as the quality and appeal of competing programming, general economic conditions and the availability of other entertainment options. We may not be able to successfully predict interest in proposed new programming and viewer preferences could cause new programming not to be successful or cause our existing programming to decline in popularity. If our programming does not gain or maintain the level of audience acceptance we, our advertisers or Distributors expect, it could negatively affect advertising or affiliation fee revenues.

In addition, we rely on third parties for sports and other programming for our networks. We compete with other providers of programming to acquire the rights to distribute such programming. If we fail to continue to obtain sports and other programming for our networks on reasonable terms for any reason, including as a result of competition, we could be forced to incur additional costs to acquire such programming or look for or develop alternative programming. An increase in our costs associated with programming, including original programming, may materially negatively affect our business and results of operations.

Our MSG Networks business uses third-party satellites and other systems to transmit our programming services to Distributors. We use distribution facilities that include uplinks, communications, satellites, and downlinks. Notwithstanding certain back-up and redundant systems and facilities maintained by our third-party providers, transmissions or quality of transmissions may be disrupted, including as a result of events that impair uplinks, downlinks or transmission facilities or the impairment of satellite or terrestrial facilities. In addition, the FCC has reallocated some of the spectrum on which these satellites operate for other uses, and satellite operators have begun to transition to use the resulting smaller amount of spectrum. This change in spectrum could cause our third-party providers to change the way they transmit our programming, including by using different satellites and potentially compressing the video, which could affect quality. It has also required many of our Distributors to acquire new equipment, or modify their current equipment, to receive our programming networks. If they fail to do so, or if there are any other disruptions in the transition process including by satellite operators transitioning to new transmission systems, our Distributors and their subscribers may no longer receive our programming. Part of the spectrum on which video programming networks were previously delivered has been and will be auctioned to wireless providers, for 5G and other services that could cause interference with the delivery of our programming.

The success of the existing Tao Group Hospitality venues depends in large part on their locations. Possible declines in neighborhoods where Tao Group Hospitality venues are located or adverse economic conditions in areas surrounding those neighborhoods could result in reduced sales in those venues. Further, Tao Group Hospitality’s growth strategy is based, in part, on the expansion of Tao Group Hospitality branded locations into new geographic markets where its business has not previously operated. For example, in April 2021, Tao Group Hospitality acquired Hakkasan, which included a global collection of hospitality assets including restaurants, bars, lounges and nightclubs in 18 cities across four continents. Desirable locations for new openings or for the relocation of existing branded locations may not be available at an acceptable cost when Tao Group Hospitality identifies a particular opportunity for a new venue or relocation. In addition, the success of new Tao Group Hospitality branded locations tends to expand or revive interest in Tao Group Hospitality branded locations that have been in operation for an extended period of time. Thus, the inability to successfully open new Tao Group Hospitality branded locations

could also negatively impact the existing Tao Group Hospitality business. The occurrence of one or more of these events could have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations.

The success of Tao Group Hospitality depends, in part, on certain key members of its management. The expertise of Tao Group Hospitality’s senior management team in developing, acquiring, reinventing, integrating and growing businesses, particularly those focused on entertainment and hospitality, has been and will continue to be a significant factor in the growth of Tao Group Hospitality’s business and the ability of Tao Group Hospitality to execute its business strategy. The loss of such key personnel could have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations.

The success of Tao Group Hospitality depends, in part, upon the reputation and popularity of the Tao Group Hospitality venues and brands. If customers have a poor experience at a restaurant or nightlife venue owned, operated or managed by Tao Group Hospitality, the Tao Group Hospitality branded locations may experience a decrease in customer traffic. Negative publicity with respect to, or reduced popularity of, any of the Tao Group Hospitality brands could adversely affect Tao Group Hospitality. Such publicity could relate to food quality, illness, injury or other health concerns, poor service, negative experiences or other problems and reduce demand in the Tao Group Hospitality business. For example, an outbreak or perceived outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic connected to one or more of Tao Group Hospitality’s branded locations could cause negative publicity directed at any of its brands and cause customers to avoid its branded locations. The risk of negative publicity is exacerbated by the growing influence of social media, which can result in immediate and widespread dissemination of information (which may be false) with limited ability on our part to respond to or correct such reports.

Our business depends upon the ability and willingness of consumers and businesses to purchase tickets at our venues, license suites and club memberships at The Garden, spend on food and beverages and merchandise, subscribe to packages of programming that includes our networks, and drive continued advertising, sponsorship and affiliate fee revenues, and these revenues are sensitive to general economic conditions, recession, fears of recession and consumer behavior. For example, following the 2008 financial crisis, we experienced a lower level of event bookings, reduced renewals of certain of our suite licenses and a decrease in advertising which adversely affected the Company’s results of operations. Further, the restaurant, nightlife and hospitality industries are often affected by changes in consumer tastes, national, regional and local economic conditions, discretionary spending priorities, demographic trends, traffic patterns and the type, number and location of competing businesses.

Our agreement with The Venetian for the land where MSG Sphere in Las Vegas is being constructed requires that we complete construction within specified time periods, subject to certain permitted extensions. The failure to meet these specified deadlines

could result in a termination of the lease.

We lease the Beacon Theatre and Radio City Music Hall under long-term leases that expire in 2036 and 2038. MSG Entertainment Group, LLC, the entity that guarantees the lease for Radio City Music Hall, is required to maintain a certain net worth that if not maintained would require the entity to post a letter of credit or provide cash collateral.

Tao Group Hospitality operates branded locations under various agreements that include leases with third parties and management agreements. The long-term success of Tao Group Hospitality depends in part on the availability of real estate, the ability to lease this real estate and the ability to enter into management agreements. As many of these agreements are with third parties over whom Tao Group Hospitality has little or no control, we may be unable to renew these agreements or enter into new agreements on acceptable terms or at all, and may be unable to obtain favorable agreements with venues generally, or in response to specific needs.

Some of these agreements include conditions that, if not met, would permit the counterparty to terminate the management agreement under certain circumstances. The ability to renew these agreements and obtain new agreements on favorable terms depends on a number of other factors, many of which are beyond the control of us or Tao Group Hospitality, such as national and local business conditions and competition from other businesses. There can be no assurance that Tao Group Hospitality will be able to renew these agreements on acceptable terms or at all, or that they will be able to obtain attractive agreements with appropriate venues or real estate owners, which could have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations.

Weather or other conditions, including natural disasters, in locations which we own or operate venues may affect patron attendance as well as sales of food and beverages and merchandise, among other things. Weather conditions may also require us to cancel or postpone events. Weather or other conditions may prevent us or our Distributors from providing our programming to customers or reduce advertising expenditures. Any of these events may have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations, and any such events may harm our ability to obtain or renew insurance coverage on favorable terms or at all.

From time to time, we may continue to explore opportunities to purchase or invest in other businesses, venues or assets that we believe will complement, enhance or expand our current business or that might otherwise offer us growth opportunities, including opportunities that may differ from the Company’s current businesses. Any transactions that we are able to identify and complete may involve risks, including the commitment of significant capital, the incurrence of indebtedness, the payment of advances, the diversion of management’s attention and resources from our existing business to develop and integrate the acquired or combined business, the inability to successfully integrate such business or assets into our operations, litigation or other claims in connection with acquisitions or against companies we invest in or acquire, our lack of control over certain companies, including joint ventures and other minority investments, the risk of not achieving the intended results and the exposure to losses if the underlying transactions or ventures are not successful. At times, we have had significant investments in businesses that we account for under the equity method of accounting, and we may again in the future. Certain of these investments have generated operating losses in the past and certain have required additional investments from us in the form of equity or loans. There can be no assurance that these investments will become profitable individually or in the aggregate or that they will not require material additional funding from us in the future.

We may not control the day-to-day operations of these investments. We have in the past written down and, to the extent that these investments are not successful in the future, we may write down all or a portion of such investments. Additionally, these businesses may be subject to laws, rules and other circumstances, and have risks in their operations, which may be similar to, or different from, those to which we are subject. Any of the foregoing risks could result in a material negative effect on our business and results of operations or adversely impact the value of our investments.

Our business is subject to the general powers of federal, state and local governments, as well as foreign governmental authorities. We are also subject to the rules, regulations and decisions of the NBA and NHL. Some FCC regulations apply to us directly and other FCC regulations, although imposed on Distributors, affect programming networks indirectly.

In addition, governmental authorities and private litigants continue to bring actions against companies for online collection, use, dissemination and security practices that are unfair or deceptive.

Our business is, and may in the future be, subject to a variety of other laws and regulations, including licensing, permitting, and historic designation and similar requirements; working conditions, labor, immigration and employment laws; health, safety and sanitation requirements; and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (and related state and local statutes).

Any changes to the legal and regulatory framework applicable to our business could have an adverse impact on our businesses and our failure to comply with applicable governmental laws and regulations, or to maintain necessary permits or licenses, could result in liability or government actions that could have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations.

As a result of ongoing labor market disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and otherwise, we have faced difficulty in maintaining staffing at our Entertainment and Tao Group Hospitality venues and retaining talent in our corporate departments. As a result, we have had to scale back hours and days of operations in certain markets and venues. If we are unable to attract and retain qualified people or to do so on reasonable terms, our performance, entertainment dining and nightlife venues could be short staffed or become more expensive to operate and our ability to meet our customers’ demand or expand Tao Group Hospitality branded locations could be limited, any of which could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.

In addition, increases in labor costs could also slow the growth of, or harm, Tao Group Hospitality, which has a substantial number of hourly employees whose compensation may be impacted by increases in government-imposed minimum wage rates. In addition, Tao Group Hospitality employs a substantial number of employees whose income is supplemented through the receipt of gratuities. In certain jurisdictions in which Tao Group Hospitality operates, the minimum hourly wage to which gratuity-eligible employees are entitled under law is lower than the minimum wage required to be paid to other employees, subject to the former’s receipt of sufficient gratuities. The difference between the two minimum rates is referred to as a “tip credit.” Governmental entities, including in New York, Las Vegas and Chicago, have acted to increase minimum wage rates in jurisdictions where Tao Group Hospitality operates or may operate in the future. In addition, governmental entities have acted to eliminate, or considered the elimination of, tip credits in the application of minimum wage laws. As minimum wage rates increase, or if tip credits are reduced or eliminated, Tao Group Hospitality may need to increase wages paid to a substantial number of employees, which could substantially increase the labor costs of Tao Group Hospitality. In addition, Tao Group Hospitality’s labor costs may increase if certain employees elect to be union represented and to collectively bargain their compensation. Tao Group Hospitality may be unable to offset these increased labor costs either through increased prices or changes to its operations, which could have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations.

Our business is dependent upon the efforts of unionized workers. As of June 30, 2022, approximately 38% of our employees are represented by unions. Approximately 7% of such union employees are subject to CBAs that were expired as of June 30, 2022 and approximately 44% are subject to CBAs that will expire by June 30, 2023 if they are not extended prior thereto. Any labor disputes, such as strikes or lockouts, with the unions with which we have CBAs could have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations (including our ability to produce or present concerts, programming, theatrical productions, sporting events and other events).

Additionally, NBA and NHL players are covered by CBAs. Both leagues have experienced labor difficulties in the past and may have labor issues in the future, such as player strikes or management lockouts. If any Knicks or Rangers games are cancelled because of any such labor difficulties, the loss of revenue, including from customers who would have attended home games at The Garden and from impacts to MSG Networks’ ability to produce or present programming would have a negative impact on our business and results of operations.

We rely upon various internal and third-party software or systems in the operation of our business, including, with respect to ticket sales, credit card processing, email marketing, point of sale transactions, database, inventory, human resource management and financial systems. From time to time, certain of these arrangements may not be covered by long-term agreements. The failure or unavailability of these internal or third-party services or systems, depending upon its severity and duration, could have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations.

There are inherent risks associated with producing and hosting events and operating, maintaining, renovating or constructing our venues and in operating our restaurant and nightlife venues. As a result, personal injuries, accidents and other incidents have occurred and may occur from time to time, which could subject us to claims and liabilities.

These risks may not be covered by insurance or could involve exposures that exceed the limits of any applicable insurance policy. Incidents in connection with events at any of our venues could also reduce attendance at our events and may have a negative impact on our revenue and results of operations. We seek to obtain contractual indemnities for events at our venues that we do not promote, and under the Arena License Agreements, MSG Sports and the Company have reciprocal indemnity obligations to each other in connection with the home games of the Knicks and Rangers held at The Garden. While we also maintain insurance policies that provide coverage for incidents in the ordinary course of business, there can be no assurance that such indemnities or insurance will be adequate at all times and in all circumstances.

From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are involved in various legal proceedings, including proceedings or lawsuits brought by governmental agencies, stockholders, customers, employees, private parties and other stakeholders, such as the litigations related to the Merger. The outcome of litigation is inherently unpredictable and, regardless of the merits of the claims, litigation may be expensive, time-consuming, disruptive to our operations, harmful to our reputation and distracting to management. As a result, we may incur liability from litigation (including in connection with settling such litigation) which could be material and for which we may not have available or adequate insurance coverage, or be subject to other forms of non-monetary relief which may adversely affect the Company. By its nature, the outcome of litigation is difficult to assess and quantify, and its continuing defense is costly. The liabilities and any defense costs we incur in connection with any such litigation could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

We have operations and own property outside of the United States. As a result, our business is subject to certain risks inherent in international business, many of which are beyond our control. These risks include:

Events or developments related to these and other risks associated with international operations could have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations.

We are highly leveraged with a significant amount of debt and we may continue to incur additional debt in the future. On June 30, 2022, MSG National Properties, LLC (“MSG National Properties”) and certain of our other subsidiaries entered into a five-year $650 million senior secured term loan facility and a five-year $100 million revolving credit facility, which are guaranteed by MSG Entertainment Group, LLC, to fund working capital needs, for general corporate purposes of MSG National Properties and its subsidiaries, and to make distributions to MSG Entertainment Group, LLC (the “National Properties Facilities”). In September 2019, certain subsidiaries of MSG Networks Inc., including MSGN Holdings L.P. (“MSGN L.P.”), incurred $100 million of debt to finance a cash tender offer for shares of its Class A common stock and entered into a credit facility consisting of an initial five-year $1.1 billion term loan facility and a five-year $250 million revolving credit facility, (the “MSGN Credit Facilities”). On June 9, 2022, TAO Group Operating LLC (“TAOG” or the “Senior Borrower”) and TAO Group Intermediate Holdings LLC (“Intermediate Holdings”), refinanced their existing credit facilities with a five-year $75 million term loan facility and a five-year $60 million revolving credit facility, which are guaranteed by MSG Entertainment Group, LLC (the “Tao Credit Facilities”).

As a result of our indebtedness, we are required to make interest and principal payments on our borrowings that are significant in relation to our revenues and cash flows. These payments reduce our earnings and cash available for other potential business purposes. Furthermore, our interest expense could increase if interest rates increase (including in connection with rising inflation) because our indebtedness bears interest at floating rates or to the extent we have to refinance existing debt with higher cost debt.

In addition, the ability of MSG National Properties, MSGN L.P. and TAOG to draw on their respective revolving credit facilities will depend on their ability to meet certain financial covenants and other conditions. This leverage also exposes us to significant risk by limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business (whether through competitive pressure or otherwise), the entertainment, hospitality, cable and telecommunications industries and the economy at large. Although our cash flows could decrease in these scenarios, our required payments in respect of indebtedness would not decrease.

In addition, our ability to make payments on, or repay or refinance, such debt, and to fund our operating and capital expenditures, depends largely upon our future operating performance. Our future operating performance, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic conditions, recession, fears of recession, financial, competitive, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. For example, Tao Group Hospitality’s operations and financial performance during Fiscal Year 2021 were materially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and as a result, in August 2020, (i) the Senior Borrower amended its existing senior credit agreement to suspend the application of certain financial covenants through December 31, 2021, modify certain restrictive covenants therein, modify the applicable interest rates, and increase the minimum liquidity requirement and (ii) MSG Entertainment Group, LLC entered into a guarantee and reserve account agreement to guarantee the obligations of TAOG under the credit agreement, establish and grant a security interest in a reserve account and maintain a minimum liquidity requirement of no less than $75 million at all times. In addition, the then outstanding $49 million subordinated intercompany loan to Tao Group Hospitality was increased by $22 million in June 2020.

The failure to satisfy the covenants, including any inability to attain a covenant waiver, and other requirements under each credit agreement could trigger a default thereunder, acceleration of outstanding debt thereunder and a demand for payment under the guarantee provided by MSG Entertainment Group, LLC, as applicable, which would negatively impact our liquidity and could have a negative effect on our businesses.

In addition, we have made investments in, or otherwise extended loans to, one or more of our joint ventures or other parties and may make additional investments in, or otherwise extend loans to, one or more of such parties in the future. To the extent that such parties do not perform as expected, including with respect to repayment of such loans, it could impair such assets or create losses related to such loans, and, as a result, have a negative effect on our business and results of operations.

Borrowings under our facilities are at variable rates of interest and expose us to interest rate risk. If interest rates increase (including in connection with rising inflation), our debt service obligations on certain of our variable rate indebtedness will increase even though the amount borrowed remains the same, and our net income and cash flows, including cash available for servicing our indebtedness, will correspondingly decrease.

The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), has announced that it will not compel banks to contribute to LIBOR after 2021.In November 2020, the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited announced a plan to extend the date as of which most U.S. LIBOR values would cease being computed from December 31, 2021 to June 30, 2023. On July 29, 2021 the Alternative Reference Rates Committee announced that it was formally recommending the forward-looking Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) term rate. Our National Properties Facilities and Tao Credit Facilities have been amended to adjust to SOFR-based rates. Our MSGN Credit Facilities provide mechanisms to adjust our base interest rates in the event that LIBOR ceases to exist, is replaced by a SOFR rate, or in certain other related circumstances. The consequences of these developments with respect to LIBOR cannot be entirely predicted but may affect the level of interest payments on the portion of our indebtedness that bears interest at variable rates, which may adversely impact the amount of our interest payments under such debt.

The capital and credit markets can experience volatility and disruption. Those markets can exert extreme downward pressure on stock prices and upward pressure on the cost of new debt capital and can severely restrict credit availability for most issuers. For example, the global economy, including credit and financial markets, has recently experienced extreme volatility and disruptions, including severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, rising interest and inflation rates, declines in consumer confidence, declines in economic growth, increases in unemployment rates and uncertainty about economic stability. If the equity and credit markets continue to deteriorate, or the United States enters a recession, it may make any necessary debt or equity financing more difficult to obtain in a timely manner or on favorable terms, more costly or more dilutive.

Our Entertainment business has been characterized by significant expenditures for properties, businesses, renovations and productions. We may require additional financing to fund our planned capital expenditures, including the construction and content of MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, as well as other obligations and our ongoing operations. In the future, we may engage in transactions that depend on our ability to obtain funding. For example, as we extend MSG Sphere beyond Las Vegas, our intention is to utilize several options, such as non-recourse debt financing, joint ventures, equity partners and a managed venue model. There is no assurance that we will be able to successfully complete these plans.

Depending upon conditions in the financial markets and/or the Company’s financial performance, we may not be able to raise additional capital on favorable terms, or at all. If we are unable to pursue our current and future spending programs, we may be forced to cancel or scale back those programs. Failure to successfully pursue our capital expenditure and other spending plans could negatively affect our ability to compete effectively and have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations.

In addition, the NBA and NHL have imposed restrictions on financing transactions that require a secured interest in The Garden.

We incurred operating losses of $102.7 million and $188.2 million for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2021, respectively, and operating income of $235.2 million for Fiscal Year 2020. In addition, we have in prior periods incurred operating losses and negative cash flow and there is no assurance that we will have operating income, adjusted operating income, or positive cash flow in the future. Significant operating losses may limit our ability to raise necessary financing, or to do so on favorable terms, as such losses could be taken into account by potential investors, lenders and the organizations that issue investment ratings on indebtedness. See “Part II — Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Factors Affecting Operating Results.”

Our management may be unable to conclude in future periods that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective due to the effects of various factors, which may, in part, include unremediated material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in those reports is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In addition, we may not be able to identify and remediate other control deficiencies, including material weaknesses, in the future.

Despite our efforts, the risks of a security incident cannot be entirely eliminated and our information technology and other systems that maintain and transmit consumer, sponsor, partner, Distributor, advertiser, Company, employee and other confidential and proprietary information may be compromised due to employee error or other circumstances such as malware or ransomware, viruses, hacking and phishing attacks, denial-of-service attacks, business email compromises, or otherwise. Such compromise could affect the security of information on our network or that of a third-party service provider. Additionally, outside parties may attempt to fraudulently induce employees, vendors or users to disclose sensitive, proprietary or confidential information in order to gain access to data and systems. As a result, such sensitive, proprietary and/or confidential information may be lost, disclosed, accessed or taken without consent. For example, in November 2016, a payment card issue that affected cards used at merchandise and food and beverage locations at several of our New York venues and The Chicago Theatre was

identified and addressed with the assistance of security firms. The issue was promptly fixed and enhanced security measures were implemented.

In addition, in some instances, we may have obligations to notify relevant stakeholders of security breaches. Such mandatory disclosures are costly, could lead to negative publicity, may cause our customers to lose confidence in the effectiveness of our security measures and require us to expend significant capital and other resources to respond to or alleviate problems caused by an actual or perceived security breach.

From time to time, third parties may assert against us alleged intellectual property infringement claims (e.g., copyright, trademark and patent) or other claims relating to our productions, dining and nightlife venues and brands, programming, technologies, digital content or other content or material, some of which may be important to our business. In addition, our productions and/or programming could potentially subject us to claims of defamation, violation of rights of privacy or publicity or similar types of allegations. Any such claims, regardless of their merit or outcome, could cause us to incur significant costs that could harm our results of operations. We may not be indemnified against, or have insurance coverage for, claims or costs of these types. In addition, if we are unable to continue use of certain intellectual property rights, our business and results of operations could be materially negatively impacted.

The success of our business depends in part on our ability to maintain and monetize our intellectual property rights, including the technology being developed for MSG Sphere, our brand logos, our programming, technologies, digital content and other content that is material to our business. Theft of our intellectual property, including content, could have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations because it may reduce the revenue that we are able to receive from the legitimate exploitation of such intellectual property, undermine lawful distribution channels and limit our ability to control the marketing of our content and inhibit our ability to recoup or profit from the costs incurred to create such content. Litigation may be necessary to enforce our intellectual property rights or protect our trade secrets. Any litigation of this nature, regardless of the outcome, could cause us to incur significant costs.

We have entered into various agreements with MSG Sports related to the Entertainment Distribution, including a distribution agreement, a tax disaffiliation agreement, a services agreement, an employee matters agreement and certain other arrangements (including other support services). These agreements include the allocation of employee benefits, taxes and certain other liabilities and obligations attributable to periods prior to, at and after the Entertainment Distribution. In connection with the Entertainment Distribution, we provided MSG Sports with indemnities with respect to liabilities arising out of our business and MSG Sports provided us with indemnities with respect to liabilities arising out of the business retained by MSG Sports.

We also entered into various agreements with MSG Sports that govern our ongoing commercial relationship subsequent to the Entertainment Distribution, including Arena License Agreements that require two of MSG Sports’ professional sports teams - the Knicks and the Rangers - to play home games at The Garden, sponsorship agency agreements in connection with the sale of

sponsorships and advertising for the Knicks and Rangers, as well as MSG Sports’ other teams, and a trademark license agreement regarding the use of the “MSG” and Madison Square Garden marks for certain purposes. These agreements, other than the Arena License Agreements, are each subject to potential termination by MSG Sports in the event MSG Sports and the Company are no longer affiliates.

In addition, MSG Networks has various agreements with MSG Sports in connection with the 2015 Sports Distribution, including a distribution agreement, a tax disaffiliation agreement, a services agreement, an employee matters agreement, and media rights agreements. These agreements include the allocation of employee benefits, taxes and certain other liabilities and obligations attributable to periods prior to the 2015 Sports Distribution. In connection with the 2015 Sports Distribution, we agreed to provide MSG Sports with indemnities with respect to liabilities arising out of our businesses and MSG Sports agreed to provide us with indemnities with respect to liabilities arising out of the businesses we transferred to MSG Sports. MSG Networks’ media rights agreements with MSG Sports provide us with the exclusive live local media rights to Knicks and Rangers games. Rights fees under these media rights agreements amounted to approximately $163.1 million for Fiscal Year 2022. The stated contractual rights fees under such rights agreements increase annually and are subject to adjustments in certain circumstances, including if MSG Sports does not make available a minimum number of games in any year.

The Company and MSG Sports each rely on the other to perform their obligations under these agreements. If MSG Sports were to breach or become unable to satisfy its material obligations under these agreements, including a failure to satisfy its indemnification or other financial obligations, or these agreements otherwise terminate or expire and we do not enter into replacement agreements, we could suffer operational difficulties and/or significant losses.

MSG Sports received an opinion from Sullivan & Cromwell LLP substantially to the effect that, among other things, the Entertainment Distribution qualified as a tax-free distribution under the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). The opinion is not binding on the IRS or the courts. Certain transactions related to the Entertainment Distribution that are not addressed by the opinion could result in the recognition of income or gain by MSG Sports The opinion relied on factual representations and reasonable assumptions, which, if incorrect or inaccurate, may jeopardize the ability to rely on such opinion.

We have entered into a Tax Disaffiliation Agreement with MSG Sports (the “Tax Disaffiliation Agreement”), which sets out each party’s rights and obligations with respect to federal, state, local or foreign taxes for periods before and after the Entertainment Distribution and related matters such as the filing of tax returns and the conduct of IRS and other audits. Pursuant to the Tax Disaffiliation Agreement, we are required to indemnify MSG Sports for losses and taxes of MSG Sports resulting from the breach of certain covenants and for certain taxable gain recognized by MSG Sports, including as a result of certain acquisitions of our stock or assets. If we are required to indemnify MSG Sports under the circumstances set forth in the Tax Disaffiliation Agreement, we may be subject to substantial liabilities, which could materially adversely affect our financial position.

MSG Networks obtained an opinion from Sullivan & Cromwell LLP substantially to the effect that, among other things, the 2015 Sports Distribution qualifies as a tax-free distribution under the Code. The opinion is not binding on the IRS or the courts. Additionally, MSG Networks received a private letter ruling from the IRS concluding that certain limited aspects of the 2015 Sports Distribution will not prevent the 2015 Sports Distribution from satisfying certain requirements for tax-free treatment under the Code. The opinion and the private letter ruling rely on factual representations and reasonable assumptions, which if incorrect or inaccurate may jeopardize the ability to rely on such opinion and letter ruling.

If the 2015 Sports Distribution does not qualify for tax-free treatment for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then, in general, MSG Networks would be subject to tax as if it had sold the MSG Sports common stock in a taxable sale for its fair value. MSG Sports stockholders would be subject to tax as if they had received a distribution equal to the fair value of MSG Sports common stock that was distributed to them, which generally would be treated first as a taxable dividend to the extent of MSG Networks earnings and profits, then as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of each holder’s tax basis in its MSG Sports common stock, and thereafter as capital gain with respect to any remaining value. It is expected that the amount of any such taxes to MSG Sports stockholders and MSG Networks would be substantial.

The Company has not made a determination as to whether we are deemed to be a USRPHC, as defined in section 897(c)(2) of the Code. In general, we would be considered a USRPHC if 50% or more of the fair market value of our assets constitute “United States real property interests” within the meaning of the Code. However, the determination of whether we are a USRPHC turns on the relative fair market value of our United States real property interests and our other assets, and because the USRPHC rules are complex and the determination of whether we are a USRPHC depends on facts and circumstances that may be beyond our control, we can give no assurance as to our USRPHC status after the Entertainment Distribution. If we are treated as a USRPHC, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences might apply to non-U.S. holders that hold our Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. For more information, see the section entitled “The Distribution - Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Distribution” in the Company’s Information Statement, dated April 6, 2020 (the “Information Statement”), filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 7, 2020.

We have two classes of common stock:

As of June 30, 2022, the Dolan family, including trusts for the benefit of members of the Dolan family (collectively, the “Dolan Family Group”), collectively owns all of our Class B Common Stock, approximately 5.1% of our outstanding Class A Common Stock (inclusive of options exercisable within 60 days of July 31, 2022) and approximately 72.6% of the total voting power of all our outstanding common stock. The members of the Dolan Family Group holding Class B Common Stock are parties to a Stockholders Agreement, which has the effect of causing the voting power of the holders of our Class B Common Stock to be cast as a block with respect to all matters to be voted on by holders of our Class B Common Stock. Under the Stockholders Agreement, the shares of Class B Common Stock owned by members of the Dolan Family Group (representing all the

outstanding Class B Common Stock) are to be voted on all matters in accordance with the determination of the Dolan Family Committee (as defined below), except that the decisions of the Dolan Family Committee are non-binding with respect to the Class B Common Stock owned by certain Dolan family trusts that collectively own approximately 40.5% of the outstanding Class B Common Stock (“Excluded Trusts”). The “Dolan Family Committee” consists of Charles F. Dolan and his six children, James L. Dolan, Thomas C. Dolan, Patrick F. Dolan, Kathleen M. Dolan, Marianne Dolan Weber and Deborah A. Dolan-Sweeney. The Dolan Family Committee generally acts by majority vote, except that approval of a going-private transaction must be approved by a two-thirds vote and approval of a change-in-control transaction must be approved by not less than all but one vote. The voting members of the Dolan Family Committee are James L. Dolan, Thomas C. Dolan, Kathleen M. Dolan, Deborah A. Dolan-Sweeney and Marianne Dolan Weber, with each member having one vote other than James L. Dolan, who has two votes. Because James L. Dolan has two votes, he has the ability to block Dolan Family Committee approval of any Company change in control transaction. Shares of Class B Common Stock owned by Excluded Trusts will on all matters be voted on in accordance with the determination of the Excluded Trusts holding a majority of the Class B Common Stock held by all Excluded Trusts, except in the case of a vote on a going-private transaction or a change in control transaction, in which case a vote of the trusts holding two-thirds of the Class B Common Stock owned by Excluded Trusts is required.

The Dolan Family Group is able to prevent a change in control of our Company and no person interested in acquiring us would be able to do so without obtaining the consent of the Dolan Family Group. The Dolan Family Group, by virtue of its stock ownership, has the power to elect all of our directors subject to election by holders of Class B Common Stock and is able collectively to control stockholder decisions on matters on which holders of all classes of our common stock vote together as a single class. These matters could include the amendment of some provisions of our certificate of incorporation and the approval of fundamental corporate transactions.

As a result, the Dolan Family Group has the power to prevent such issuance or amendment.

The Dolan Family Group also controls MSG Sports and AMC Networks Inc. (“AMC Networks”) and, prior to the Merger, the Dolan Family Group also controlled MSG Networks.

Members of the Dolan Family Group have entered into the Stockholders Agreement relating, among other things, to the voting of their shares of our Class B Common Stock. As a result, we are a “controlled company” under the corporate governance rules of NYSE. As a controlled company, we have the right to elect not to comply with the corporate governance rules of NYSE requiring: (i) a majority of independent directors on our Board of Directors; (ii) an independent corporate governance and nominating committee; and (iii) an independent compensation committee. Our Board of Directors has elected for the Company to be treated as a “controlled company” under NYSE corporate governance rules and not to comply with the NYSE requirement for a majority-independent board of directors and for an independent corporate governance and nominating committee because of our status as a controlled company. Nevertheless, our Board of Directors has elected to comply with the NYSE requirement for an independent compensation committee.

Certain parties have registration rights covering a portion of our shares.

We have entered into registration rights agreements with Charles F. Dolan, members of his family, certain Dolan family interests and the Dolan Family Foundation that provide them with “demand” and “piggyback” registration rights with respect to approximately 6.9 million shares of Class A Common Stock, including shares issuable upon conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of Class A Common Stock, including sales pursuant to these registration rights agreements, could adversely affect the market price of the Class A Common Stock and could impair our future ability to raise capital through an offering of our equity securities.

Our Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, James L. Dolan, also serves as the Executive Chairman of MSG Sports and Non-Executive Chairman of AMC Networks. Furthermore, ten members of our Board of Directors (including James L. Dolan) also serve as directors of MSG Sports, and six members of our Board of Directors (including James L. Dolan) serve as directors of AMC Networks and Charles F. Dolan serves as Chairman Emeritus of AMC Networks concurrently with his service on our Board. Our Vice Chairman, Gregg G. Seibert, also serves as the Vice Chairman of MSG Sports and AMC Networks, and our Secretary, Mark C. Cresitello, also serves as Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Secretary of MSG Sports. As a result, these individuals do not devote their full time and attention to the Company’s affairs. The overlapping directors, officers and employees may have actual or apparent conflicts of interest with respect to matters involving or affecting each company. For example, the potential for a conflict of interest when we on the one hand, and MSG Sports and/or AMC Networks and their respective subsidiaries and successors on the other hand, look at certain acquisitions and other corporate opportunities that may be suitable for more than one of the companies. Also, conflicts may arise if there are issues or disputes under the commercial arrangements that exist between MSG Sports or AMC Networks (each referred to as an “Other Entity”) and us. In addition, certain of our directors, officers and employees continue to own stock and/or stock options or other equity awards of an Other Entity. These ownership interests could create actual, apparent or potential conflicts of interest when these individuals are faced with decisions that could have different implications for our Company and an Other Entity. For a discussion of certain procedures we have implemented to help ameliorate such potential conflicts that may arise, see our Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on October 26, 2021.

The Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation acknowledges that directors and officers of the Company (the “Overlap Persons”) may also be serving as directors, officers, employees or agents of an Other Entity, and that the Company may engage in material business transactions with such Other Entities. The Company has renounced its rights to certain business opportunities and the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that no Overlap Person will be liable to the Company or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty that would otherwise occur by reason of the fact that any such individual directs a corporate opportunity (other than certain limited types of opportunities set forth in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation) to one or more of the Other Entities instead of the Company, or does not refer or communicate information regarding such corporate opportunities to the Company. These provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also expressly validate certain contracts, agreements, arrangements and transactions (and amendments, modifications or terminations thereof) between the Company and the Other Entities and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, provided that the actions of the Overlap Person in connection therewith are not breaches of fiduciary duties owed to the Company, any of its subsidiaries or their respective stockholders.

The Company is a defendant in various other lawsuits. Although the outcome of these other lawsuits cannot be predicted with certainty (including the extent of available insurance, if any), management does not believe that resolution of these other lawsuits will have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Up to April 17, 2020, the Company operated and reported financial information as one reportable segment. Following the Entertainment Distribution on April 17, 2020 and the Merger with MSG Networks Inc. on July 9, 2021, the Company has three reportable segments (Entertainment, MSG Networks, and Tao Group Hospitality). See Note 22, Segment Information to the consolidated and combined financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion of the Company’s segment reporting.

Our MD&A is organized as follows:

MSG Entertainment is a leader in live experiences comprised of iconic venues, marquee entertainment brands, regional sports and entertainment networks, popular dining and nightlife offerings, and a premier music festival. Utilizing the Company’s powerful brands and live entertainment expertise, the Company delivers unique experiences that set the standard for excellence and innovation while forging deep connections with diverse and passionate audiences.

We manage our business through three reportable segments:

The MSG Networks segment is comprised of the Company’s regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network and MSG+, a companion streaming app, MSG GO, and other digital properties. MSG Networks serves the New York Designated Market Area, as well as other portions of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania and features a wide range of sports content, including exclusive live local games and other programming of the Knicks of the NBA and the Rangers, the Islanders, the Devils and the Sabres of the NHL, as well as significant coverage of the Giants and the Bills of the NFL.

Although we primarily license our venues to third-party promoters for a fee, we also promote or co-promote shows. If we serve as promoters or co-promoters of a show, we have economic risk relating to the event.

The Company also owns a controlling interest in BCE, the entertainment production company that owns and operates the Boston Calling Music Festival.

For our productions and for entertainment events in our venues that we promote, we recognize revenues from the sale of tickets to our audiences. We sell tickets to the public through our box office, via our websites and ticketing agencies and through group sales. The amount of revenue we earn from ticket sales depends on the number of shows and the mix of events that we promote, the capacity of the venue used, the extent to which we can sell to fully utilize the capacity, and our ticket prices.

The Garden has 21 Event Level suites, 58 Lexus Level suites, 18 Infosys Level suites, the Caesars Sportsbook Lounge (formerly the Madison Club), Suite Sixteen and The Loft. Suite licenses at The Garden are generally sold to corporate customers with the majority being multi-year licenses. The Company licenses Suite Sixteen to Tao Group Hospitality in exchange for license fee payments.

Under standard suite licenses, the licensees pay an annual license fee, which varies depending on the location of the suite. The license fee includes, for each seat in the suite, tickets for events at The Garden for which tickets are sold to the general public, subject to certain exceptions. In addition, suite holders separately pay for food and beverage service in their suites at The Garden. Revenues from the sale of suite licenses are shared between the Company and MSG Sports. Revenues for the Company’s suite license arrangements are recorded on a gross basis, as the Company is the principal in such transactions and controls the related goods or services until transfer to the customer. MSG Sports’ share of the Company’s suite license revenue is recognized in the consolidated and combined statements of operations as a component of direct operating expenses. The revenue sharing expense recognized by the Company for MSG Sports’ share of suite license revenue at The Garden is based on a 67.5% allocation to MSG Sports pursuant to the Arena License Agreements.

For entertainment events held at our venues that we do not produce, promote or co-promote, we typically earn revenue from venue license fees charged to the third-party promoter or producer of the event. The amount of license fees we charge varies by venue, as well as by the size of the production and the number of days utilized, among other factors. Our fees typically include both the cost of renting space in our venues and costs for providing event staff, such as front-of-house and back-of-house staff, including stagehands, electricians, laborers, box office staff, ushers and security as well as production services such as staging, lighting and sound.

In connection with the Entertainment Distribution, the Company entered into Arena License Agreements with MSG Sports that, among other things, require the Knicks and the Rangers to play their home games at The Garden in exchange for fixed annual license fees scheduled to be paid monthly over the term of the agreement. The Company accounts for these license fees as operating lease revenue given that the Company provides MSG Sports with the right to direct the use of and obtain substantially all of the economic benefit from The Garden during Knicks and Rangers home games. Operating lease revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term, adjusted pursuant to the terms of the Arena License Agreements, which is comprised of non-consecutive periods of use when MSG Sports uses the Arena generally for their professional sports teams’ preseason and regular season home games. As such, operating lease revenue is recognized ratably as events occur.

For all public and ticketed events held in our venues aside from MSG Sports home games, we also earn additional revenues on substantially all tickets sold, whether we promote/co-promote the event or license the venue to a third party. These revenues are earned in the form of certain fees and assessments, including the facility fees we charge, and vary by venue.

We sell food and beverages during substantially all events held at our venues. In addition to concession-style sales of food and beverages, which represent the majority of our concession revenues, we also generate revenue from catering for our suites at The Garden. Pursuant to the Arena License Agreements related to the use of The Garden by MSG Sports, the Company shares with MSG Sports revenues and related expenses associated with sales of food and beverages (including suite catering) during Knicks and Rangers games at The Garden.

Revenue generated from in-venue food and beverage sales at MSG Sports’ events is recognized by the Company on a gross basis, with a corresponding revenue sharing expense for MSG Sports’ share of such sales recorded within direct operating expense. The Arena License Agreements require the Company to pay 50% of the net proceeds generated from in-venue food and beverage sales to MSG Sports.

Pursuant to the Arena License Agreements, the Company receives 30% of revenues, net of taxes and credit card fees, recorded on a net basis (agent), from the sale of MSG Sports teams merchandise sold at The Garden.

We earn revenues through the sale of signage space and sponsorship rights in connection with our venues, productions and other live entertainment events. Signage revenues generally involve the sale of advertising space at The Garden during entertainment events and otherwise in our venues.

Sponsorship agreements may require us to use the name, logos and other trademarks of sponsors in our advertising and in promotions for our venues, productions and other live entertainment events. Sponsorship arrangements may be exclusive within a particular sponsorship category or non-exclusive and generally permit a sponsor to use the name, logos and other trademarks of our productions, events and venues in connection with their own advertising and in promotions in our venues or in the community.

Prior to the Entertainment Distribution, for sponsorship agreements entered into by the Company or for arrangements that had performance obligations satisfied solely by the Company, revenue was generally recorded on a gross basis as the Company was the principal in such arrangements and controlled the related goods or services until transfer to the customer. MSG Sports’ share of the Company’s sponsorship and signage revenue was recognized in the consolidated and combined statements of operations as a component of direct operating expenses. The revenue sharing expense was specifically identified where possible, with the remainder allocated proportionally based upon revenue.

Under the Arena License Agreements, the Company shares certain sponsorship and signage revenues with MSG Sports. Pursuant to these agreements, MSG Sports has the rights to sponsorship and signage revenue that is specific to Knicks and Rangers events. The Company and MSG Sports also entered into sponsorship sales representation agreements, under which the Company has the right and obligation to sell and service sponsorships for the sports teams of MSG Sports, in exchange for a commission.

Our Entertainment segment’s principal expenses are payments made to performers of our productions, staging costs and day-of-event costs associated with events, and advertising costs. In addition, expenses in our Entertainment segment include costs associated with the ownership, lease, maintenance and operation of our venues, along with our corporate and other supporting functions. Depreciation expense on property and equipment related to the Company’s performing venues and offices is also included in the Entertainment segment’s results.

Our proprietary productions are performed by talented actors, dancers, singers, musicians and entertainers. In order to attract and retain this talent, we are required to pay our performers an amount that is commensurate with both their abilities and the demand for their services from other entertainment companies. Our productions typically feature ensemble casts (such as the

Rockettes), where most of our performers are paid based on a standard “scale,” pursuant to collective bargaining agreements we negotiate with the performers’ unions. Certain performers, however, have individually negotiated contracts.

For days in which our Entertainment segment stages its productions, promotes an event or provides one of our venues to a third-party promoter under a license fee arrangement, the event is charged the variable costs associated with such event, including box office staff, stagehands, ticket takers, ushers, security, and other similar expenses. In situations where we provide our venues to a third-party promoter under a license fee arrangement, day-of-event costs are typically included in the license fees charged to the promoter. Under the Arena License Agreements related to the use of The Garden by MSG Sports, the Company is reimbursed for day-of-event costs (as defined under the Arena License Agreements). The Company records such reimbursements as reductions to direct operating expenses.

The Company’s consolidated and combined financial statements include expenses associated with the ownership, maintenance and operation of The Garden, which the Company and MSG Sports use in their respective operations. Historically, the Company did not charge rent expense to MSG Sports for use of The Garden. However, for purposes of the Company’s combined financial statements, a portion of the historical depreciation expense as well as other non-event related venue operations costs are allocated to MSG Sports, in order to properly burden all business units comprising MSG Sports’ historical operations, related to use of The Garden. This allocation is based on event count and revenue, which the Company’s management believes is a reasonable allocation methodology. This allocation is reported as a reduction of direct operating expense in the consolidated and combined statements of operations.

As discussed above, MSG Sports’ share of the Company’s suites licenses, venue signage and certain sponsorship and concessions revenue is reflected within direct operating expense as revenue sharing expenses. For periods prior to the Entertainment Distribution, such amounts were either specifically identified where possible, or allocated proportionally within the consolidated and combined financial statements.

We incur significant costs promoting our productions and other events through various advertising campaigns, including advertising on outdoor platforms and in newspapers, on television and radio, and on social and digital platforms. In light of the intense competition for entertainment events, such expenditures are a necessity to drive interest in our productions and encourage members of the public to purchase tickets to our shows.

Affiliation fee revenue is earned from Distributors for the right to carry the Company’s networks. The fees we receive depend largely on the demand from subscribers for our programming.

The MSG Networks’ advertising revenue is largely derived from the sale of inventory in its live professional sports programming. As such, a disproportionate share of this revenue is earned in the second and third fiscal quarters. In certain advertising arrangements, the Company guarantees specific viewer ratings for its programming. MSG Networks has an advertising sales representation agreement with MSG Entertainment that provides for MSG Entertainment to act as MSG Networks’ advertising sales representative, which includes the exclusive right and obligation to sell certain advertising availabilities on behalf of MSG Networks for a commission. As this is an intercompany transaction, the commissions are eliminated in consolidation in the Company’s consolidated and combined statements of operations.

Direct operating expenses primarily include the cost of professional team rights acquired under media rights agreements to telecast various sporting events on our networks, and other direct programming and production-related costs of our networks.

The Company entered into long-term media rights agreements with the Knicks and the Rangers, which provide the Company with the exclusive live media rights to the teams’ games in their local markets. In addition, the Company has multi-year media rights agreements with the Islanders, Devils and Sabres. The media rights acquired under these agreements to telecast various sporting events and other programming for exhibition on our networks are typically expensed on a straight-line basis over the applicable annual contract or license period. We negotiate directly with the teams to determine the fee and other provisions of the media rights agreements. Media rights fees for sports programming are influenced by, among other things, the size and demographics of the geographic area in which the programming is distributed, and the popularity and/or the competitiveness of a team.

Other direct programming and production-related costs include, but are not limited to, the salaries of on-air personalities, producers, directors, technicians, writers and other creative staff, as well as expenses associated with location costs, remote facilities and maintaining studios, origination, and transmission services and facilities.

Revenues earned from dining, nightlife and hospitality offerings through Tao Group Hospitality are recognized when food, beverages and/or services are provided to the customer as that is the point at which the related performance obligation is satisfied. In addition, management fee revenues which are earned in accordance with specific venue management agreements are recorded over the period in which the management services are performed, as that reflects the measure of progress toward satisfaction of the Company’s venue management performance obligations.

The Tao Group Hospitality restaurants and nightlife and hospitality venues incur costs for providing food and beverage as well as banquet hosting services to customers. Dining and nightlife offering costs primarily include the following:

Our Company’s future performance is dependent in part on general economic conditions and the effect of these conditions on our customers. Weak economic conditions may lead to lower demand for our entertainment and nightlife offerings and programming content, suite licenses and tickets to our live productions, concerts, family shows and other events, which would also negatively affect concession and merchandise sales, lower levels of sponsorship and venue signage and decrease advertising revenues. These conditions may also affect the number of concerts, family shows and other events that take place in the future. An economic downturn could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Due largely to our media rights agreements with our NBA and NHL teams and the generally recurring nature of our affiliation fee revenue, the MSG Networks segment has consistently produced operating profits for a number of years. Advertising revenues are less predictable and can vary based upon a number of factors, including general economic conditions and team performance.

The Company continues to explore additional opportunities to expand our presence in the entertainment industry. Any new investment may not initially contribute to operating income, but is intended to become operationally profitable over time. Our results will also be affected by investments in, and the success of, new productions.

On April 27, 2021, Tao Group Hospitality acquired a controlling interest in Hakkasan, resulting in approximately two months of Fiscal Year 2021 operations compared to a full year of results in Fiscal Year 2022.

In July 2018, the Company acquired a 30% interest in SACO, a global provider of high-performance LED video lighting and media solutions for a total consideration of $47,244. The Company is utilizing SACO as a preferred display technology provider for MSG Sphere and is benefiting from agreed upon commercial terms.

In addition, the Company also has other investments in various entertainment, hospitality companies and related technology companies, accounted for under the equity method. See Note 9, Investments in Nonconsolidated Affiliates to the consolidated and combined financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information.

NM — Absolute percentages greater than 200% and comparisons from positive to negative values or to zero values are considered not meaningful.

For Fiscal Year 2022, the decrease in affiliation fee revenue was primarily due to the impact of (i) the non-renewal of MSG Networks’ carriage agreement with Comcast as of October 1, 2021 and (ii) a decrease in subscribers of approximately 7% (excluding the impact of previously disclosed non-renewals with Comcast and a small Connecticut-based distributor). These decreases were partially offset by the impact of higher affiliation rates and a decrease in net unfavorable affiliate adjustments of approximately $9,400.

For Fiscal Year 2022, SG&A expenses increased $31,668, or 27%, to $147,007 as compared to the prior year. The increase in SG&A expenses reflected an increase of approximately $24,900 of merger and acquisition costs that occurred primarily during the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2022, inclusive of the impact of executive separation agreements and share based compensation expense. In addition, the increase in SG&A expenses was due to higher (i) advertising sales commissions of approximately $7,200, which are eliminated in consolidation and (ii) advertising, and marketing expenses of approximately $3,100. These increases were partially offset by lower employee compensation and related benefits (including share based compensation expense) of $5,600.

For Fiscal Year 2022, adjusted operating income decreased $105,660, or 36%, to $185,821 as compared to the prior year. The decrease in adjusted operating income was lower than the decrease in operating income of $130,953 primarily due to the increase in merger and acquisition-related costs of approximately $25,000, which are excluded in the calculation of adjusted operating income.