The only merchandise sales a team makes that goes directly into their pockets is stuff sold in their team store, i.e. inside the stadium. Everything else is subject to revenue sharing, so other than more Asian people buying tickets, I can't see a whole lot of direct revenue impact for the team with the winning bid. One question first: Does the merchandising contract extend worldwide or is that only for US sales? Other point: the Mariners made extra money by selling TV rights to their games in Japan, iirc. As far as I know, yes, it applies world wide. Your other point is a good one that I had forgotten the Mariners took advantage of, but is Tanaka going to generate the kind of interest that would warrant additional TV money?