When the Los Angeles Dodgers filed for bankruptcy protection in June, they became the sixth major professional sports franchise to do so in the past decade, according to the Wall Street Journal’s Bankruptcy Beat online blog. Other teams to file for bankruptcy since 2000 include two MLB teams (the Texas Rangers in 2010 and the Chicago Cubs in 2009) and three NHL teams (the Phoenix Coyotes in 2009 and the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators in 2003). According to the post, no NFL or NBA team has ever filed for bankruptcy.
While the Dodgers were several games under .500 when they filed for bankruptcy, not all team bankruptcy filings are accompanied by on-the-field struggles. The Texas Rangers made the World Series last year after filing for bankruptcy earlier in the spring.
