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MLB Labor Deadline Will Threaten SoMa Business Revenue

With a league-wide labor contract expiring on December 1, local businesses near Oracle Park face an uncertain 2027 season.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Baseball

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San Francisco businesses near Oracle Park face potential revenue losses as the looming MLB collective bargaining agreement expiration threatens to delay the 2027 baseball season. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Small businesses surrounding Oracle Park are bracing for the potential loss of income as the clock ticks toward the expiration of the MLB collective bargaining agreement. If a lockout occurs, establishments that depend on the 81 home games of the San Francisco Giants face a sharp decline in annual revenue.

Why it matters

Business owners in SoMa often see their annual revenue hinge on the 81 home games played at Oracle Park, with some firms drawing 80% of their yearly earnings from the baseball season. Any labor-related delay in the 2027 season threatens that critical financial foundation.

Local businesses report that 80% of their annual revenue is generated during the 81 home games played each season. While playoff years can boost revenue by 40% to 50%, the impact of a 2027 season delay remains unknown.

The players

San Francisco Giants

The city's professional baseball team that plays 81 home games at Oracle Park each season.

Momo's

A long-standing business located near Oracle Park that relies on the baseball season for the majority of its annual revenue.

Scott and Caitlyn Morton

The owners of Momo's who acquired the business in 2019.

The details

Owners like Scott and Caitlyn Morton, who operate the SoMa institution Momo's, typically rely on the steady influx of fans to support staffing and operations. Should the owners and players association fail to reach a new agreement by the December 1 expiration date, the resulting lockout could mirror the 2022 season, which saw a delayed start. Business owners are currently monitoring labor negotiations as they consider future staffing and operating hour adjustments.

Timeline

  1. 1998: Momo's opened near Oracle Park.

  2. 2019: The Mortons purchased Momo's.

  3. 2022: A previous MLB lockout caused a delay to the season start.

  4. Dec 1, 2026: The current collective bargaining agreement expires.

  5. 2027: A potential lockout is expected to cause lost games.

Across the Bay

This potential labor stoppage follows the pattern of the 2022 MLB lockout, which similarly disrupted the local business ecosystem by delaying the start of the season. Owners are now looking toward that precedent to gauge the risk to their 2027 operations.

If a labor agreement is not reached by December 1, expect potential changes to staffing and operating hours for businesses throughout the SoMa neighborhood. Residents should watch for upcoming announcements regarding the 2027 season schedule as the expiration date approaches.

The takeaway

Small businesses near the ballpark are entering a period of high uncertainty as the December 1 contract deadline looms. Keep a close eye on league-wide negotiations throughout the winter to anticipate potential shifts in local neighborhood activity for the 2027 season.

Further reading

For more on the stadium-adjacent economy, visit San Francisco Baseball.

Source note: This article includes information reported by San Francisco Gate.

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