Pre-season sales for ski passes have changed the financial game for ski resorts

As warm weather rolls in and the snowpack disappears, ski resorts are closing the slopes for the year. And, as they close shop, they’re probably doing some accounting to see how the season went for them.

Traditionally, profit at these resorts could vary wildly depending on how much snow fell that year, and climate change is further complicating that challenge. But in the last few decades, that end-of-year tally has been looking different for ski resorts that sell season passes before the ski season even starts.

Roberto Ferdman is a senior video correspondent with The Wall Street Journal, where he produced “How Vail Changed the Economics of the Entire Ski Industry.” He joined “Marketplace” host Kimberly Adams to talk about how collecting reliable revenue ahead of the unpredictable snow forecast reshaped the business model for ski resorts.

Click the media player above to hear the full conversation. You can also watch the video below to check out Kimberly Adams unpacking the economics of skiing on a recent trip to Vermont.