Comments on: Record ratings carry a warning for NFL, union

By: va4favre

va4favre — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 06:52:34 +0000

The Saints were popular SB winners, but they still cannot hold a candle to the star power of Brett Favre. FofF is right that the ratings will go down when he retires. You would think the idiots in the media would appreciate that. I will say that the comments about the fans preferring to watch at home should be a serious concern to the NFL.

By: joetoronto

joetoronto — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 11:44:25 +0000

sportsbruh3: it sounds like the players don’t need the owners, right bruh?
Sure, the players can buy their own teams, screw the owners who have all the risk.

By: jk7761

jk7761 — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 11:13:05 +0000

For me, I have not watched a MLB game since their strike.
The NFL will get the same treatment.
All involved need to remember this is entertainment not a necessity.

By: sportsbruh3

sportsbruh3 — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 10:41:48 +0000

I am with the BALLERS!!!!
Their contracts are NOT guaranteed. which means they will be in the unemployment line and flipping burgers. The OWNERS will remain rich with Jets, Bentleys, and villa’s everywhere.
Because the OWNERS are out of sight…goofy sportsfans give them a pass as if they are the ELITE that should remain in an ELITE status.
While they plunder the NFL and do everything to impoverish the players.
Wake up people. Only a handful of players are getting paid MILLIONS. Most are gettling less than $500,000 and that little money runs out quickly.
How many times have you heard of a NFL Franchise Owner going Broke?

By: lebowski

lebowski — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 10:09:51 +0000

24 million of those viewers tuned in ‘cuz they wanted to see Favre busted in half again. Instead they got to see him flounder like he skipped the whole offseason or something.

By: Mooch

Mooch — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 09:57:26 +0000

TV Ratings are up.
Stadium crowds are down.
That’s a formula for success. After all, aren’t the paltry 80,000 who show up for games merely extras that enhance the telecast?
And aren’t the games on ESPN and NFLN pay per view lite? They know they can do it, but as long as they have sponsors lining up for the air time on the Majors, it probably is still a ways away.
The 1pm game is on borrowed time. The whole schedule will go to 4p-7p-10p soon.

By: truegrinder80

truegrinder80 — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 09:48:30 +0000

What Florio doesn’t get is the NFL has a HUGE Problem looming at the Gate! Football has become a television sport! These stadiums are getting EMPTIER and EMPTIER. People are no longer getting “fooled” by the stadium experience. HD television, cheap food, friends, clean bathrooms in the luxury of your own home is the future. Baseball is killing it at the gate and always will, but their television numbers will always struggle. They still make HUGE money because they play 81 home games, not 10. The NFL has to be very careful about how they proceed here because those stadiums won’t be filling up anytime soon.

By: -z-

-z- — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 09:13:24 +0000

Baseball and hockey have no competition, especially in the TV marketplace – Not so the NFL – Some would argue that NCAA football is a more exciting game, whether it is or not, it most certainly is a TV replacement – The NFL should tread very carrefully.

By: Favre's Hamartia

Favre's Hamartia — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 09:01:25 +0000

FoF says:
September 12, 2010 7:14 AM
“Sorry folks, but I hate to break it to ya. These record ratings games are going to end once Favre retires.”
=================================
You are really beyond help, aren’t you?

By: Fan

Fan — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 09:00:26 +0000

Sorry, but you people are going to have your heads explode if you keep trying to apply logic to any of this. The owners cancel a contract pleading “unworkable” but keep giving players bigger contracts? The players boycott half way through contracts feeling “disrespected” because 20 million isn’t enough? All this in the middle of economic times the like most of us have never seen? And a Union looking to decertify to get a better bargaining position?
I, for one, wish the whole thing would collapse and teach them all a lesson. But we deserve what we get if, even with no money, we still find enough to spend it on these morons. Maybe Washington will make football games “entitlements.” Everything else is.

By: Jaydub

Jaydub — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 08:21:52 +0000

I wouldn’t be able to turn my back on football, but a strike/lockout would most definitely turn my stomach. The NFL owners are doing exactly what the MLB and NHL owners did to bring about the strikes in ’94 and ’05, respectively. They are badly overpaying these players, and it’s reaching the point where in order to come up with the money, the fans have to suffer.
The recent Tom Brady deal is beyond absurd. I don’t give a shit how good he is. He’s ONE PLAYER. If he requires $48 mil guaranteed to play a game, he should simply retire. He’s a big part of the problem, just like Darelle Revis. Revis had to have his head coach and GM fly down to fondle his nuts in order to get him to play, and they fondled him to the tune of $46 mil, 30 of which is guaranteed. He still had some feeling in his brass balls to say “Nnamdi still got more…”, as if he still wasn’t happy with the monster deal he just cried his way into.
If this game goes away, blame the owners for giving in to these greedy, ego-tripping jagoffs.
Oh, and to the people complaining about prices of food/drinks at the stadium? No one told you to buy anything, stupid. Eat and drink before you go in. Problem solved. How did you not figure that out on your own?!

By: tombrookshire

tombrookshire — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 07:48:39 +0000

NFL has got to be excited about this. Attendance at stadiums down. Viewership way up. They couldn’t care less. Why? The crowd in the stands is mere window dressing. They could fill the stands with CGI figures and it wouldn’t make a difference. To the NFL, them, the important number is the global viewing audience, advertising revenue and licensed product sales. Revenues from stadium attendance is fixed and fluxuates like we have seen in down economic times. There are no limits to the TV audience and no off button on the money machine. That’s why they are so eager to add games and export the product. Lots of jerseys, beer and sneakers to sell in Asia, Europe and Africa, and gambling. The NFL business is the epitome of the USA itself. Glutony, greed, debauchery, and zero accountability, wrapped up in a red, white and blue bow.

By: jsavage58

jsavage58 — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 07:46:02 +0000

I stopped going to the stadiums, Giants and Yankees, because I could no longer reason $6 hot chocolate, $10 beers, $30 parking etc.. I would go it each several times a year. I love a game in person but am not doing it anymore on principal. Haven’t seen the new Yankee stadium, and won’t do the new Giants either. Now, a strike? FU.. all. I have plenty of other things I can do on a Sunday rather than be a55raped.

By: tommy_the_k

tommy_the_k — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 07:22:41 +0000

the only way to avert a work stoppage if the fans pledge to boycott watching/attending games for 1 year. we must organize and have our voice heard. the FANS are the game in terms of money and popularity. we must make a pledge and keep our word

By: FoF

FoF — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 07:14:55 +0000

Sorry folks, but I hate to break it to ya. These record ratings games are going to end once Favre retires.

By: calraider

calraider — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 06:57:45 +0000

FLorio, you are an idiot. The owners are causing this, if they offered to extend the CBA the players would take it, so give this “warning to players” you are such a tool of owners

By: Bwa Ha Ha

Bwa Ha Ha — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 06:50:12 +0000

Sorry, but Florio is right.
If football doesn’t happen next season, or if there is a pay to watch thing.
People will abandon the game for a long time.

By: afiresnake

afiresnake — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 06:09:27 +0000

@Uncle Leo: A significant number of people already pay per view … any Directv subscriber and anybody outside US/Canada … some even pay a NFL company for it directly:D

By: wintermoonrising

wintermoonrising — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 02:26:33 +0000

It’s obvious to every informed fan of the game what needs to be fixed on both sides of the issue. Fix it and play ball damn it!

By: LuckyPierre

LuckyPierre — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 01:54:36 +0000

What to make of the higher ratings in N.O. compared to the Super Bowl? Was it that there were fewer parties on Thursday night so more households were tuned in?

By: timegambit

timegambit — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 01:49:43 +0000

How much is enough, Gorden?

By: RexR#1

RexR#1 — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 01:17:37 +0000

Re: Coming on the heels of a pair of NBC preseason games that set viewership records
–
Breaking news – figures will be released next week showing the poverty rate is now higher than its ever been since the 60s.
Of course TV ratings are up that’s about all most people have the money to do – stay home and watch TV. People love football whether it is high scoring or not.
That game was not boring, Minnesota was at worst one drive, one turnover to them or one play away from winnng. Hardly a boring game that was featured by excellent defense which a whole lot of real football fans prefer.

By: other123

other123 — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 01:04:47 +0000

I think Frank Trigg is wrong. I dabble in baseball when a local team is winning, but not like before the world series halt.I lived in Detroit for the 1st 2 cups, but after the strike, who wants to watch versus at 4pm. I’m rabid for the NFL. But if this millionaire v billionaire thing gets worse, I will find something else. Plus, Jay Glazer can kick your ass.

By: DB26

DB26 — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:54:43 +0000

1) Very good post Roger. I am 34 and could name any Red & most any other teams worst player + half of their minor league system. After the strike, it took me a good 10 years to get back to that point with baseball. The shortened NFL season in the 80′s is still vivid to me. I must admit, I would likely lose my interest in pro sports if the NFL & NFLPA cannot strike a deal. Which leads into #2:
2) I am, in all honesty, in the process of building a website & advertising via facebook & message boards like PFT & others, to organize a fan strike. Basically, we fans would band together as the paying customers, via TV Ratings, Sunday Ticket, Apparel, Season Tickets, PSL’s, Single game tickets, concessions, parking, transit transportation, hotels, etc, and lockout the NFL starting at playoff week 1 if a new CBA has not been signed. If the fans stick to their guns & skip the playoffs, this sport & those running it may just take us & our revenue seriously. Neither the owners or the players can make money if we aren’t willing to purchase or support their product. Also by doing this, owners & league officials will have to win us back by setting lower ticket values, lower concessions, lower Sunday Ticket prices, etc. If you think about it, we aren’t just a nonconformed group of peeons. If we strike, they lose all the revenue from the above mentioned streams. Not to mention, sponsors do just that to reach out to potential customers of their products, aka us consumers. If there are no customers to market to, there are no sponsors. And it isn’t just us fans that stand to lose our luxury viewing here. Small Business Owners stand to take a big hit here. Individual owned gas stations, hotels, sports bars, apparel shops, & even the guy standing on the corner selling team shirts & peanuts.
We get enough pecker to the colon from the government day in and out. Should the things that keep us sane & provide family / friendly enjoyment in our personal lives be taken from us as well?
I will post the site soon & also hope that Florio & other message board sites may give some ad space to push the cause.
Hope others feel the same as I do!

By: brad1719

brad1719 — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:35:56 +0000

Trig, why would anyone want to follow you on Twitter? Douche.

By: smashmouthd

smashmouthd — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:34:03 +0000

Ratings are up because earnings are DOWN
Less people going to the stadiums, more people are tuning in for FREE (or almost free as its part of the cable/sat bill).
As UNEMPLOYMENT continues to rise, and those who have been unemployed for years now, remain that way (even though they are no longer counted in the unemployment figures given every month) there will be less folks willing to fork over the hundreds of dollars it costs to go to the games.
Both the Owners and Players better get with the new reality… as Obama says, get used to 10% unemployment and higher taxes.

By: TheToolofTools

TheToolofTools — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:30:30 +0000

I think the ratings are manipulated.
Who is guarding the hen house?
I don’t believe this for a moment.
No way.
By the way.. I heard NFL owners don’t pay income taxes on their teams profits… is this true?
I would really like to know.

By: mr_snrub

mr_snrub — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:29:19 +0000

Most of us were looking for a reason to watch baseball less anyways and most of the losers here don’t watch hockey to begin with (their loss).
Fact is, Commissioner Quit Screwing Up My League knows this and also knows that a 6 week delay in the 2011 season is far more likely to have people begging to pay more than face value for tickets than it is to have people tune out.

By: bigbolt

bigbolt — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:23:45 +0000

@ Trig
Steroids is why baseball came back. McGwire and Sosa chasing down the HR record while being juiced out of their minds.
And yes, people are turning their backs on GOING to football games. Attendance will be down again throughout the league. Prices have become absolutely ridiculous.

By: BigBear123

BigBear123 — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 23:57:58 +0000

In the current economic client that isn’t going to turn around until January 2013 people are turning to football now more than ever as an escape. If that gets taken away people are going to be pissed and the backlash will be worse than most think.