More Signs Football Has Peaked In Popularity

[B. McBannerson]

I'm surprised the NFL hasn't gone to more staggered start times.  I think it would be great if they spread the games out over a weekend like this (start times Central):
Thurs
7:00 - 1 game

Fri
7:00 - 1 game

Sat
12:00 - 1 game
3:30 - 1 game
7:00 - 1 game

Sun
11:00 - 2 games
12:00 - 2 games
2:30 - 2 games
3:30 - 2 games
7:00 - 2 games

Mon
7:00 - 1 game

Will never happen.  Friday night is high school football.  Saturday is college football.  The NFL simply will not do this.  If they were smart, they would get rid of Thursday night and make Monday night more compelling.  Sunday night is now what Monday night used to be.

[Jockey]

I'm surprised the NFL hasn't gone to more staggered start times.  I think it would be great if they spread the games out over a weekend like this (start times Central):
Thurs
7:00 - 1 game

Fri
7:00 - 1 game

Sat
12:00 - 1 game
3:30 - 1 game
7:00 - 1 game

Sun
11:00 - 2 games
12:00 - 2 games
2:30 - 2 games
3:30 - 2 games
7:00 - 2 games

Mon
7:00 - 1 game

Hate to inform you, but going head-to-head with college football would lower ratings, not increase them. And Friday night may even be worse.

[Pakuni]

Will never happen.  Friday night is high school football.  Saturday is college football.  The NFL simply will not do this.  If they were smart, they would get rid of Thursday night and make Monday night more compelling.  Sunday night is now what Monday night used to be.

The NFL won't, and shouldn't, get rid of Thursday night football. Even with ratings down slightly, it's by leaps and bounds the most watched program on Thursday nights. And there are millions more eyeballs watching the game than if that same contest were Sunday afternoon and shown only regionally. Think about Houston-Cincy last week. It drew more than 8 million viewers to a cable network not everybody has, and not counting one of the biggest states in the country.
You think they get nearly that many viewers as a regional Sunday game shown in Texas and southern Ohio? If your answer is no (and it obviously is), then you know why we have Thursday night football.

[Eldon]

NFL reportedly wants Chargers back in SD, cites bad optics of empty stadium

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-reportedly-considering-moving-chargers-010040080.html

[rocket surgeon]

NFL reportedly wants Chargers back in SD, cites bad optics of empty stadium

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-reportedly-considering-moving-chargers-010040080.html

Would be interesting to see how the city reacts if they choose to come back.  What's weird is why The chargers brass thinks LA is the place to be when they've had years of success just 100 miles south. 

[tower912]

Because they wanted a taxpayer funded stadium that gave them (the owners) all of the revenue, concessions, parking, and the area voters said no.     So the owners took the team to LA.     

[RJax55]

I don't see anyway the Chargers can return to SD with the Spanos family still owning the team. They poisoned the well down there. Would need a new ownership group to come in to restart the process for a new stadium.

[B. McBannerson]

The NFL won't, and shouldn't, get rid of Thursday night football. Even with ratings down slightly, it's by leaps and bounds the most watched program on Thursday nights. And there are millions more eyeballs watching the game than if that same contest were Sunday afternoon and shown only regionally. Think about Houston-Cincy last week. It drew more than 8 million viewers to a cable network not everybody has, and not counting one of the biggest states in the country.
You think they get nearly that many viewers as a regional Sunday game shown in Texas and southern Ohio? If your answer is no (and it obviously is), then you know why we have Thursday night football.

It was a money grab based on greed.  It puts player health at risk, that is not a good thing.  It puts on display what has normally been subpar football historically on Thursdays, in part because on only 3 days to prepare, bodies broken down.  It diminishes the product, for all to see on a Thursday night.  Money grab and hurting football as a result.

[rocket surgeon]

It was a money grab based on greed.  It puts player health at risk, that is not a good thing.  It puts on display what has normally been subpar football historically on Thursdays, in part because on only 3 days to prepare, bodies broken down.  It diminishes the product, for all to see on a Thursday night.  Money grab and hurting football as a result.

good input!  packers just finished playing in the hottest home game in their HISTORY, it goes into overtime and they are down to playing the bouncers from the stadium view bar on their offensive line.  3 days rest and deja vu all over again.  at least it's a home game, but i'm not going to say, at least it's only against the bears...but...

[Pakuni]

It was a money grab based on greed.  It puts player health at risk, that is not a good thing.  It puts on display what has normally been subpar football historically on Thursdays, in part because on only 3 days to prepare, bodies broken down.  It diminishes the product, for all to see on a Thursday night.  Money grab and hurting football as a result.

You're outraged over a business seeking to maximize its profits, even if that has negative consequences for its labor force?
Maybe you're not Chico's after all.

[Tugg Speedman]

‘Sunday Night Football’ Ratings Down Again On Day Of Player Protests
http://deadline.com/2017/09/redskins-sunday-night-football-ratings-nfl-protests-star-trek-discovery-donald-trump-nbc-1202176141/

AMERICANS NATIONWIDE BURN NFL TICKETS, SHIRTS IN SOLIDARITY WITH TRUMP
https://www.infowars.com/americans-nationwide-burn-nfl-tickets-shirts-in-solidarity-with-trump/

-----------------

ok, maybe it is less than 5% that are this angry at the NFL.  But remember, the league wants tens of billions in broadcasting right.  5% is enough to throw their broadcasting partners into losses.  See Disney's stock.

This is damaging the product.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

‘Sunday Night Football’ Ratings Down Again On Day Of Player Protests
http://deadline.com/2017/09/redskins-sunday-night-football-ratings-nfl-protests-star-trek-discovery-donald-trump-nbc-1202176141/

AMERICANS NATIONWIDE BURN NFL TICKETS, SHIRTS IN SOLIDARITY WITH TRUMP
https://www.infowars.com/americans-nationwide-burn-nfl-tickets-shirts-in-solidarity-with-trump/

-----------------

ok, maybe it is less than 5% that are this angry at the NFL.  But remember, the league wants tens of billions in broadcasting right.  5% is enough to throw their broadcasting partners into losses.  See Disney's stock.

This is damaging the product.

How damaging would it be if the NFL decided to limit free speech? More or less than 5%?

[reinko]

‘Sunday Night Football’ Ratings Down Again On Day Of Player Protests
http://deadline.com/2017/09/redskins-sunday-night-football-ratings-nfl-protests-star-trek-discovery-donald-trump-nbc-1202176141/

AMERICANS NATIONWIDE BURN NFL TICKETS, SHIRTS IN SOLIDARITY WITH TRUMP
https://www.infowars.com/americans-nationwide-burn-nfl-tickets-shirts-in-solidarity-with-trump/

-----------------

ok, maybe it is less than 5% that are this angry at the NFL.  But remember, the league wants tens of billions in broadcasting right.  5% is enough to throw their broadcasting partners into losses.  See Disney's stock.

This is damaging the product.

I am gonna protest the NFL by burning tickets I already paid for, that'll show 'em.  Weren't these the same mouthbreathers who boycotted Starbucks by going to Starbucks and buying drinks?

[Pakuni]

‘Sunday Night Football’ Ratings Down Again On Day Of Player Protests
http://deadline.com/2017/09/redskins-sunday-night-football-ratings-nfl-protests-star-trek-discovery-donald-trump-nbc-1202176141/

AMERICANS NATIONWIDE BURN NFL TICKETS, SHIRTS IN SOLIDARITY WITH TRUMP
https://www.infowars.com/americans-nationwide-burn-nfl-tickets-shirts-in-solidarity-with-trump/

-----------------

ok, maybe it is less than 5% that are this angry at the NFL.  But remember, the league wants tens of billions in broadcasting right.  5% is enough to throw their broadcasting partners into losses.  See Disney's stock.

This is damaging the product.

Linking to Infowars ought to be a ban-able offense.

[Tugg Speedman]

I am gonna protest the NFL by burning tickets I already paid for, that'll show 'em.  Weren't these the same mouthbreathers who boycotted Starbucks by going to Starbucks and buying drinks?

only a handful did that, mist burned jerseys, in at least five cities this morning (including Green Bay).

Before you revert to your elitist tendencies, how many pickup, beer and viagra ads are on NFL broadcasts.

Lose the mouthbreathers and the sport is in deep trouble.

[Tugg Speedman]

Linking to Infowars ought to be a ban-able offense.

Happy

http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/09/25/nfl-fans-react-national-anthem-protests-players-not-respecting-american-flag

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2017/09/25/angry-steelers-fans-burn-gear-over-national-anthem/

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-25/nfl-s-top-sponsors-stay-quiet-after-trump-s-call-for-boycott

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-09-25/anthem-protest

[reinko]

only a handful did that, mist burned jerseys, in at least five cities this morning (including Green Bay).

Before you revert to your elitist tendencies, how many pickup, beer and viagra ads are on NFL broadcasts.

Lose the mouthbreathers and the sport is in deep trouble.

Elitist tendencies?  You vomitted some clickbait BS that that has no semblance of fact or reason.  I would say the same thing if Antifa or some Soros funded group did something literally that dumb, by burning things you already paid for like you are making some kind of grand statement.  Stupidity does not have an ideology chief.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Linking to Infowars ought to be a ban-able offense.

I was just about to post something similar.  If that's your source of information, don't even bother. Just admit your wrong and move on.

[mu03eng]

On the other hand, the average franchise value rose 8 percent last year. Five teams are now worth more than $3 billion and the least valuable team (Buffalo) is worth $1.6 billion, which is twice as much as in 2010.


https://www.forbes.com/nfl-valuations/list/#tab:overall

Remind me what Bear Stearns, AIG, Lehman Brothers, et al were worth on paper prior to the 2008 collapse?

[reinko]

Remind me what Bear Stearns, AIG, Lehman Brothers, et al were worth on paper prior to the 2008 collapse?

Weren't BS, Lehman, and AIG all leveraged with tons of bad debt, thus when the market collapsed they didn't have the funds to their creditors?

I kinda get your point, and sports franchises are about perceived value, but last time I checked the Buffalo Bills don't have billions of outstanding debt and is a publicly traded company.

[Pakuni]

Remind me what Bear Stearns, AIG, Lehman Brothers, et al were worth on paper prior to the 2008 collapse?

How is the NFL at all like an investment bank engaging in risky transactions?

Or is it your point that the NFL won't live on in perpetuity? OK, sure. Same with every other business (entity) on the planet, I suspect.
Strong take.

[mu03eng]

How is the NFL at all like an investment bank engaging in risky transactions?

Or is it your point that the NFL won't live on in perpetuity? OK, sure. Same with every other business (entity) on the planet, I suspect.
Strong take.

My point is that things can look strong on paper, but that doesn't necessarily reflect the true health of the business. While not a perfect analogy, the NFL is currently engaged in a lot of risky areas that could result in a collapse of the model. I don't think current estimates like the one you highlighted are properly estimating the amount of risk in the NFL model.

[Pakuni]

My point is that things can look strong on paper, but that doesn't necessarily reflect the true health of the business. While not a perfect analogy, the NFL is currently engaged in a lot of risky areas that could result in a collapse of the model. I don't think current estimates like the one you highlighted are properly estimating the amount of risk in the NFL model.

What are some of the risky practices NFL owners are engaging in that could lead to a sudden collapse of the league, or even a franchise?
Before you answer, keep in mind this is a business with an exceptional level of cost certainty that is directly tied to revenues thanks to its CBA, has cities and states willing to shell over hundreds of millions in taxpayer money for the sheer privilege of hosting a franchise and has guaranteed streams of massive revenues for at least the next five years 9from television)and beyond (from stadium deals, etc.).
And despite all the Chicken Littledom, it is still by far the most watched program on television, still by far the most popular sport in the country and even managed to bring in a record amount of ad revenue last year.

[Tugg Speedman]

I was just about to post something similar.  If that's your source of information, don't even bother. Just admit your wrong and move on.

I agree it was careless of me to use infowars.  That’s why I posted other sources, and a quick google search will show numerous stories of fans burning jerseys all over the country.

Curious, do you feel the same about Buzz Feed and Vox as you do about info wars?

[Pakuni]

This doesn't fit the narrative.

This will be hard to explain for the people who complain about NFL protests and like to take credit for the drop in the league’s television ratings: With more protests and demonstrations in Week 3 than any other week in NFL history, ratings were up.


The ratings dip was always overblown. The NFL destroys every other sport in television ratings. Percentages might have been down for a couple weeks, but the NFL had set such a high bar that it was a prisoner of its own success when comparing ratings to previous years.
There was also some cherry-picking involved in bloviating about the ratings decrease. Mulvihill tweeted before Sunday’s games that of the seven windows for NFL football through two weeks, ratings had increased for four of them compared to 2016.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/cbs-ratings-go-week-3-nfl-ratings-whole-expected-see-increase-154216596.html