The NFL has Peaked

[GMDGator]

"
This is a very boring, simple explanation as to why the NFL’s ratings are declining. It is not an opportunity for you to shoehorn in your feelings about Colin Kaepernick protesting the game. No one really cares about your feelings about Colin Kaepernick’s protest, because if you are the kind of person who gets really offended by Colin Kaepernick’s protest, then your feelings in 2017 are the most boring and predictable thing about you, and telling on you in a deeply unflattering light.

The simpler and also boring systemic problem with the NFL that might actually explain something is its success, and how that success made the ownership class in the NFL fat, lazy, and locked into a business model they have no real reason or incentive to change, even with falling TV ratings.

The absence of real risk of failure is a start. Stakeholders in the NFL cannot lose—at least not under the league’s current structure. Owners split money from the league’s massive TV deals and other media revenue streams. That stream is so dependable, so huge, and so guaranteed that it’s done what large, intractable pools of cash have done since the invention of markets. It has altered and distorted the very thing that created it, and broken the basic exchange between consumer and seller that made the NFL successful in the first place.

It’s a form of laziness, and a special kind different from the standard laziness in the NFL. Laziness bred from prosperity isn’t a new problem for NFL ownership and management. For every old-school Rooney or Mara or Hunt family intent on making at least an honest show of competing, producing a good product, and paying at least paltry attention to the demands of the consumer, there has been a Culverhouse or a Smith, owners who ran their franchises with the least possible effort and expenditure. The slumlords of the NFL took their rent, often without providing anything close to a finished building."
https://www.sbnation.com/2017/9/19/...olin-kaepernick-los-angeles-rams-owners-money
Moving 3 teams in 3 years really is just dumping all over your fan bases... Jacking up ticket prices and forcing cities to build you new stadiums constantly and creating your network that now costs extra if you want to view Thursday night crapfests is dumping all over your fans... Mark Cuban was right.. The NFL is very Hoggy and IMHO on the decline..

 

[heversle]

Preach.

 

[GMDGator]

Everyone can see that Roger Goodell has been the worst thing ever for the NFL... Soaring ticket prices, over commercialization... A couple of years ago he tried to CHARGE the halftime act for the right to perform at the Superbowl.. This year he was just turned down by Jay Z... It will not be immediate, but when the new TV contracts get negotiated... There will be a correction coming.

 

[Gator Fever]

Politics has more to do with it than the media is trying to spin. I know quite a few not watching ESPN except for a few college games and not watching the NFL now solely due to that mess. They will only watch some college football and that is the only time they will watch ESPN is when its a game they want to see and then they turn it immediately.

 

[T REX]

There are other factors involved...declining cable subscribers...declining participation in youth leagues...a watered down product(meaning too many nights). It is entirely possible the NFL has peaked.

 

[GMDGator]

Politics has more to do with it than the media is trying to spin. I know quite a few not watching ESPN except for a few college games and not watching the NFL now solely due to that mess. They will only watch some college football and that is the only time they will watch ESPN is when its a game they want to see and then they turn it immediately.

You are right... It all has a cumulative effect though.
You cannot continue to screw your die hard fans and not suffer the consequences

 

[-THE DUDE-]

I love the NFL like i used to love college football meaning i could watch any game any time. It's not switched to where i only watch college football for the Gators and big games and i can watch any NFL game. But at some point you have to say enough is enough and keep the games to Sunday and Monday and in the US. No more games on Thursday (except Thanksgiving) and no more games international. That is directly hurting the product on the field. Commercials are also killing the viewing pleasure. If there is a score there is a commercial, then kickoff, then commercial, then a few plays, then commercial, wash rinse repeat. That is the stuff that makes me as an NFL fan pissed...kaepernick? Don't really care...if he was good enough he would be playing end of story and it should be a non story but the booyah network and the rest of the media keeps dragging that crap back into it.

 

[gatormandan]

I havent watched an NFL game in 20+ years. Dont care.

 

[maheo30]

I love the NFL. I watch it more than I do college. However, I stopped watching it live because of the political crap. I bought NFL access. Now I can watch without ads, politics, or even announcers. I usually watch the all-22 as it tells me the most about my team. However, all of my friends have stopped watching entirely due to the players activism. They watch sports to get away from that garbage.

 

[GMDGator]

I love the NFL. I watch it more than I do college. However, I stopped watching it live because of the political crap. I bought NFL access. Now I can watch without ads, politics, or even announcers. I usually watch the all-22 as it tells me the most about my team. However, all of my friends have stopped watching entirely due to the players activism. They watch sports to get away from that garbage.

The activism does not bother me, i just get sick of the Commissioner constantly jacking the fans who would LIKE to go to a game around... check out current prices for a game... no wonder stadiums are half empty.

 

[Fishon]

stopped watching because of player activism? give me a break.

you should stop watching because the quality of play has nosedived since the last CBA.

this article talks about that: https://www.si.com/2017/09/20/demaurice-smith-reelected-bad-football

 

[-THE DUDE-]

The activism does not bother me, i just get sick of the Commissioner constantly jacking the fans who would LIKE to go to a game around... check out current prices for a game... no wonder stadiums are half empty.

I don't believe the commissioner sets ticket prices. What sets the ticket prices (besides supply/demand) are the huge TV contracts that the players now want and deserve a share of. Owners are making more money than ever and players feel they deserve more (which they do) so the owners profit will go down...as we know in all business that owners will not tolerate loss of profit so they raise prices for tickets, parking, food/drinks, merchandise, etc. Now if the fans are still showing up there's not much to complain about...but if the tickets are too expensive and they aren't selling out...why aren't they dropping prices? Unless I missed something that the NFL has a minimum ticket price?

 

[Captain Sasquatch]

NFL has been terrible for years. Barely watchable regular season followed by a midly entertaining postseason and what typically turns out to be a sh*t show of a championship game. Every 3-5 years we get a great Super Bowl, but in between, they're usually awful with even more awful commercials. At least the parties are always great.

 

[Alumni Guy]

Speaking of ESPN. I am curious to see who replaces Mike & Mike. While their schtick is as corny as Iowa, they tried (poorly) to keep the show balanced.

I wonder if their replacement will be consistent with the player's request for 1 month of social activism malarkey?

 

[Gulfstream]

NFL has been terrible for years. Barely watchable regular season followed by a midly entertaining postseason and what typically turns out to be a sh*t show of a championship game. Every 3-5 years we get a great Super Bowl, but in between, they're usually awful with even more awful commercials. At least the parties are always great.

^This.

 

[Renard904]

I think the health issues are killing the NFL. To hell with all of the fans and talking heads. The countless amount of new medical information is really having an effect on the amount of current players that are walking away from the game. It is also negatively impacting the kids and parents aren't so quick to allow their kids to play football. And the arrogance of the owners have allowed this to become a huge problem. It's putting off the casual fan. Most of us die hards will always watch football. They'll never lose us. But if a sport isn't growing, it's dying.

 

[maheo30]

stopped watching because of player activism? give me a break.

you should stop watching because the quality of play has nosedived since the last CBA.

this article talks about that: https://www.si.com/2017/09/20/demaurice-smith-reelected-bad-football

That is true, but it is still miles better than the horribly dumbed down college game when it comes to Xs and Os, player talent, coaching...ect. What the NFL lacks is atmosphere. That is where the college game is better.

 

[Fishon]

That is true, but it is still miles better than the horribly dumbed down college game when it comes to Xs and Os, player talent, coaching...ect. What the NFL lacks is atmosphere. That is where the college game is better.

agree

 

[GMDGator]

I think the health issues are killing the NFL. To hell with all of the fans and talking heads. The countless amount of new medical information is really having an effect on the amount of current players that are walking away from the game. It is also negatively impacting the kids and parents aren't so quick to allow their kids to play football. And the arrogance of the owners have allowed this to become a huge problem. It's putting off the casual fan. Most of us die hards will always watch football. They'll never lose us. But if a sport isn't growing, it's dying.

It is also negatively impacting the kids and parents aren't so quick to allow their kids to play football

I saw this first hand last year when I was reffing in Tennessee... long term trend is not good

 

[OllieGator]

I don't know guys. I like watching the NFL and enjoy the Thursday night games. Jags are my team but it's not the same as with the Gators. I really can't stand to watch any other college game unless it's watching a rival get embarrassed. With the NFL, I can watch any game and at least be interested in it.

I'd say the decline is due to commercials. Way too many and when you're at the game, it really sucks. I don't want to see the teams end up like NASCAR or soccer where they're walking billboards, but the NFL needs to restrict commercials to let play flow better. Reviews too...take way too long.