Other NFL News

[spuwho]

NFL signs 10 year deal to play at the new Tottenham Stadium from the Premier League.

The new stadium features an artificial surface underneath a layer of real grass that can be pulled back when the NFL plays.

The new stadium holds 61,000 people and the NFL games will start in 2018.

The ageement with Wembley has not been renewed yet and expires in 2016.

[BridgeTroll]

https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/esma/2015/07/08/2015-nfl-fan-equity-rankings/

Brand Equity, NFL

2015 NFL Fan Equity Rankings
July 8, 2015 Manish Tripathi   

For the past three years, we have tried to answer the question of which teams have the "best" fans. "Best" is a funny word that can mean a lot of things but what we are really trying to get at is what team has the most avid, engaged, passionate and supportive fans. The twist is that we are doing this using hard data, and that we are doing it in a very controlled and statistically careful fashion.

By hard data we mean data on actual fan behavior. In particular, we are focused on market outcomes like attendance, prices or revenues. A lot of marketing research focused on branding issues relies on things like consumer surveys. This is fine in some ways, but opinion surveys are also problematic. It's one thing to just say you are a fan of a local team, and quite another to be willing to pay several thousand dollars to purchase a season ticket.

To truly understand fan engagement, it's important to statistically control for temporary changes in the environment. This is a huge issue in sports because fans almost always chase a winner. The real quality of the sports brand is revealed when fans support a team through the tough times. The Packers or Steelers will sell-out the year after they go 6-10, not so much for the Jaguars. The other thing that separates sports brands from consumer brands is the cities themselves. The support a New York team gets in terms of attendance and pricing is always going to be tough to achieve for the team in Charlotte.

In terms of the nuts and bolts of what we are about to present, we use fifteen years of data on NFL team performance, ticket prices, market populations, median incomes, won-loss records and multiple other factors. We create statistical models of box office revenue, and then see which teams over- and under- perform the model's predictions.   For a much fuller description, and some limitations about what we are doing click here. https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/esma/files/2014/03/AMP-Fan-Equity.pdf

So who has the best fans? The winner this year is the Dallas Cowboys followed by the Patriots, Giants, Ravens, and Jets. The Cowboys have a storied history, a market that loves all forms of football, and a world-class stadium. "Deflate-gate" hasn't hit the window of our analysis yet (it is after the 2014-2015 season), but the Pats strong showing in our ranking suggests that the impact will be small. The Jets position might be somewhat surprising, but this team draws well, and has great pricing power without a lot of winning on the field.

Maybe the biggest surprise is some of the teams that aren't at the top. The Steelers and Packers have great fan followings.  The Seahawks are slowly developing a great fan base.  And these teams will do better when we switch to non-financial metrics such as social media following. But for the current "revenue premium" model these teams just don't price high enough. In a way, these teams with massive season ticket waiting lists are the most supportive of their fans.

At the bottom we have the Bills, Jags, Raiders, Browns and Dolphins. There are some interesting and storied teams on this list. The Raiders have a ton of passion in the end zone but maybe not throughout the stadium.   Cleveland may have never recovered from the loss of the Ravens, and the recreation of the Browns. Florida is almost always a problem on our lists. Whether it is the weather or the fact that many of the locals are transplants that didn't grow up with the team, Florida teams just don't get the support of teams in other regions.

[Adam White]

NFL signs 10 year deal to play at the new Tottenham Stadium from the Premier League.

The new stadium features an artificial surface underneath a layer of real grass that can be pulled back when the NFL plays.

The new stadium holds 61,000 people and the NFL games will start in 2018.

The ageement with Wembley has not been renewed yet and expires in 2016.

Yeah - the stadium isn't built yet...but this is a good sign that it actually will happen (it's been dragging on for years). As a Spurs supporter/member, I was initially quite sceptical about this whole arrangement. But then it occurred to me that it's likely to offset at least some of the ridiculous cost of building the stadium. So that's good.

[Adam White]

NFL signs 10 year deal to play at the new Tottenham Stadium from the Premier League.

The new stadium features an artificial surface underneath a layer of real grass that can be pulled back when the NFL plays.

The new stadium holds 61,000 people and the NFL games will start in 2018.

The ageement with Wembley has not been renewed yet and expires in 2016.

In other (related) news:

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/revealed-fulham-owner-shahid-khan-wants-to-buy-tottenham-and-relocate-jacksonville-jaguars-to-white-hart-lane-10380385.html

This reads like it's purely speculation. If it's even true, Khan has an idea and has discussed it with is advisors. That's about the extent of it.

[I-10east]

Boy, I'm really quaking in my boots concerning that 'reliable info' across the pond...

[I-10east]

The PC mania will never cease; Now the Saints logo is 'racist'....

http://dailycaller.com/2015/07/10/now-the-symbol-of-new-orleans-is-considered-racist/

[The_Choose_1]

https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/esma/2015/07/08/2015-nfl-fan-equity-rankings/

Brand Equity, NFL

2015 NFL Fan Equity Rankings
July 8, 2015 Manish Tripathi   

For the past three years, we have tried to answer the question of which teams have the "best" fans. "Best" is a funny word that can mean a lot of things but what we are really trying to get at is what team has the most avid, engaged, passionate and supportive fans. The twist is that we are doing this using hard data, and that we are doing it in a very controlled and statistically careful fashion.

By hard data we mean data on actual fan behavior. In particular, we are focused on market outcomes like attendance, prices or revenues. A lot of marketing research focused on branding issues relies on things like consumer surveys. This is fine in some ways, but opinion surveys are also problematic. It's one thing to just say you are a fan of a local team, and quite another to be willing to pay several thousand dollars to purchase a season ticket.

To truly understand fan engagement, it's important to statistically control for temporary changes in the environment. This is a huge issue in sports because fans almost always chase a winner. The real quality of the sports brand is revealed when fans support a team through the tough times. The Packers or Steelers will sell-out the year after they go 6-10, not so much for the Jaguars. The other thing that separates sports brands from consumer brands is the cities themselves. The support a New York team gets in terms of attendance and pricing is always going to be tough to achieve for the team in Charlotte.

In terms of the nuts and bolts of what we are about to present, we use fifteen years of data on NFL team performance, ticket prices, market populations, median incomes, won-loss records and multiple other factors. We create statistical models of box office revenue, and then see which teams over- and under- perform the model's predictions.   For a much fuller description, and some limitations about what we are doing click here. https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/esma/files/2014/03/AMP-Fan-Equity.pdf

So who has the best fans? The winner this year is the Dallas Cowboys followed by the Patriots, Giants, Ravens, and Jets. The Cowboys have a storied history, a market that loves all forms of football, and a world-class stadium. "Deflate-gate" hasn't hit the window of our analysis yet (it is after the 2014-2015 season), but the Pats strong showing in our ranking suggests that the impact will be small. The Jets position might be somewhat surprising, but this team draws well, and has great pricing power without a lot of winning on the field.

Maybe the biggest surprise is some of the teams that aren't at the top. The Steelers and Packers have great fan followings.  The Seahawks are slowly developing a great fan base.  And these teams will do better when we switch to non-financial metrics such as social media following. But for the current "revenue premium" model these teams just don't price high enough. In a way, these teams with massive season ticket waiting lists are the most supportive of their fans.

At the bottom we have the Bills, Jags, Raiders, Browns and Dolphins. There are some interesting and storied teams on this list. The Raiders have a ton of passion in the end zone but maybe not throughout the stadium.   Cleveland may have never recovered from the loss of the Ravens, and the recreation of the Browns. Florida is almost always a problem on our lists. Whether it is the weather or the fact that many of the locals are transplants that didn't grow up with the team, Florida teams just don't get the support of teams in other regions.

The problem with Jacksonville Jaguar fan base is we have too many Gator Fans?

[Adam White]

The PC mania will never cease; Now the Saints logo is 'racist'....

http://dailycaller.com/2015/07/10/now-the-symbol-of-new-orleans-is-considered-racist/

I had to check to make sure that wasn't a joke website. I think it's safe to say that there will always be people who can find offense with anything.

That's not to say that the argument regarding the fleur de lis isn't legitimate - I certainly don't know if it is and I am in no place to argue that it's not offensive. But there's a difference between that and naming your team the Redskins.

I think this is the key passage from the article:

Fitzmorris, though, won't go as far as to say it should be removed: "The fleur de lis was the symbol of a monarchy. The United States of America was a slave-holding republic, not just the south. Where do you stop? Do you get rid of all symbols?"

The symbol is emblazoned throughout the city of New Orleans, and is the official symbol of Louisiana after Governor Bobby Jindal signed a law in 2008. Due to this fact, Seck also believes it shouldn't be taken down as it is now embraced as a symbol of unity.

The headline sensationalises the opinion of two people. Yeah, it could be considered a racist symbol, but we don't actually think it should be removed, as it has so many other meanings.

[spuwho]

The battle of due diligence is underway on a possible new NFL stadium in St Louis.

The initial research by the St Louis Post Dispatch showed that "probably" the Rams covered the public costs involved.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/the-platform/editorial-rams-pay-their-way-but-voters-must-have-a/article_0719534d-327d-531e-9fb3-343e1b0d109f.html

"No way" says the local think thank, the Show-Me Institute says. The Post-Dispatch is all wrong.

http://showmedaily.org/blog/local-government/no-post-dispatch-rams-dont-pay-their-way

So today, the Post-Dispatch reveals the following:

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/rams-don-t-produce-enough-tax-revenue-conventions-do-commission/article_7ba51f5e-0670-507a-949f-eecdfbd8806c.html

It seems when everyone slices the tax revenues across the city, county and state, the city seems to be getting shorted about $2 million annually.

The conventions that are hosted in the Edward Jones Dome easily cover all convention center costs and debt. But the exclusionary period where the Rams are the only ones allowed in the stadium, well, seems they come up short. 10 games a year just don't generate the revenue needed to cover the cost of hosting those games.

So what about a new stadium on the riverfront? Seems the City and County voters passed a referendum that any future tax related efforts for sports has to be put to a vote.  The Missouri Governor say no problem, don't need a vote, i will just roll over the State's share of the Dome bonds into the new stadium.

No can do. The bonds are held by the local Sports and Convention Authority who runs the Dome.  Research shows that based on tax revenue from the Rams, there isn't enough of the State's share to support a refinance just for them. So even if the bonds could be rolled over, "someone" would have to make up the difference. City of St Louis? Not without a vote. County of St Louis? Not without a vote.  It takes a year to get a referendum ballot in place. Too slow for the NFL.

The final words? "When all the research is complete, the data will show that public sports stadium financing benefits only 1 entity, the team owner"

While there is another active thread on a Jacksonville Convention Center, St Louis Convention Center pays its own way. The 3rd link highlights just how much revenue and tax dollars its brings in. I thought the data was interesting and who they pull in, in light of the discussion here.

[I-10east]

Talks between the city of SD and the Chargers are dead.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/08/10/talks-between-san-diego-chargers-are-all-but-dead/

[spuwho]

Talks between the city of SD and the Chargers are dead.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/08/10/talks-between-san-diego-chargers-are-all-but-dead/

Chargers just want too much and can't afford their share.

Chargers admitted that 20% of their season ticket holders live in the west and south LA Basin.

I still think it will be the Chargers/Rams in Kroenke's new stadium.

Raiders are weaker financially than the Chargers are right now.

[BridgeTroll]

Happy 96th Birthday... Green Bay Packers! 

[I-10east]

The Onion: St. Louis Rams Threaten To Leave Town Unless Taxpayers Personally Build Stadium With Bare Hands

http://www.theonion.com/article/st-louis-rams-threaten-leave-town-unless-taxpayers-51109

[spuwho]

Chargers QB "Philip" (fixed) Rivers got his $87m contract which means he will retire a Charger.

I am assuming the Chargers are expecting an LA based stadium revenue model to pay for that contract.

[InnerCityPressure]

*Philip