QuoteRaheem Morris wants NFL to change blackout policy
Posted by Mike Florio on September 15, 2010 12:21 PM ET
The Bucs were the only NFL home team in Week One to play in a stadium where the non-premium seats had not been sold out. And so the game was not televised locally.
Coach Raheem Morris thinks that the policy compelling a blackout under those circumstances should change.
"The economy right now is rough," Morris said earlier this week on WDAE radio in Tampa, via JoeBucsFan.com. "We understand that. And I'm very sensitive to that. I actually was in a mall this week, and ran across a young man in the mall in the Apple store and gave him and his family four tickets to the game. And I was fired up about that and received a beautiful e-mail today from their family. And, you know, I wish I could do more. I wish I could buy all the tickets myself. But I can't do that yet.
"I don't think it's a lack of fan support," Morris said. "You would like the NFL to change the [blackout] rule with the economy with what we got going on right now."
Though Morris may not be able to buy all the tickets himself, the reality is that, last year, the Bucs paid 34 cents on the dollar as to any non-premium tickets, ensuring a string of "sellouts". And it appears that the Rams did the same thing on Sunday. And it's likely that the same tactic has been used in the past -- and will be used in the future -- by other teams to ensure that the three-hour infomercial will air in the home market.
But the league won't be changing the blackout rule, regardless of whether slow sales result from a bad economy or a bad team or a kick-ass HD/3D TV that was just installed in the man cave. Indeed, as the home-viewing experience improves, the league will be even more vigilant regarding the blackout rule, since more and more fans will realize it's cheaper -- and in many respects better -- to stay home.
Sooooo, I wonder how soon the national
vultures media picks up on this?
send them to l.a. they can't fill their seats the fans don't support them. the bucs need to move west. get some trucks for the bucs!!!!
Chargers have 8k tickets to sell to avoid being blacked out
As much as the blackouts hurt us here in Jax, I don't want to see the rule changed.
The whole point of televising is so that people without tix can see the game. Without a full stadium, there is no revenue... if there is no revenue there is no team.
The only way to lift the blackout rule is to charge for televised games via pay-per-view.
Imagine if local concerts were televised...
Quote from: hanjin1 on September 15, 2010, 02:08:25 PM
send them to l.a. they can't fill their seats the fans don't support them. the bucs need to move west. get some trucks for the bucs!!!!
Wow, I thought I was the only person in Jacksonville who felt this way.
Every economic study ever done about professional sports teams in a city show that at best they are economically neutral, but are mostly economic negatives. Everybody has limited entertainment dollars and when the sports teams come into a town, every other entertainment option including restaurants sees a decline in sales.
The post by Intuition Ale Works made me think to post this about the blackouts. Sure, I got it from PFT, but typically Florio is trashing the Jags. I just wonder why the major media outlets don't blast the other teams the way they blast us?
And I agree Shwaz, the rule shouldn't be changed. If WW hadn't given the Jags away 5 years ago, we might not be in the situation that we're in now (season tix), because people wouldn't have gotten used to seeing the Jags on TV - they would have HAD to go to the stadium to see their hometeam. They were too used to seeing Spurrier whip Appalachian State from their recliners and then WW gave them the Jags from the same seat.
Live and learn.
Dog Walker............said it before and will say it again..........If they are winning, they would have no problem filling the stadium up and then some! So win (better than a 7 & 9 result and backing into the playoffs) and all problems are solved...........continue to lose and you get what you sow!
Quote from: Dog Walker on September 15, 2010, 02:44:59 PM
Every economic study ever done about professional sports teams in a city show that at best they are economically neutral, but are mostly economic negatives. Everybody has limited entertainment dollars and when the sports teams come into a town, every other entertainment option including restaurants sees a decline in sales.
Quoted for truth. But if you're smart, you'll learn what I learned and keep your mouth shut when considering such heresy.
I do feel that the national media loves to dump on us, but you do have to admit, no other team has had almost their entire home season blacked out. We did it to ourselves. They don't understand the community push we have seen the past several months.
Quote from: CS Foltz on September 15, 2010, 03:44:52 PM
Dog Walker............said it before and will say it again..........If they are winning, they would have no problem filling the stadium up and then some! So win (better than a 7 & 9 result and backing into the playoffs) and all problems are solved...........continue to lose and you get what you sow!
CS - although you're beating a dead horse, and I do agree a winning record would help ticket sales... it's still a poor mentality and not conducive to long term success... because the only sure thing in NFL is that losing seasons are just around the corner at anytime.
The Packers are a prime example. They will without a doubt never be in danger of losing their franchise even though they're the smallest market.... because their fans love the team unconditionally. You'll find the same in Pittsburgh, NY and many other NFL markets.
The product is the game, the NFL experience and not the outcome. I've paid good money to watch this team lose and I expect to time and time again. I keep my expectations realistic and I enjoy the game regardless. It's time for 65,000 other fans to do the same.
Everybody is full of it in my opinion. When it was us getting bashed last year, the black out rule was ok. Now that Tampa is having blackouts, they are whinning about the black out rule. Man people are a trip. We took our whipping last year, so Tampa man up and take yours!
Quote from: duvaldude08 on September 15, 2010, 04:01:39 PM
Everybody is full of it in my opinion. When it was us getting bashed last year, the black out rule was ok. Now that Tampa is having blackouts, they are whinning about the black out rule. Man people are a trip. We took our whipping last year, so Tampa man up and take yours!
I'm sure even Tampa was whining last year internally while buying up the remaining tickets for .34 on the dollar.
Quote from: Shwaz on September 15, 2010, 04:02:57 PM
Quote from: duvaldude08 on September 15, 2010, 04:01:39 PM
Everybody is full of it in my opinion. When it was us getting bashed last year, the black out rule was ok. Now that Tampa is having blackouts, they are whinning about the black out rule. Man people are a trip. We took our whipping last year, so Tampa man up and take yours!
I'm sure even Tampa was whining last year internally while buying up the remaining tickets for .34 on the dollar.
Right! I was reading that they have been hiding their tickets problems for a few years by buying up the unsold tickets. So this year, they decided to face the music.
Shwaz............you do have a point, but have to point out that Green Bay dates back to pre-NFL! They have a winning history and the Jags do not! Winning is everything and as I pointed out.....a winning record makes filling any stadium up one heck of alot easier! Losing seasons are just a turn of the wheel and the wheel allways turns! Any team has ups and downs.......Redskins,Dolphins..........heck even Cleveland (they are an original team though, actually Baltimore Ravens was the original team prior to their move!) Not turning my back on the Jag's, they have possibilities, but winning does all a world of good..........media would get off of Jacksonvilles back, team could be a contender.......they might even get to the playoffs with a winning record and be a real contender, but time will tell for sure! A brand new season.......so who knows?
Quote from: duvaldude08 on September 15, 2010, 04:06:29 PM
Quote from: Shwaz on September 15, 2010, 04:02:57 PM
Quote from: duvaldude08 on September 15, 2010, 04:01:39 PM
Everybody is full of it in my opinion. When it was us getting bashed last year, the black out rule was ok. Now that Tampa is having blackouts, they are whinning about the black out rule. Man people are a trip. We took our whipping last year, so Tampa man up and take yours!
I'm sure even Tampa was whining last year internally while buying up the remaining tickets for .34 on the dollar.
Right! I was reading that they have been hiding their tickets problems for a few years by buying up the unsold tickets. So this year, they decided to face the music.
It's no secret that a few teams have been doing this. Then you've got other teams with poor fan following in a corporate rich market. Miami & Houston for example sellout regularly but only 50% pass through the turnstiles... the rest are bought out by fortune 500 companies. : /
And let's not forget about the Raiders, Chargers (both already in CA), Rams, Bucs, Arizona, KC & Minnesota.
Quote from: CS Foltz on September 15, 2010, 04:12:36 PM
Shwaz............you do have a point, but have to point out that Green Bay dates back to pre-NFL! They have a winning history and the Jags do not! Winning is everything and as I pointed out.....a winning record makes filling any stadium up one heck of alot easier! Losing seasons are just a turn of the wheel and the wheel allways turns! Any team has ups and downs.......Redskins,Dolphins..........heck even Cleveland (they are an original team though, actually Baltimore Ravens was the original team prior to their move!) Not turning my back on the Jag's, they have possibilities, but winning does all a world of good..........media would get off of Jacksonvilles back, team could be a contender.......they might even get to the playoffs with a winning record and be a real contender, but time will tell for sure! A brand new season.......so who knows?
I agree history is important but disagree winning meant everything to the Packers. Between 68 and 96 was along time with no title runs. That's more than a generation growing up under multiple losing seasons. Never in that time did the franchise struggle.
QuoteFor about a quarter century after Lombardi's departure, the Packers had relatively little on-field success. In the 24 seasons from 1968 to 1991, the Packers had only five seasons with a winning record (above .500), one being the shortened 1982 strike season. They appeared in the playoffs twice during that period, with a record of 1â€"2.
It doesn't take winning. It takes time and passion. You are either going to embrace the home team or you're not. What we need are 30K people to fall passionately in love with OUR franchise (30K with 2 season tix each). You can't care if they win or lose or if it's rainy or if it's too hot or if it's too cold or if we're playing the Browns. Sunday's need to be a ritual - wake up with a smile, knowing you're going to watch a football game played by 2 teams - 1 you love, 1 you hate. It's that simple.
Nice post Non-Redneck Westsider.
I believe we are getting closer to that magical 60k number of die hard Jaguars fans as each year passes. I was fortunate enough to grow up a Jaguars fan, and once I was old enough to know what budgeting my money meant, I bought two season tickets. Started with me and my wife, the next year my sister and her BF bought tickets, and so-on.. I've said this before, the mid-20's people that grew up Jags fans are going to be the ones who save this franchise, & keep it in Jacksonville for years to come.
Winning only brings bandwagon fans (See the Tampa Bay Bucs)..
Quote from: SMoody84 on September 15, 2010, 04:37:19 PM
Nice post Non-Redneck Westsider.
I believe we are getting closer to that magical 60k number of die hard Jaguars fans as each year passes. I was fortunate enough to grow up a Jaguars fan, and once I was old enough to know what budgeting my money meant, I bought two season tickets. Started with me and my wife, the next year my sister and her BF bought tickets, and so-on.. I've said this before, the mid-20's people that grew up Jags fans are going to be the ones who save this franchise, & keep it in Jacksonville for years to come.
Winning only brings bandwagon fans (See the Tampa Bay Bucs)..
+1MM
This is how a fan base is built.
Well Gentlemen and all.............we have differing viewpoints and can see there is no middle ground! I have a jersey from the first quarterback and they have not had a good one since then, so I guess you could say I am somewhat biased!
Quote from: CS Foltz on September 15, 2010, 07:58:49 PM
Well Gentlemen and all.............we have differing viewpoints and can see there is no middle ground! I have a jersey from the first quarterback and they have not had a good one since then, so I guess you could say I am somewhat biased!
You have a Steve Buerleine(sic) Jersey ;D ;D
Quote from: CS Foltz on September 15, 2010, 07:58:49 PM
Well Gentlemen and all.............we have differing viewpoints and can see there is no middle ground! I have a jersey from the first quarterback and they have not had a good one since then, so I guess you could say I am somewhat biased!
I would say almost all in this thread are in agreement... you're the only one promoting bandwagonism.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on September 15, 2010, 08:41:26 PM
Quote from: CS Foltz on September 15, 2010, 07:58:49 PM
Well Gentlemen and all.............we have differing viewpoints and can see there is no middle ground! I have a jersey from the first quarterback and they have not had a good one since then, so I guess you could say I am somewhat biased!
You have a Steve Buerleine(sic) Jersey ;D ;D
I still have an Andre Rison jersey
I was just busting on Foltz about having the jersey of the "First" Jaguar QB - totally assuming that he meant Brunell, but actually Brunell was a back-up to Buereline(sic) for about 3-4 games before becoming the starter.
Just want to spill a rant here.
What's the deal with people leaving the game at and around the two minute warning? This isn't a unique problem for the Jags either. I see it every week at the end of every game I watch! I'm not awarded many opportunities to attend a game because I have a family of 5 living on one income, however, when I do get to go to a game I'm there until the bitter regardless of the outcome. To me, leaving before the end of the game is just like stepping out of the theatre before the movie is over. What's the point? You spend all of that money to be entertained by a football game and all the other things happening on the field and in the stands but suddenly you want to cut your fun short just to beat the rush? Makes much more sence to hang out an extra ten or fifteen minutes.
Whew, OK, I feel better now. ;D
Quote from: Jason on September 16, 2010, 10:55:28 AM
Just want to spill a rant here.
What's the deal with people leaving the game at and around the two minute warning? This isn't a unique problem for the Jags either. I see it every week at the end of every game I watch! I'm not awarded many opportunities to attend a game because I have a family of 5 living on one income, however, when I do get to go to a game I'm there until the bitter regardless of the outcome. To me, leaving before the end of the game is just like stepping out of the theatre before the movie is over. What's the point? You spend all of that money to be entertained by a football game and all the other things happening on the field and in the stands but suddenly you want to cut your fun short just to beat the rush? Makes much more sence to hang out an extra ten or fifteen minutes.
Whew, OK, I feel better now. ;D
+1
Spot on Jason! I normally make comments towards the early birds like "Don't want you to miss Golden Girls!!"
Last year it was because we have 0 fan support and Jacksonville sucks. Now other teams are feeling it, it's the economy and they want to see it changed. I hate the national media.
And it's not just the blackouts. The whole '.34 cents on the dollar' revelation revealed that Tampa would have had as many blackouts last year as we if they hadn't bought their own tix. We did that one year and look where it got us.
I think the truth is coming out for a lot of teams about how many tix were sold to fans and how many were bought up by the front office. It makes sense to do if for a year - assuming this recession would pass, but since we're into year 3 without a major comeback, the teams aren't willing to / don't have the cash flow to buy their own tickets anymore.
Quote from: Shwaz on September 15, 2010, 03:59:38 PM
Quote from: CS Foltz on September 15, 2010, 03:44:52 PM
Dog Walker............said it before and will say it again..........If they are winning, they would have no problem filling the stadium up and then some! So win (better than a 7 & 9 result and backing into the playoffs) and all problems are solved...........continue to lose and you get what you sow!
CS - although you're beating a dead horse, and I do agree a winning record would help ticket sales... it's still a poor mentality and not conducive to long term success... because the only sure thing in NFL is that losing seasons are just around the corner at anytime.
The Packers are a prime example. They will without a doubt never be in danger of losing their franchise even though they're the smallest market.... because their fans love the team unconditionally. You'll find the same in Pittsburgh, NY and many other NFL markets.
The product is the game, the NFL experience and not the outcome. I've paid good money to watch this team lose and I expect to time and time again. I keep my expectations realistic and I enjoy the game regardless. It's time for 65,000 other fans to do the same.
These aren't the greatest examples, Green bay owns the team and Pittsburgh has 90 years of football history. The jags, on the other hand, have 17 years football history. Give it time, we will be just like the rest of the NFL.
I also think the media does like to dump on us because they want a team in LA and they feel that we in Jville are stealing from them because they continue having come to a non-movie star city to report on the Jags. The sports media doesn't have many Einsteins in it and they can't really think beyond 3 year old group mentality. So, it will take years of sellouts for them to jump off the location bandwagon.
JaguarReign....you do make a valid argument! Anything takes time and the Jag's could accelerate that curve by producing a winning team! A record of 7 - 9 won't get it anywhere and backing into the playoffs won't help a great deal! I am willing to bite my tongue and give them the benifit.......but in the same breath, winning would be a great big help to any Stadium woes.........IMHO! To keep the record straight...........I have both Brunell and a Buereline jersey..............you do realize who is still playing today right?
Tampa's been around 35 years and has a Suberbowl trophy to boot... and look at their success!
This topic has become a diversion for everyone to rally around.... because if you think the Jags are over the hump or that they have 90 years to do so, you're wrong.
Look at the new fuel chart! We've got 50K tickets to sell for the remaining games!! This isn't the time to celebrate or whine about the national media. The team made great strides in the off-season with the Everbank deal and 18k new season tickets sold but we're still a long way off of long term security.
Where there's smoke there's normally fire and the bottom line is the team is a prime candidate for relocation. It's not about the glamour of Hollywood! It's about 8 million TV’s in a market without a team! The NFL isn't going to expand it's going to relocate and whining about the national media is just a way of burying your head in the sand.
For the 1 millionth time Foltz, yes winning is a patch, it will sell some tickets but for the love of god it's not a long term solution!!
How does a team draft or keep other teams from drafting all the Peyton Mannings & Tom Brady's of the world? You can't and 31 other teams will eventually rise to the top while others will get old and decline.
You can wear all the old jerseys you want and complain about the team record but you can’t expect the team to forfeit revenue because you don't like the final score...
Quote from: Shwaz on September 15, 2010, 02:31:16 PM
As much as the blackouts hurt us here in Jax, I don't want to see the rule changed.
The whole point of televising is so that people without tix can see the game. Without a full stadium, there is no revenue... if there is no revenue there is no team.
The only way to lift the blackout rule is to charge for televised games via pay-per-view.
Imagine if local concerts were televised...
I agree.... you always say good stuff about sports.
Quote from: CS Foltz on September 15, 2010, 03:44:52 PM
Dog Walker............said it before and will say it again..........If they are winning, they would have no problem filling the stadium up and then some! So win (better than a 7 & 9 result and backing into the playoffs) and all problems are solved...........continue to lose and you get what you sow!
Wins dont sell tickets. Hype does.
Quote from: Shwaz on September 15, 2010, 03:59:38 PM
Quote from: CS Foltz on September 15, 2010, 03:44:52 PM
Dog Walker............said it before and will say it again..........If they are winning, they would have no problem filling the stadium up and then some! So win (better than a 7 & 9 result and backing into the playoffs) and all problems are solved...........continue to lose and you get what you sow!
CS - although you're beating a dead horse, and I do agree a winning record would help ticket sales... it's still a poor mentality and not conducive to long term success... because the only sure thing in NFL is that losing seasons are just around the corner at anytime.
The Packers are a prime example. They will without a doubt never be in danger of losing their franchise even though they're the smallest market.... because their fans love the team unconditionally. You'll find the same in Pittsburgh, NY and many other NFL markets.
The product is the game, the NFL experience and not the outcome. I've paid good money to watch this team lose and I expect to time and time again. I keep my expectations realistic and I enjoy the game regardless. It's time for 65,000 other fans to do the same.
+1 the boy does it again! The Tickets are for the NFL experience NOT for automatic wins. Where is the drama in that?
Jacksonville still has much to learn on how to be a true sport fan....not a fanatic but a real fan. Real fans dont hide when the Ls mount up.
Quote from: CS Foltz on September 16, 2010, 05:14:46 PM
JaguarReign....you do make a valid argument! Anything takes time and the Jag's could accelerate that curve by producing a winning team! A record of 7 - 9 won't get it anywhere and backing into the playoffs won't help a great deal! I am willing to bite my tongue and give them the benifit.......but in the same breath, winning would be a great big help to any Stadium woes.........IMHO! To keep the record straight...........I have both Brunell and a Buereline jersey..............you do realize who is still playing today right?
When you say playing..... I know he got a ring last year, his one attempt IP. He is backing up the Sanchize this year (7-9) and keep backing up other QBs half his age until he re-coups all the money he lost trying to develop property (another subject for another thread). If you do own the Beerline(sic) jersey, then I want to rent it from you for the next Jags game - better yet, I'll wear it and pay for
your ticket to the game: Colts, Oct. 3rd.
I will think about loaning you that jersey, but have to pass on the Oct 3rd spot. Will be in New York burying mother in law who passed away 3 weeks ago.
Condolences to you and your family.
Interesting story today on espn.com:
On Jacksonville's ticket, business issues
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/15197/on-jacksonvilles-ticket-business-issues
And for a little comic relief:
Then Tyson Alualu told Tim Tebow ...
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/15156/then-tyson-alualu-told-tim-tebow
I always thought NFL teams made most of their revenue from TV advertising, but I know zero about NFL team finances.
Does anyone know what the proportion is between ticket sales and advertising revenue?
Quote from: Dog Walker on September 17, 2010, 10:02:44 AM
I always thought NFL teams made most of their revenue from TV advertising, but I know zero about NFL team finances.
Does anyone know what the proportion is between ticket sales and advertising revenue?
I'm not sure how the revenue portions break down... but I believe the team makes money on ticket revenue and the league makes money from tv revenue which is split amongst all the teams.
Quote from: Shwaz on September 17, 2010, 10:32:11 AM
Quote from: Dog Walker on September 17, 2010, 10:02:44 AM
I always thought NFL teams made most of their revenue from TV advertising, but I know zero about NFL team finances.
Does anyone know what the proportion is between ticket sales and advertising revenue?
I'm not sure how the revenue portions break down... but I believe the team makes money on ticket revenue and the league makes money from tv revenue which is split amongst all the teams.
This should be easy to look up, if someone wants to do that for us, lol. But I'm pretty certain the split TV revenue, along with all other split revenue, is the major slice of the pie. However, to get your share, a team has to meet certain minimums, so it's important to pull enough of your own weight in a small market or you'll be cut out.
BTW, I don't think the league gets TV advertising. I assume the networks get the advertising revenue, which is why they sign the big contracts for exclusive rights to broadcast games.
Just came across this interesting and fairly-balanced article:
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/15197/on-jacksonvilles-ticket-business-issues
Now that Moses has returned to Denver, they'll get back on the ticket issue no doubt(they never left it actually). How many years in a row have the Charges made the playoffs? You'd expected the pathetic play of the Jags to be B/O. The Chargers regularly make the playoffs, defeat the Colts on a regualr basis, imo, stands should be full. No talk of that though.
Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on September 17, 2010, 03:20:14 PM
Now that Moses has returned to Denver, they'll get back on the ticket issue no doubt(they never left it actually). How many years in a row have the Charges made the playoffs? You'd expected the pathetic play of the Jags to be B/O. The Chargers regularly make the playoffs, defeat the Colts on a regualr basis, imo, stands should be full. No talk of that though.
No hype no sales...San Diego has a lot in common with Jax. Its the local medias job to overhype the brand..Winning only helps get a playoff spot & a chance to compete for a Championship. During the regular season you are paying for the drama & unpredicabilty of that particular sport. The Jags can rig their schedule like college football does. The local media is the main marketer of a sports team. The fans have to love the playerS. Jacksonville media is not trained to cover anything else but college football.
On a side note, if everyone already knows that the Coliseum is a bad venue, then wouldn't it make sense to move a team, that's already close by, to a better stadium?
More of our concerns will not be this year. How many of the 41k season ticket holder will still have their tickets next year? If they did the 3/30 plan (I assume a lot did) then we have, say..... 30k returning seats for 3 years. If the Jags can (I think they will) make a trip to the playoffs this year, then those remaining seats will be gobbled up.
None of this matters if there's a lockout next season.
I read that about 1/3 of season ticket holders opted for the 30/30. I did :)
Quote from: Shwaz on September 17, 2010, 10:32:11 AM
Quote from: Dog Walker on September 17, 2010, 10:02:44 AM
I always thought NFL teams made most of their revenue from TV advertising, but I know zero about NFL team finances.
Does anyone know what the proportion is between ticket sales and advertising revenue?
I'm not sure how the revenue portions break down... but I believe the team makes money on ticket revenue and the league makes money from tv revenue which is split amongst all the teams.
The salary cap for players salaries last year was 127 million
TV revenue for the NFL last year was around 4 billion dollars.
That is split equally amongst the 32 teams. That is around 125 million per team.
http://www.nflplayers.com/articles/cba-news/nflpa-files-complaint-over-leagues-guaranteed-tv-deals/
In essence, the TV deals pay for most of the players salaries, leaving team expenses and such to cover. Which Jacksonville was around 15 million under the cap, so it had to pay out 110 million out of 125 million.
The local ticket sales help the teams bottom line, but they pay out a third of that amount to the NFL for further revenue sharing.
Here's a great article by Forbes last year:
http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/02/nfl-pro-football-business-sportsmoney-football-values-09-values.html
QuoteThe finances of the NFL remain unparalleled in professional sports. Revenues for the league's 32 teams rose 7%, to $7.6 billion primarily due to the league's television deals with CBS ( CBS - news - people ), NBC, Fox and ESPN, which combined paid each team $94 million last season. The NFL Sunday Ticket on DirectTV ( DTV - news - people ) netted each team an additional $22 million in 2008 (the broadcasting deals are also the primary collateral for the NFL's $1.3 billion credit facility, used to finance a cheap source of working capital for owners). Ticket and concession revenue increased 6% last season, kicking in an average of $59 million per team.
With player costs (including bonuses and benefits) increasing only 4%, to an average of $135 million per team, the 2008 season represented the NFL's third most profitable year ever: Operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) went up 31%, to an average of $32 million.
The next few years will be much more challenging. The NFL extended its TV rights deals in recent months with CBS, Fox and NBC for an additional two more years each--through 2013. But the deals were for annual fee increases of about 2%, the smallest ever.
The NFLPA has a lawsuit to try to prevent owners from collecting the television revenue next year if there is a lockout. That is an instant 125 million dollar profit for each owner if this happens.
Don't let the owners fool you, even if they do barely break even a few years, the net worth of their team increased dramatically.
Forbes places Jacksonville last at a value of 725 million.
Wayne Weaver (and others) bought the team in 1993 for 208 million, that's a 500 million dollar profit over 17 years, or around 30 million a year in value.
15% growth on your money is a damn good return.
And we are concerned about blackouts? Much thanks for the information and the link jandar!