NFL Lockout and the Fans - Essay Example

NFL Lockout and the Fans The National Football League (NFL) stands for the highest standard of football in America. Composed of 32 teams, the organization is non profit making in nature. The season of 2011 is scheduled to begin on September 2011 but the disagreement regarding the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) has led to a lockout and the decisions about the season will depend on its duration. In March 2011 the CBA expired though the players and the league sponsors gave their consent for a week’s extension. However the eventual decertification of the union led to the outbreak of discontent amongst the players like Tom Brady and Logan Mankins from the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings’ Brian Robison and many others who went forward to file a legal case against the league. The lockout has led to uncertainties about the game of football which is eagerly awaited by the fans. In the war between the owners and the players, the ultimate burden is borne by the potential audience and other fans who have invested in products and services related to the sport. Before understanding the problem it is important to understand the significance of the ‘Final League Year’ that is 2010. In this year salary caps would not exist but there will be noteworthy restrictions of the lessening of players’ benefits. After this year the club will be free from its commitment to finance the different programs such as second career savings, severance and performance based pay etc. The payment made by the league for funding of such plans comprise of above $10 million for each club. The problem has culminated mainly into that of disputes between workers and employers. After the 1974 season this occurred again when the season’s sport was awaiting a halt. The District Court of US instructed the league to operate again. But without the CBA the confused persists and there are no ceilings or floor of payments and no benefit schemes. The scheduled game between Chicago Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium of London lie challenged especially if the problem is not resolved by September 8, 2011 (Battista). A review of the major concerns which preside over the lockout points out the disagreement on the division of $9.3 billion annual revenues between the two parties (league owners and the players). The players believe themselves to be major contributors to the game and the success of the league. They help the owners become rich. The owners on the other hand were more obsessed with the money they saw flowing in and did not ant to spend a substantial part on the players’ benefits. They believe it is more important to spend the money on stadiums and other infrastructures rather than submitting to their obligation in providing financial securities to the players. Also the owners might be blamed for paying less and venturing to make them play more games a season. One of the ethical issues concerns the players’ access to financial information which has been restricted by the owners (Maske). Till now the advantages stood in favor to the players but now they are inclined towards the owners who have the upper hand or dominating position. The court granted the league their original request for a temporary stay of order in April. After a month’s discussion the league made a second proposal to end the deadlock. The players were initially reluctant especially after the decision of Nelson but at present they have little option but to take the proposal of the league seriously. However the season 2011 is still not confirmed (Wilson). At this juncture, Bryant observes that the fans have learned the lesson, “those who own the teams, the commissioner who runs the league and, to a far lesser extent, the players who run the routes, sack the quarterbacks and score the touchdowns have so little perspective that they believe their inability to divide the $9 billion is, in the real world, important. We all know better.” (Bryant) Both the sides need to respect the people who spend their money buying tickets and sport jerseys and add to the much desired ratings. If they do so, this discord will be over perhaps. It is the fans who give value to the action of throwing a football. However in this strife the most expected turn takes place since fans blame the players for being greedy for becoming “true business partners”. The owners know that the anger of the fans usually fall upon the players as the former mostly assume the position that player should not charge so high for a “kid’s game”. However the sport at the professional standard is not child’s play since tickets cost $1200 (per ticket) and high revenues of $9 billion are generated. The fans need to use their power wisely but as suggested already their fingers point at the players and they believe that the owners, by investing money are taking more risk. Previously such unrest amongst the labor force has arrested the attention of the media and the fans. Since the fans are more concerned with their entertainment being hampered, hence they are less likely to understand this essence of the problem. However, looking at the problem more closely will bring out a few aspects. The ownership has for long exploited the players and compelled them to play with minimum securities or guarantees and the shortest career duration. The league has claimed losses without any proof and such losses were supposed to be addressed by the salary caps, sharing of the earnings and the agreements. The CBA which was first agreed in 1993 underwent more than one extension, the recent one being in March 2006. This would have continued till 2012 season if the owners had not voted out of the deal in 2008 (NFL owners opt out of CBA). The fans can exercise their power wisely by investing elsewhere the money they spend for watching the leagues’ games. The league owners will be stirred once they find the fans are willing to watch something other than the sport. The role of the fans should be more substantial than expected at this point. Instead of getting busy with their lives the fans should show the owners the “business of caring” (Bryant). The fans can therefore try to exercise their power by turning the channel to some other event. Summing up the above discussion one may say that the NFL (owners) and the NFLPA (Players) have been in conflict over the issues of revenue sharing and more formally, the extension of the CBA. What the sides do not realize is the potential threat to the game of football and especially the league’s popularity and rating. They do not seem to be bothered about the public’s decision and reaction in this case. This is more so because the fans are more familiar with the players and when their scope for entertainment gets spoiled because the players do not play, the accusation most automatically falls on them. The players realize this and this also help them adhere to their bargaining position to some extent. The fans should however act wisely by not blaming the players and rather exercising their power by a method of non cooperation and staying away form buying tickets and creating the hype which made the league so popular. They need to make both parties realize their importance. At the end of the day it is all about money which the fans help the league to earn and the players to claim their share from. References Bryant, Howard. “Will NFL, players realize fans power?”, ESPN, June 8, 2011 from: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?id=6208732 Maske, Mark. “NFL Lockout: some questions and answers”. Washington Post 2011, June 8, 2011 from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nfl/nfl-lockout-some-questions-and-answers/2011/04/13/AF94JpYD_story.html “NFL owners opt out of CBA”, NFL. 2008, June 8, 2011 from: http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80868b78&template=without-video&confirm=true Wilson, Allen. “Court deals blow to players”. Buffalo News, 2011, June 8, 2011 from: http://blogs.buffalonews.com/billboard/2011/05/court-deals-blow-to-players.html Read More