Will There Be A 2011 Season? What Are Your Thoughts?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu May 27, 2010 1:21 pm

Nothing could derail the fantasy sports industry more than an NFL strike or lockout in 2011. I know that nobody even wants to consider such a thing happening, but the labor situation could get much worse before it gets better and this 800-pound gorilla likely isn't going to go away. I hope the NFL owners and players come to a resolution well before the 2011 season, but if they don't, oh boy.

In March we held an industry trade conference and we had the chance to talk with a lot of executives from a lot of different industries. The feeling from some folks was that people should prepare for a work stoppage because the owners mean business and their TV contracts allow them to get paid by the networks next year even if there aren't any games. Tony Dorsett told me he thought that was the clincher for a work stoppage, that the owners had that ace in the hole and the players needed to prepare for the worse. He wasn't the only one who said that to me during that event.

I'm usually a very optimistic person, but this situation is scary for everyone. I hope I'm wrong, but I'd hate to have no labor agreement at this point next year. It sure would make it tough on everyone in the live events space who has to secure hotel agreements, convince consumers to trust them if a work stoppage happens, etc. What a mess it could be.

The 1994 baseball strike really set back the fantasy baseball market for quite some time. Some folks never came back to fantasy baseball and in fact stuck with football and only football. I think there are NFFC members who have already said that was the case with them. I'm not sure people would leave fantasy football for good if there was a work stoppage, but if it involved a full season and the Super Bowl that could happen.

Anyway, let's hope for the best in 2011 and enjoy 2010. But I'm interested in your feelings on this subject as well. Do you think the NFL will be smart enough and not walk away from a $6 billion a year industry? Or will greed get the best of those involved? Let me know what you think because we're all in on whatever happens here. Thanks.

Ted's Cracked Head · Post by **Ted's Cracked Head** » Thu May 27, 2010 1:45 pm

I have a hard time fathoming that the owners cannot see how a stoppage will affect their future in these uncertain economic times.

Time to start completing that Arena Football Fantasy Sports business plan.

Shrink Attack · Post by **Shrink Attack** » Thu May 27, 2010 1:58 pm

I think we'll see some missed games in 2011, but not the entire season.

Boy, would that ever screw up the fantasy season.

BLACKHAND · Post by **BLACKHAND** » Thu May 27, 2010 2:08 pm

Originally posted by Rob B:
I have a hard time fathoming that the owners cannot see how a stoppage will affect their future in these uncertain economic times.

Time to start completing that Arena Football Fantasy Sports business plan. ROB , my feeling is that the owners know the fans will be back. enjoy this year cause next year will be all f@@cked up. i dont know how greg and tom can lock up event sites. we could really be drafting in oct. its going to be very hard to put things together.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu May 27, 2010 2:14 pm

Originally posted by THE_BLACKHAND:
quote:Originally posted by Rob B:
I have a hard time fathoming that the owners cannot see how a stoppage will affect their future in these uncertain economic times.

Time to start completing that Arena Football Fantasy Sports business plan. ROB , my feeling is that the owners know the fans will be back. enjoy this year cause next year will be all f@@cked up. i dont know how greg and tom can lock up event sites. we could really be drafting in oct. its going to be very hard to put things together. [/QUOTE]Yeah, this is the scenario that scares me. I don't think the NFL will lose the entire 2011 season, but any "last second deal" or completed deal after a week or two of the season is past would still derail fantasy companies and contests. I'm not sure how we secure hotel sites either months in advance if things look bad.

One of the bad things about the 1994 MLB strike is that the owners killed the end of the 1994 season and the strike continued into the first month of the 1995 season. Many fantasy leagues disbanded when the 1995 season started late and just gave up on the whole season. I could see the same thing happening in 2011 with fantasy football if a late September deal happens.

Say it won't hope!!! Please, get a deal done.

boutrous11 · Post by **boutrous11** » Thu May 27, 2010 2:16 pm

don't they know what this will do to us fantasy geeks? ;(

BLACKHAND · Post by **BLACKHAND** » Thu May 27, 2010 2:22 pm

its got to be a nitemare for you greg. they could strike a deal in sept and play 2 preseason games and then the season. they could start late and play a full season with the super bowl in march ( my feeling on what will happen). brutal

Ted's Cracked Head · Post by **Ted's Cracked Head** » Thu May 27, 2010 2:32 pm

They can think that the fans will come running back but these are trying economic times and that isn't going to change too much over the next 12 months.

Folks aren't as likely to forgive and forget as they have been in the past.

Time for me to start studying baseball? I can see the NFBC selling point next year: Football ain't going to happen so you better join baseball to get your fantasy fix!

In a roundabout way this could help the big fantasy providers who can weather the storm, especially a company like Liberty Media!

Ted's Cracked Head · Post by **Ted's Cracked Head** » Thu May 27, 2010 2:36 pm

If they start the season late folks will be clammering to join online leagues. The live draft events would take a year off but we would all join the NFFC Classic and Primetime Online Drafts. These could be in the can and ready to launch on a moments notice. Only a stoppage lasting the whole season would hurt the big fantasy providers.