NFLPA warns Georgia leaders of lockout’s negative economic impact
FLOWERY BRANCH – The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) today wrote a letter to Governor Sonny Perdue, Governor-elect Nathan Deal and Mayor Kasim Reed to warn that Atlanta could see more than $160 million in lost jobs and revenue if the owners forego negotiating in good faith and opt to cancel the 2011 football season.
There are 100 days left until the expiration of the agreement that determines how NFL revenue is distributed.
In the letters, NFLPA president Kevin Mawae said the players want to keep playing and are happy to keep the current agreement in place, but warned that the owners are taking steps to cancel the 2011 season.
The NFLPA asked Perdue, Deal and Reed to consider the economic impact of a 2011 lockout by the owners and to stress to Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank the importance of engaging in good faith negotiations with the NFLPA.
“During one of the worst economies since the Great Depression, NFL owners are preparing to cancel the 2011 season and, in the process, devastate Atlanta businesses and stadium workers who count on football Sundays to make ends meet,” Mawae said. “It is our hope that the owners will shelve this plan and negotiate in good faith to ensure that we are playing for the fans in 2011.”
Although the players have agreed to move forward with the current agreement, the NFL owners appear to be taking steps to lock out the players and fans when the collective bargaining agreement expires on March 4. The owners have secured nearly $4 billion in guaranteed television network payments even if they lock out the players and games are not played in the 2011-12 season. Owners will continue to thrive financially at the expense of serious job losses in Atlanta and major lost tax revenue, according to the NFLPA.
Despite the worst economic conditions in generations, professional football has continued to generate billions of dollars in income to thousands of workers at the Georgia Dome and the surrounding communities who rely upon this business to support their families. In the last fifteen years, NFL team values have increased more than 500 percent. Today, teams are worth on average about $1 billion and have enjoyed uninterrupted financial gains since the 1960s.
Though the economic benefits of professional football are clear, NFL owners chose to opt out early from the current CBA while refusing to provide detailed financial information to the players to justify the owners’ position that the current CBA is “not working” for them.
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73 comments Add your comment
Falcon QBs
November 22nd, 2010
7:46 pm
Hey Awesome only 2 of the 4 are winning games hmmm………& Shaub still hasn’t made a playoff appearance as a starter !
Falcon Jim
November 22nd, 2010
11:30 pm
1994. Baseball strike. 1995, first time in my life I didn’t watch baseball, Braves win W.S.
2011. Football strike? 2012 Falcons win S.B.? Please say it ain’t so ! ! !
Fabulous
November 23rd, 2010
2:16 am
This is just another example of a Union ruining a good business. I am not a millionaire but I do have respect for a person’s private property rights.
These owners have Billions of their own dollars invested and should be able to do what they like with their own property. Nobody is forcing these spoiled atheletes to play for ONLY Millions and Millions of dollars. They can always work like the rest of us. Don’t think they’d like it.
I always liked Van Note until he became the Falcons player rep.. Greed doesn’t look good on your favorite athelete.
THE SPORTS UNION: For Sports Fans by Sports Fans!
November 23rd, 2010
7:49 am
[...] warns Georgia leaders of lockout’s negative economic impact (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) today wrote a letter to Governor Sonny Perdue, Governor-elect [...]
Tuesday | Allied Public Affairs
November 23rd, 2010
8:29 am
[...] NFL Lockout Looms, Player’s Union Gets Political [...]
The Joker...
November 23rd, 2010
8:49 am
John,
I understand your point that you made; however, I think when the subject about Atlanta losing $160 million exceeds far more than the overall minimum wage jobs at the actual venue ( Georgia Dome) itself, think about this… Look at how much business the Hotel Industry, Resturant Industry, and various Attractions such as the GA Aquarium make during NFL weekends primarily due to fans from other cities…. With a strong Steelers fan base around the country, think about how much revenue the sports bars and hotels gain when a team like the steelers come to town, not to mention the hometown fans who choose to go to bars/sports bars prior to and during the game…. If the NFL is a lockout next year, it will be absolutely desvasting to several cities, I believe Atlanta will actually not feel the brunt of the hit as much as some cities because of the high volume of college football in this region ( SEC Championships, kick off classics) but it will still get hit hard….
lovetravel
November 23rd, 2010
9:51 am
I am sorry to hear about that but like everyone mention, it just a game and all they talk about is $$$ would anyone talk about something that’s very important. I am not sure that many of us just don’t care what other say but they will do anything to get some extra $$$. No one isn’t going to stop them unless we the “fan” stop going to the game that it. Talk is cheaper but fan isn’t cheaper so watch what you are ask for NFLPA.
FrontRow
November 23rd, 2010
11:35 am
It’s not just a game it’s big business. The owners are guaranteed tens of millions and in turn guaranteed the players tens of millions in the last CBA.
The players “only” want the equivalent of the current CBA. No wonder – the deal guarantees over 50% of the league revenue to the players (before profit).
I wonder how the players would like a guarantee of post profit revenue. How about the same money but more of the players portion being re-directed toward taking care of retired players?
The line in the sand is simple to understand – the players want the same deal and the owners want more control over their revenue stream. As a true liberal, I stand on the side of the owners right to control their hard earned money.
SirReal
November 23rd, 2010
12:15 pm
The numbers may be a bit skewed but if you account for 8 homes games and the direct benefit of businesses surrounding the Dome, it may equal out to something similar over the course of a season. HOWEVER, with that said, I think the owners just want more and so do the players when both sides are seeing revenue that the “common man” such as us probably wont come near. I’d be surprised but not shocked if there was a lockout but we all know that nobody wants to shoot the Golden Goose. This will probably go down to the wire and get hashed out hrs before the current agreement expires.
Jimmy Crack
November 23rd, 2010
1:43 pm
Oh yes, the oracle Kevin Mawae will tell us of Tidal Waves crashing over our buildings and there will be looting in the streets and everyone’s health care will go into bankruptcy if those evil rich owners don’t pony up more millions to the player millionaires so they can move their mansions to higher ground!
Oh the huge manatee!
Jimmy Crack
November 23rd, 2010
1:45 pm
Er, what I mean is BRING ON THE REPLACEMENTS!
StuDawg
November 23rd, 2010
3:24 pm
Interesting stat, Awesome
fairburn1
November 23rd, 2010
4:16 pm
WHAT ABOUT THE SEASON TICKET HOLDERS AND THE FANS! ALL I HEAR ABOUT IS THE DAMN PLAYERS AND OWNERS. TICKET PRICES HAVE GOTTEN OUTRAGEOUS! THE FANS NEED TO HAVE A BOYCOTT SO THAT TICKET PRICES REMAIN FIXED!
fairburn1
November 23rd, 2010
4:32 pm
Fire all the players and convert the Georgia dome into a big ass aquarium and fill it with beluga whales. At least those fish don’t complain as much as those cry baby NFL players. Just think how much money this would bring into the City. Although, Roddy “The Flight” White is a pretty tuff cat! Beat them packers! GO Falcons! Rise up!
Jethro
November 23rd, 2010
4:47 pm
Can Keanu Reeves quarterback our replacement team?
just a fan
November 23rd, 2010
4:51 pm
Well both make me sick..on 1 hand the owners do own the franchise..these players salaries keep going up and up (and so do tickets) the players want bigger salaries and more of profit..I am sorry 1 man is not worth what some of these guys are getting paid..I get as much enjoyment going to watch a little league, high school or college game…they are gonna keep raising prices till they kill the game…I have been a 10 year season ticket holder and this will probably be my last..I just can’t afford it. Come on guys you get paid to play a game…
THE OBGYN
November 23rd, 2010
7:08 pm
In what City do the Flacon’s play? Is it Latanat, Ag.?
Falcon Jim
November 23rd, 2010
8:38 pm
Sh!+, I’d lick toilets to make 1/10th of what the players make.
DO IT ! ! !
Falcon Jim
November 23rd, 2010
8:41 pm
OBGYN…..huh?……been workin’ too hard lately?
patrick
November 24th, 2010
2:16 am
cancel the 2011 year…..AJ Green will stay at UGA…with the D improving and learning the 3-4 and Justin Houston staying as well….look out.
ClinchPanther
November 24th, 2010
8:54 am
i would love to see an entire year with no pro football. i think it might put into perspective what an athlete is earning vs. average joe. maybe those multi million dollar contracts would look a lot better to them. i know the owners are making big money, but they have that right. how many of us argue with our bosses about money? most of us are glad to have a good job and make a decent living at a lot less then pro athletes do.
Gordon Gekko
November 24th, 2010
3:46 pm
Greed is good (hee, hee)
chief pitchanono
November 24th, 2010
4:37 pm
Well we better hope the falcons win the superbowl this year, then if theres a lock out next year we get to repeat. Right? ha! ha! I won’t begin to pretend like I understand who’s right or wrong in these situations, but it usually takes a halt in play, before someone decides they’ve lost enough money and decides to cave. Its too bad all these people can’t get it together and work things out before it comes to this, but thats the way it seems to go these days. I mean the NFL obviously makes plenty of money, and all the players who make it into the league should be fairly paid, not just the “stars”, but I also understand that the owners obviously want to make money on their investment too. The NFL is totally different than other pro sports because of the limited games played, and short careers for most players, so I guess I side with the players a little because of that.