ECONOMIC BOYCOTT OF THE NFL! (1 Viewer)

[Ralebird]

It is time for the fans to serve notice on the NFL that we will no longer stand for their destruction of the game we love. It is our understanding that the real, qualified officials and the NFL have been reported to be only four million dollars apart for the season in reaching a settlement to end the lockout initiated by the NFL. We, the fans are worth more than the $200,000 per week that separates the parties and we now have a perfect opportunity to prove to Roger Goodell and his cohorts how much we are truly worth.

Beginning this Thursday night in Baltimore, and continuing for one week, we call for all fans to not enter any NFL stadium until the national anthem has been performed. In the event a ticketholder is attending with the elderly, children or anyone with mobility or similar problems we ask that they be assisted in entering at their convenience but refrain from making a purchase of any kind within the stadium environs until the performance of the national anthem. We call on the NFL and its teams to be prepared with extra ticket takers and security personnel to facilitate entry of the majority of their customers in a much shorter time frame than has been the norm. This is NOT business as usual.

Further, we call for a one week suspension of purchases of any and all NFL licensed merchandise from any source whatsoever. While there is a possibility that a settlement may be reached prior to week four of this season, we call for this economic boycott to be implemented nonetheless as our only way to be heard. We further call for the boycott to be continued on a weekly basis until such time as a settlement is reached and the qualified officials are once again on the field.

(About me: I'm a fan, just a fan, certainly not the biggest fan - actually a "long-suffering" Jets fan [sorry, Rex] and a onetime season ticketholder. I first had this idea in 1987 when replacement players were used, but the infrastructure for such a statement did not sufficiently exist - it does now. Ticketholders pay exorbitant amounts of money to support their teams and should not be asked to remain away from the game; this compromise allows us to be heard where the biggest ears in the NFL will hear loud and clear and still support our teams. Thanks for listening and your support. Spread the word!)

PLEASE FORWARD APPROPRIATELY

 

[Sam Quentin]

You do realize that money isn't the only issue, Correct?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

"What is true of the NFL is that it has been well-managed over the years. And that has been beneficial to the fans, it's been beneficial to the game itself, it's been beneficial to the players, coaches and everyone involved."

Roger Goodell

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

It is time for the fans to serve notice on the NFL that we will no longer stand for their destruction of the game we love. It is our understanding that the real, qualified officials and the NFL have been reported to be only four million dollars apart for the season in reaching a settlement to end the lockout initiated by the NFL. We, the fans are worth more than the $200,000 per week that separates the parties and we now have a perfect opportunity to prove to Roger Goodell and his cohorts how much we are truly worth.

Beginning this Thursday night in Baltimore, and continuing for one week, we call for all fans to not enter any NFL stadium until the national anthem has been performed. In the event a ticketholder is attending with the elderly, children or anyone with mobility or similar problems we ask that they be assisted in entering at their convenience but refrain from making a purchase of any kind within the stadium environs until the performance of the national anthem. We call on the NFL and its teams to be prepared with extra ticket takers and security personnel to facilitate entry of the majority of their customers in a much shorter time frame than has been the norm. This is NOT business as usual.

Further, we call for a one week suspension of purchases of any and all NFL licensed merchandise from any source whatsoever. While there is a possibility that a settlement may be reached prior to week four of this season, we call for this economic boycott to be implemented nonetheless as our only way to be heard. We further call for the boycott to be continued on a weekly basis until such time as a settlement is reached and the qualified officials are once again on the field.

(About me: I'm a fan, just a fan, certainly not the biggest fan - actually a "long-suffering" Jets fan [sorry, Rex] and a onetime season ticketholder. I first had this idea in 1987 when replacement players were used, but the infrastructure for such a statement did not sufficiently exist - it does now. Ticketholders pay exorbitant amounts of money to support their teams and should not be asked to remain away from the game; this compromise allows us to be heard where the biggest ears in the NFL will hear loud and clear and still support our teams. Thanks for listening and your support. Spread the word!)

PLEASE FORWARD APPROPRIATELY

thx, al gore.

 

[belljr]

a) People buy weekly NFL merchandise?

b) Oh so after the national anthem? That's a majority of the fans now....

 

[Ralebird]

You do realize that money isn't the only issue, Correct?

Of course, but it is certainly the root of the problem; I welcome the accountability aspects. On the other hand, money and keeping some of it out of the pockets of the teams and leagues is the only leverage the fans hold.

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

I'll do my part by illegally streaming thursday's game on the computer.

 

[Please See Mine]

AAAAAGHHHGAAAGGH!!!

 

[Soulfly3]

I'll do my part by illegally streaming thursday's game on the computer.

Larry, if you for some odd reason don't get the game Thursday, fly up to Toronto and we'll watch together.Then hit pubs, strip clubs, smoke shops and forget that Thursday ever happened

 

[ImTheScientist]

No thanks....please stop peeing in the pool. Keep your politics out of here.

 

[RCon]

I think the NFL offer is more than fair, so I can't see any reason to boycott the NFL.

 

[Ralebird]

a) People buy weekly NFL merchandise?b) Oh so after the national anthem? That's a majority of the fans now....

a)Not sure what you're asking but people do buy merchandise weekly.b)Again not sure if you have a question, but if every stadium sells 10,000 fewer beers this week because people don't spend that extra half hour inside, the teams and league will get a million and a half to two million less revenue. That's just counting the beer, not hot dogs or jerseys; have an extra one at the tailgate before going inside.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

"I'm very fortunate, and I know that."

Roger Goodell

 

[StrikeS2k]

a) People buy weekly NFL merchandise?b) Oh so after the national anthem? That's a majority of the fans now....

a)Not sure what you're asking but people do buy merchandise weekly.b)Again not sure if you have a question, but if every stadium sells 10,000 fewer beers this week because people don't spend that extra half hour inside, the teams and league will get a million and a half to two million less revenue. That's just counting the beer, not hot dogs or jerseys; have an extra one at the tailgate before going inside.

This is a great set of first posts you've got going.

 

[zoonation]

Fans have absolutely zero power or leverage to do anything whatsoever about this current problem.

HTH.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

a) People buy weekly NFL merchandise?

b) Oh so after the national anthem? That's a majority of the fans now....

a)Not sure what you're asking but people do buy merchandise weekly.b)Again not sure if you have a question, but if every stadium sells 10,000 fewer beers this week because people don't spend that extra half hour inside, the teams and league will get a million and a half to two million less revenue. That's just counting the beer, not hot dogs or jerseys; have an extra one at the tailgate before going inside.

This has always been the shark move. Bring a flask if you get thirsty inside.

 

[HairySasquatch]

Asking people to not enter the stadium until right before kickoff is stupid imo. If everyone does this, you aren't going to get to your seat until well into the first quarter of play. If I'm going to the game, I want to watch the whole game. This shouldn't be a situation where it puts stress on the person attending the game.

Not purchasing any merchandise until the lockout is over is doable. You can still enjoy the game...and at the same time you are sending a very loud message that you are not going to spend anymore money until the product on the field improves.

 

[Ralebird]

Fans have absolutely zero power or leverage to do anything whatsoever about this current problem.HTH.

Fans have only the power they take.

 

[Khy]

Fans have absolutely zero power or leverage to do anything whatsoever about this current problem.HTH.

Fans have only the power they take.

Yea this isn't true, more so the issue is that fans aren't willing to throw away a few hundred dollars to fix this issue. Trust me, if tomorrow nights game had less than 1,000 fans in attendance as a strike type move. The fans would have more power than the NFL and the NFLRA combined in this situation. The NFL would have no choice but to make the deal regardless of what the NFLRA wants. The only reason nobody has been forced a hand is that so far attendance and television ratings haven't dropped.

 

[Ralebird]

Fans have absolutely zero power or leverage to do anything whatsoever about this current problem.HTH.

Fans have only the power they take.

Yea this isn't true, more so the issue is that fans aren't willing to throw away a few hundred dollars to fix this issue. Trust me, if tomorrow nights game had less than 1,000 fans in attendance as a strike type move. The fans would have more power than the NFL and the NFLRA combined in this situation. The NFL would have no choice but to make the deal regardless of what the NFLRA wants. The only reason nobody has been forced a hand is that so far attendance and television ratings haven't dropped.

Exactly why a strike or total boycott would never work, but even just dinging the teams' pocketbooks a bit would get their attention. Of course there would still be those who whine and complain the most about everything NFL but would see the beer line was shorter than ever before and say "##### it, I'm gettin' my beer". You only have a voice if you use it.

 

[Stompin' Tom Connors]

a) People buy weekly NFL merchandise?

b) Oh so after the national anthem? That's a majority of the fans now....

a)Not sure what you're asking but people do buy merchandise weekly.b)Again not sure if you have a question, but if every stadium sells 10,000 fewer beers this week because people don't spend that extra half hour inside, the teams and league will get a million and a half to two million less revenue. That's just counting the beer, not hot dogs or jerseys; have an extra one at the tailgate before going inside.

I don't think a 1/2 hr delay in people arriving at the game is going to be an effective economic boycott. Would imagine human nature being what it is, the outcome won't be people buying less food or booze, but doing it in a slightly more compressed time frame. I think if you were calling for a boycott of all concessions, that makes more sense in terms of an economic boycott -- people will still definitely want to attend games, but they don't NEED those nahos (or they can bring their own and a flask). But even then it's not clear to me how hard this hits owner's wallets (i.e. depending on nature and terms of the contracts concession companies have with stadiums, it may be hurting these companies more than the owners').

Also, why just a week boycott of NFL merchandise? Why not call for an ongoing one? I know if I wanted to send a message, I can certainly live without new Raider gear for a year -- would expect most fans already have some apparel they can fall back on in their closets already.

This boycott as it stands could have bigger teeth.

I do agree in general that the notion of "the fans can't do anything about it" is wrong. It's more correct to say that we won't. As consumers, we are the sole demand that keeps this league in business. These issues and consequences simply don't hit us hard enough where we live and breathe to drive organization and passion around a mass boycott effectively. This isn't life or death after all, so there will naturally be a wide range of apathy in how people approach, from outright disgust and never watching another game to, "I recognize this sucks for fans, but meh, I still get to watch football on Sundays and a few hours of peace on the couch while my wife watches the kids."

Motivated masses have changed the world and how we live in it, and if properly and efficiently executed and/or incented, the fans could indeed force this issue as well. But it is true that in this case, it's just not likely.

 

[lod01]

It is time for the fans to serve notice on the NFL that we will no longer stand for their destruction of the game we love. It is our understanding that the real, qualified officials and the NFL have been reported to be only four million dollars apart for the season in reaching a settlement to end the lockout initiated by the NFL. We, the fans are worth more than the $200,000 per week that separates the parties and we now have a perfect opportunity to prove to Roger Goodell and his cohorts how much we are truly worth. Beginning this Thursday night in Baltimore, and continuing for one week, we call for all fans to not enter any NFL stadium until the national anthem has been performed. In the event a ticketholder is attending with the elderly, children or anyone with mobility or similar problems we ask that they be assisted in entering at their convenience but refrain from making a purchase of any kind within the stadium environs until the performance of the national anthem. We call on the NFL and its teams to be prepared with extra ticket takers and security personnel to facilitate entry of the majority of their customers in a much shorter time frame than has been the norm. This is NOT business as usual.Further, we call for a one week suspension of purchases of any and all NFL licensed merchandise from any source whatsoever. While there is a possibility that a settlement may be reached prior to week four of this season, we call for this economic boycott to be implemented nonetheless as our only way to be heard. We further call for the boycott to be continued on a weekly basis until such time as a settlement is reached and the qualified officials are once again on the field.(About me: I'm a fan, just a fan, certainly not the biggest fan - actually a "long-suffering" Jets fan [sorry, Rex] and a onetime season ticketholder. I first had this idea in 1987 when replacement players were used, but the infrastructure for such a statement did not sufficiently exist - it does now. Ticketholders pay exorbitant amounts of money to support their teams and should not be asked to remain away from the game; this compromise allows us to be heard where the biggest ears in the NFL will hear loud and clear and still support our teams. Thanks for listening and your support. Spread the word!) PLEASE FORWARD APPROPRIATELY

Who am I forwarding this gem to?