Mark Cuban Says NFL Implosion within 10 Years (1 Viewer)

[Cliff Clavin]

Its funny how people complain about the final two minutes of an NBA game dragging on when it is very similar to an entire NFL game.

 

[Steve Tasker]

I'm not sure I really get the hate for the Thursday games here. If you hate Thursday night NFL so much....don't watch it. I don't watch it either unless it's a huge game or the Bills are playing, and it hasn't really impacted how I feel about the NFL. I do agree that the quality of the play takes a hit on Thursdays.

Are you a fantasy player Steve? Do Thursday night games ever make you wish you didn't have someone playing on Thursday? For me, it sucks having a banged up running back going on Sunday and my backup option going Thursday.

I'm only a casual fantasy player at this point so "the hate" on my end is:

1) I play in poker and volleyball leagues during the week...I'm not going to cancel on my commitments for a football game.

2) Games go until 11 or so which tends to mean I watch it alone and don't fall asleep until midnight or later...5:30 comes real fast at that point.

3) 3 or 3.5 hours is a significant portion of a workday and one is pretty much giving up their entire evening.

4) My wife is from Seattle and a big football fan as well, so over the years I've watched just as much Seahawks football as Vikings football. That's now Sundays, sometimes Mondays, and sometimes Thursdays that I either have to give up an entire evening of my life or miss a game I'd like to watch for my two favorite teams...add to that a couple exciting match-ups that I try and make time for and watching TV becomes a much bigger percentage of my life than I'd like.

Thank God my wife loves football...i can't imagine the guys out there that football is a stress on their relationships!

Actually, no, I don't play FF any more. I do find that I enjoy the NFL more now than I did back when I was playing FF. This year will be my 4th (I think) since I quit.

I hear ya in regard to watching too much TV, but I guess I just never felt the obligation to watch the game. The only game that I'll block off my schedule for is a Bills game (no matter what day of the week), so I've only got 1 must-see game whereas it looks like you have 2 or more. I do think there's a bit of oversaturation overall, but I still think in general that the NFL is avoidable if you want to avoid it.

That said, I am a fanatic and would watch a high school game if I had nothing else to do....

 

[pantherclub]

I agree with Cuban. Personally I went from being a four seat Patriot season ticket holder (old stadium) to not even watching games. For me the biggest problem is the long TV timeouts and too much down time during the games. I will admit that I love the red zone channel because of the constant action. I wish they would fix this problem. I would come back.

here is the thing though, the numbers disagree with both of you.

 

[Pipes]

I'm already sick of the Thursday night game

I agree. While I don't think a full implosion is going to happen. Cuban's right...Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered. I don't think the NFL or anything for that matter is immune from that premise.

 

[General Malaise]

I think he is smoking something more powerful than a Cuban cigar.

Oh yeah, he's a big old rope smoker.

 

[thecatch]

I agree with Cuban. Personally I went from being a four seat Patriot season ticket holder (old stadium) to not even watching games. For me the biggest problem is the long TV timeouts and too much down time during the games. I will admit that I love the red zone channel because of the constant action. I wish they would fix this problem. I would come back.

here is the thing though, the numbers disagree with both of you.

Nothing Cuban said is inconsistent with the fact that the NFL is currently by far the dominant sports league right now. He's offering his opinions regarding how the distant future will play out if the NFL keeps aggressively trying to raise revenue by further saturating the market. Maybe he's right, maybe not, but what the current numbers and trends are saying is beside his point.

 

[Johnnymac]

I agree with Cuban mostly because of the rule changes that have been made under Goodell. I realize the lawsuit stuff but they started to try and fix things after the fact anyway. I think what the league needs to do is have the players sign waivers that they will not sue the league for any medical problems resulting from concussions. If this does not happen, Cuban is dead on right.

 

[Premier]

I agree with Cuban mostly because of the rule changes that have been made under Goodell. I realize the lawsuit stuff but they started to try and fix things after the fact anyway. I think what the league needs to do is have the players sign waivers that they will not sue the league for any medical problems resulting from concussions. If this does not happen, Cuban is dead on right.

I'm pretty sure that's illegal, and even if it's not, the players union would never allow they in a trillion years.

 

[snitwitch]

We are living in a period of Peak Football. I don't disagree with Cuban's general premise, but his timing seems suspect. I think in 20 years the game will be vastly different than what we have now (think A-10 type offenses, less hitting and trench warfare, smaller players)

Youth football participation is declining, primarily due to concussion concerns, and that's a canary in the coalmine.

 

[The Z Machine]

I stopped playing FF about 7 years ago and stopped watching NFL about 5 years ago. I probably watch less than my wife now.

 

[PIK95]

I agree with Cuban. Personally I went from being a four seat Patriot season ticket holder (old stadium) to not even watching games. For me the biggest problem is the long TV timeouts and too much down time during the games. I will admit that I love the red zone channel because of the constant action. I wish they would fix this problem. I would come back.

here is the thing though, the numbers disagree with both of you.

I was only speaking for myself. I also suspect many of the people going to the games are going because of the drinking and partying and as long as they enjoy that part that is the main thing.

 

[jason12vb]

For whomever was looking for input...

When I found this place I was in 4 leauges and running two 16 team dynasty leagues...it was like a full time job. After 5 years off I started helping my wife with her work league and it's the only thing I do. I enjoy Vikings football more than ever without fantasy....I actually watch the games now instead of the ticker on the bottom.

 

[Orlando RMF]

For whomever was looking for input...

When I found this place I was in 4 leauges and running two 16 team dynasty leagues...it was like a full time job. After 5 years off I started helping my wife with her work league and it's the only thing I do. I enjoy Vikings football more than ever without fantasy....I actually watch the games now instead of the ticker on the bottom.

Reading this thread makes it sound like Cuban has already won. "Watch less football than my wife", "not watching the ticker on the bottom", blasphemy!! My opinion is he is beyond jealous and wishes he had a football team instead. Seriously March Madness is way better than the NBA Playoffs.

 

[gump]

Still, there are clouds on the long range horizon.

1. Football doesn't have nearly the grip on the next generations of fans, those under 35. A much higher percentage (45%) of the NBA's fans are under 35 than the NFL's (29%).

2. Student sections at major college football programs, including Alabama and Georgia, are going unfilled and football-loving alumni are the bedrock of the college fan demographic.

1. What's the number of fans per each league under 35?

2.. Have you seen the ration of TV/people in these areas that watch college football? That's an in-stadium problem, not a waning interest in college football.

 

[Tiger Fan]

Because its strongest age demographic is still relatively young, the NFL's "implosion" is still several decades away. TV can cover up a lot of the same problems that are adversely affecting game attendance by filling in the endless stoppages with replay and chatter so it'll always be easy for the at-home fans to get past the down time from the comforts of their living rooms. TV money is far greater than stadium revenues and there's tens of millions who will be watching for a long time.

Still, there are clouds on the long range horizon.

1. Football doesn't have nearly the grip on the next generations of fans, those under 35. A much higher percentage (45%) of the NBA's fans are under 35 than the NFL's (29%).

2. Student sections at major college football programs, including Alabama and Georgia, are going unfilled and football-loving alumni are the bedrock of the college fan demographic.

3. Universities themselves may change dramatically in a couple of decades as cheaper online courses replace the traditional live-on-campus experience. How do you field a team when all your students "attend" electronically?

Re: Bolded. Getting drunk, partying and chasing tail is more fun then watching your team beat the #### out of a D-2 school by 60 points. Nobody is leaving a Bama vs. Georgia game early.

 

[Instinctive]

Because its strongest age demographic is still relatively young, the NFL's "implosion" is still several decades away. TV can cover up a lot of the same problems that are adversely affecting game attendance by filling in the endless stoppages with replay and chatter so it'll always be easy for the at-home fans to get past the down time from the comforts of their living rooms. TV money is far greater than stadium revenues and there's tens of millions who will be watching for a long time.

Still, there are clouds on the long range horizon.

1. Football doesn't have nearly the grip on the next generations of fans, those under 35. A much higher percentage (45%) of the NBA's fans are under 35 than the NFL's (29%).

2. Student sections at major college football programs, including Alabama and Georgia, are going unfilled and football-loving alumni are the bedrock of the college fan demographic.

3. Universities themselves may change dramatically in a couple of decades as cheaper online courses replace the traditional live-on-campus experience. How do you field a team when all your students "attend" electronically?

Re: Bolded. Getting drunk, partying and chasing tail is more fun then watching your team beat the #### out of a D-2 school by 60 points. Nobody is leaving a Bama vs. Georgia game early.

Agreed. We're never empty for real schools. We don't necessarily pack the house for Louisiana Monroe types though...

 

[Thunderlips]

The NFL is so unique. It's the only sport I can think of where a game between the last place teams is still..interesting. Even without fantasy (though fantasy makes it even more interesting.) But unless your a fan of the specific team, you're probably not going to watch a game between the worst teams in the NBA or in baseball. But many people will watch a football game between the worst teams, if its the only game on a Sunday, Monday, or Thursday night.

Not if they keep being MIN v. NYG.

 

[Da Guru]

The popularity of the league being so closely associated with fantasy football is interesting, too. How many of the people who have been here forever are playing in as many FF leagues as they used to? I'm guessing Cappy doesn't. I know I don't. It seems like I hear that comment more and more from people around here. For those who are playing less, has your interest in the league remained the same or has that declined as well?

When I started here I played in 3 or 4. Last year was the first time in 6 or 7 years that I played and I did one league.

Honestly my enjoyment of football went UP when I quit FF. That's just me though.

Last year was my first year without FF in 23 years. I finally enjoyed watching football again. When I had a few FF teams my way of watching football had nothing to do with who won or lost..I could care less. Sometimes after a big FF weekend I could not even tell you who won or lost of what teams were in the playoff hunt.

 

[jason12vb]

For whomever was looking for input...

When I found this place I was in 4 leauges and running two 16 team dynasty leagues...it was like a full time job. After 5 years off I started helping my wife with her work league and it's the only thing I do. I enjoy Vikings football more than ever without fantasy....I actually watch the games now instead of the ticker on the bottom.

Reading this thread makes it sound like Cuban has already won. "Watch less football than my wife", "not watching the ticker on the bottom", blasphemy!! My opinion is he is beyond jealous and wishes he had a football team instead. Seriously March Madness is way better than the NBA Playoffs.

hahaha...I think this thread is anything but proof that Cuban has won. I'd actually say the conversation would be more objective and less dismissive had anyone but Cuban said it. Without a doubt he'd love to own an NFL team, but I think the hate for his shtick is clouding people's judgement.

If I ever said I watched less football than my wife I misspoke...I probably spend 8-10 hours a week watching football, just because i'm not playing fantasy doesn't mean I'm not watching games. If that's the context that lead you to the conclusion...no fantasty means not watching then the NFL is in serious trouble should they mess with the fantasy formula and turn the casual fan away, because in your mind no fantasty = no football.

 

[Rayderr]

The popularity of the league being so closely associated with fantasy football is interesting, too. How many of the people who have been here forever are playing in as many FF leagues as they used to? I'm guessing Cappy doesn't. I know I don't. It seems like I hear that comment more and more from people around here. For those who are playing less, has your interest in the league remained the same or has that declined as well?

When I started here I played in 3 or 4. Last year was the first time in 6 or 7 years that I played and I did one league.

Honestly my enjoyment of football went UP when I quit FF. That's just me though.

Last year was my first year without FF in 23 years. I finally enjoyed watching football again. When I had a few FF teams my way of watching football had nothing to do with who won or lost..I could care less. Sometimes after a big FF weekend I could not even tell you who won or lost of what teams were in the playoff hunt.

But are you watching the same amount, or have you curbed back your viewing?

 

[grateful zed]

I stopped playing FF about 7 years ago and stopped watching NFL about 5 years ago. I probably watch less than my wife now.

when do you plan to stop posting of football boreds?