NFL Lockout hurting more people than you know

In the middle of May, the Miami Dolphins CEO Mike Dee announced pay cuts according to The Miami Herald in which many staffers were affected.  Members of the staff that were making $75,000 a year, faced a 20 percent pay cut, those making between $50,000 and $75,000 faced a 15 percent cut, and anyone below $50,000 was hit with a 10 percent cut according to the published report.

Most of us when thinking of the NFL lockout situation usually think of only the players and owners salaries and sound off on how much money they already make and how its ridiculous that these people argue over the millions of dollars they are already taking in.  We think "greed".  Others get upset about missing football games for the upcoming season, how training camps may be affected, or am I paying for season tickets that they are holding my money waiting for an eventual outcome?  Than there are those who just don't care.

But when I read of this Dolphins story and the salaries that are being cut, I realized the potential of much much more that was really happening relating to the lockout situation.  I assumed others are affected, I know I personally am as well but never thought to what extent.  In my current career, we have a promotion that includes a pair of season tickets to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a large sales order.  Without those purchases, a portion of my sales, commissions, and possibly bonuses could be affected without the season happening.  I really haven't thought of it much until now but also realize there is other opportunities for myself to "make-up" for those possible lost commissions by offering other promotions.  But those Dolphin' staffers who may be on a "set" salary make just be out of luck with their lost wages.  It's not only the Dolphins who are making changes but other teams are doing it as well.  Some are fortunate to not yet be affected.  The question I ponder mostly in this recent pay-cut is will these employees regain their former salaries if the lockout is ended in time?  I'm guessing that many will probably never get the thousands of dollars back in salary until after more years of service and annual raises.  That my friends is unfortunate.  But these are the times we are living in.  Its sad, but thats the economy these days, and for those who do have jobs, should be thankful for even having one.

Many people in the service industry who run the concessions in the stadiums, ticket sales-people along may never recover again for their lost wages as well.  Hotel industries may have all-time lows as well as grocery stores, convenience stores, and many others who depend on the tailgaiters and fans for those travelers who come to watch these NFL games.  These are just a small sample size as there is many more who could be affected as well as whole towns who depend on the training camps for increased funding for their cities.  It's something that we don't always think about when questioning whether or not there will be a NFL season or not.

It's a tough state and yes we will most likely survive if there isn't a season but times may be tougher for many if there is not.  The more and more the lockout goes on, the more and more it will affect the average person who is employed or makes some type of money off the NFL season.  So when people say "who cares?" if they have an NFL season or not, realize its just not the players and owners financial pocketbooks that will be affected.  It's many businesses and individuals as well.  And not to mention possibly everyone. 

Without a Super Bowl, television, newspapers, magazines, and internet sites will lose millions and millions of dollars in commercial and ad revenues.  They will have to determine a way to make up for these lost revenues as well.  It may result in more job losses but also may most likely increase your rates in all these avenues as well. 

It's sad to think that our economy could get worse by a sport like the NFL.  But really, this labor contract could possibly affect us all.  You may not think it, realize it, or think it's that big of a deal.  But really it is and hopefully after reading this, you may just now get it...

Playoff Tickets or A McDonald's Value Meal?

And they say the economy is getting better...

I just went to http://www.ticketsnow.com/ and was checking prices on NBA playoffs tickets, not that I am going or anything but does San Antonio really not care that Spurs are playing in the playoffs or do they just despise the Memphis Grizzlies that much.  Spurs might have trouble winning because the lack of fan support they are getting in these playoffs.  A ticket to tonights game, actually several tickets are available for $6.00, with several others costing $7, $8, $9 and lots more under $15.00/each.

http://www.ticketsnow.com/InventoryBrowse/San-Antonio-Spurs-Tickets-at-AT-T-Center-in-San-Antonio?PID=1106304

By the time you click on the link above, they could vary depending on the start of the game or the link may be acutally gone, but yes, there was plenty of tickets for about the same price as a value meal at McDonald's.  Actually going thru the drive-thru at Wendy's fast food would cost more than a single ticket to the Spurs playoff game.  How is that?  Maybe its just the state of the NBA.  There's plenty of basketball fans out there but I can tell you that there are many others that just don't care for the NBA game.  I prefer the NBA much better during the playoffs, as the season sometimes just seems like a drag unless there is a major hype on a game.  Sometimes watching the highlights on http://www.espn.com/ just seems more interesting than sitting on the couch watching a regular season NBA game of two of the "lesser" winning teams in the NBA.  Some games I do enjoy, but I feel that sometimes there is not much "team" or "coaching" aspect to the NBA game.  I prefer college basketball as it just seems that the passion by the players is there all season long, while the NBA players appear to get up for only "big-time" matchups or when the playoffs come, occasionally maybe when there is a battle for a last playoff spot.  The regular season, sometimes feels like the NFL's Pro-Bowl, where the game doesn't matter so much, but seeing the stars of the sports world matters most.

The Chicago Bulls matchup against the Indiana Pacers had a $67.00 price tag for a stading-room only ticket for game 1 in Chicago.  Thats $61.00 more than watching a playoff game in San Antonio, quite a jump.  I ventured over to http://www.stubhub.com/ and saw only 6 tickets left at $20.00 for the Spurs game and the Bulls cheapest ticket was again standing room only for $63.99.  Man how times have changed.  I can't remember the last time I could see any live professional major sporting event for the price of a value meal.

Has San Antonio just seen so much success in recent years of the Spurs, that this season isn't that special?  Wal-Mart today announced that their core-shoppers are becoming broke.  Maybe we should just realize that the economy isn't better, its that the majority of people are paying bills and living on less or paying higher insurance costs.  That's less disposable income to around for NBA playoff tickets, even if they are $6.00.  You have to include parking, gas, and food and drinks and the night goes from the price of a value meal to a sit-down meal at the Cheesecake Factory with getting cheesecake for dessert and having a specialty drink or two.  More people are passing on free tickets from give-aways, promotions, or friends because they figure the travel costs into their decision as well. 

While the NFL players and its owners bicker on the millions they want or aren't getting, the "average joe" is cooking smaller meals and budgeting their normal expenses and wondering if there will be anything left over at the end of the week for a "Netflix rental".  Maybe that's exaggerating a little, but for some its not.  While $6.00 may seem cheap for a playoff ticket, others may need that $6.00 to get by until their next paycheck.  It's different times, but its the world we live in right now, whether you like it or not, its becoming fairly common.  Unemployment rate may go down, but alot of peoples savings accounts need to get built back up before some will splurge, even if it's just for a $6.00 playoff ticket.  Times are tight, I definitely get it.