That's cool. I take it personally when I'm lied to. I find it insulting.
I don't see the comparison. It's not like they're coming out and telling me one thing when it's something else.
Newsflash: People are lying to you everywhere, all the time. Are you mad all day every day?
I don't think my example is obtuse. If you're an owner of a business that relies on attendance in a substantial way to generate revenue and you tell your customers that you "think" your product is inferior (even when you can't be sure), why would you expect them to show up?
In sports the idea of predictable outcomes is especially tenuous. That's one of the big reasons fans love watching.... because sports is not like tv shows and movies. The outcome is not certain.... all the way to the end of the game. Ask Saints fans.
If I told you in July of 2017 that the Eagles would get to the Super Bowl, would you have believed me? What if I said they would play the Patriots in the Super Bowl and journeyman Nick Foles would be playing QB for them against the all-time great Tom Brady because Carson Wentz was injured. Who would you have bet on? In 1998 the Rams were 4-12. I guess in 1999 they should have told their fans they were rebuilding. Instead, they went 13-3 and won the Super Bowl.
In baseball, Seattle's team had its best player suspended for 80 games, while the Los Angeles Angles have the best player in the game (Mike Trout), and signed the most heralded pitcher from Japan (Ohtani). As of today, the Mariners are 10 games better than the Angels.
Example after example can be given of teams that had no business winning do exactly that. So if you run a team, why would you tell your fans you're not going to be competitive and hurt sales?