The bottom Line - the Cowboys (and 31 other teams) are making money

[LocimusPrime]

i think it affects the way the team plays. i dont think it's a coincidence the team hasn't had a great defense in a long time.

it's weird man, you've got a coach preaching grit and blue collar football yet nothing about the franchise exudes that message.

Yes our Princeton coach is preaching blue collar ethics.

 

[Nightman]

Does this explain the complacency with Carr's contract and overpaying our own talent (Dez/Tyron/Romo exception)? Lee, Crawford, Church. Most of that (signing bonuses used to create room) is covered currently by Romo along with Scan, Witten, Lee, Tyron, Crawford and Dez, so see your point. Does Ro/Mo fit this or are they designated as new signings (honest q)?

It is a big part of it.

DAL gave the big money to Romo in Year 1 of this 4 year cycle, so that shows how little outside money they have spent. The 8-9m a year to Carr definitely helps them stay compliant.

They think acting like Billy Beane and the OAK As in Moneyball is the way to win consistently. They just don't realize that OAK and GB do it out of necessity, not because it is the best plan.

The Florida Marlins bought 2 World Series since DAL last won one. DEN and NE both just spent big to finish off their playoff teams. We chose to let our record breaking RB leave for a has been and never replaced our backup QB when Orton left.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

What you say doesn't pertain to DAL at all. They also top the league in profits and team value. They are an absolute ATM machine in spite of their record.

They don't choose to use these resources to their fullest impact. In fact they have chosen a strategy that looks more like the Oakland As with their 'Moneyball' identity. GB is conservative financially because they don't have the resources to compete with teams like DAL, WAS and NYG. They do it out of necessity, not because it a proven MO.

Managing the cap isn't playing moneyball. It's being smart and trying to build a consistent winner.

If there was no cap and we took this approach you'd have a point. As it is... You don't.

 

[BigStar]

It is a big part of it.

DAL gave the big money to Romo in Year 1 of this 4 year cycle, so that shows how little outside money they have spent. The 8-9m a year to Carr definitely helps them stay compliant.

They think acting like Billy Beane and the OAK As in Moneyball is the way to win consistently. They just don't realize that OAK and GB do it out of necessity, not because it is the best plan.

The Florida Marlins bought 2 World Series since DAL last won one. DEN and NE both just spent big to finish off their playoff teams. We chose to let our record breaking RB leave for a has been and never replaced our backup QB when Orton left.

Thanks for the info; clarifies what the FO has been doing since the new NFLPA was signed and even before then. Good way to look like your "doing ALL you can" w/o really needing to, etc. Let DAL PR take care of that, etc. I brought up a vaguely related question in how DAL PR treats the resigning of our FAs as somehow being the same as spending on outside FAs but only faced heavy resistance; ALL teams lock up their good players idiot, etc. I thought personally, "to this extent; Church, Beasley, Crawford, etc?" while also having no winning records to accommodate this FO structure; smelt fishy then too. Going back, does this relate to the Ratliff complacency as well?

 

[BigStar]

Managing the cap isn't playing moneyball. It's being smart and trying to build a consistent winner.

If there was no cap and we took this approach you'd have a point. As it is... You don't.

The cap can be manipulated as we all know...it's just a matter of how you want to do it.

 

[erod]

I expect teams will put extra emphasis on turning profits these next 5-10 years because they are rightfully concerned that football is seeing its final days.

 

[Reality]

I expect teams will put extra emphasis on turning profits these next 5-10 years because they are rightfully concerned that football is seeing its final days.

The NFL is not going anywhere despite the mass media effort to make it happen. What will likely happen though is that the game we are watching today will likely be considerably different 15-20 years from now.

The NFL is simply too popular among all sports fans. With most fans, MLB is only interesting the first and last months of the season. The NBA only has 3-4 teams every year that matter. MLS and the NHL only matter to small segments of sports fans.

The only real threat to the NFL comes from NCAA Football and Basketball, and those are facing their own problems as they transition from amateur sports to paid athletes which is a stepping stone to unionizing, CBA and agents.

Who knows .. maybe in 15-20 years, football players will use augmented reality (aka: VR) to play and injuries will be a thing of the past

 

[DogFace]

These stadiums aren't made for the people sitting in the 400's. The glass and all that is below is whose money they really want.

It's pretty obvious all over the country. Regular schmucks like us are getting priced out of everything.

The viewing pleasure will trickle down to us too. You just have to give it time. I've been assured this model doesn't fail.

 

[erod]

The NFL is not going anywhere despite the mass media effort to make it happen. What will likely happen though is that the game we are watching today will likely be considerably different 15-20 years from now.

The NFL is simply too popular among all sports fans. With most fans, MLB is only interesting the first and last months of the season. The NBA only has 3-4 teams every year that matter. MLS and the NHL only matter to small segments of sports fans.

The only real threat to the NFL comes from NCAA Football and Basketball, and those are facing their own problems as they transition from amateur sports to paid athletes which is a stepping stone to unionizing, CBA and agents.

Who knows .. maybe in 15-20 years, football players will use augmented reality (aka: VR) to play and injuries will be a thing of the past

A lot of moms aren't letting their boys play football anymore.

Did you hear Arians' rant yesterday? LOL, that was classic.

 

[Plankton]

Wait until they open The Star - that number will grow even larger.

 

[Plankton]

I was first row upper deck for my first game, at the 45 yard line and it felt like I was watching the game from the Rangers ballpark.

I mean just look how far back from the field that upper deck is pushed. It's literally 50-75 yards away from the sideline. It's a terrible venue for anything other than packing in as many people and making as much $ as you can per game. It feels like nothing about the stadium was designed with actually watching the game in mind.

The most frightening thing about that picture (great shot, BTW) is that they are seen rolling the field onto concrete.

Brutal.

 

[Reality]

A lot of moms aren't letting their boys play football anymore.

Did you hear Arians' rant yesterday? LOL, that was classic.

Because moms are hearing the media say, "Don't let your kids play football" over and over. But yet, youth football leagues, high school football teams, etc. are still as popular and full of players as ever. The media has an agenda which goes well beyond the health safety of potential football players.

As I said, I do believe the game will change considerably over the next 15-20 years, but it's not going away. People have been saying it for years and will be saying it for years to come.

On the bright side, the media's focus on football safety will continue to lead to improved safety when playing football which is definitely a good thing, even though that's not their real goal or concern.

 

[Plankton]

Yes, and they were making more at the beginning of the chart too. Markets define revenue which is all relative. A team with $300 million revenue in a smaller market can actually earn a higher percentage of profit and even actual profit than a team making $600 million in another market. Just like an individual working in a small town may make $30,000 per year and be able to buy a new house and car and still have money left over, while someone else working in a large city may make $60,000 per year and struggle just to pay rent while having to rely on public transportation.

The only real relevant financial stats to use when comparing different markets, at least on the surface, are trending percentages and patterns over time. If you notice, all NFL teams are trending upwards.

You also have to measure the revenue (and those charts represent revenues, not profits) against what the debt structure of the team is. Teams like the Vikings and Falcons, that will be opening new stadiums soon that they had to foot the bill for, as well as bearing existing debt from the purchases of their teams, have smaller profit margins. The Packers are pretty liquid overall - their only debt should be from the work done to build out the new Atrium and Hall of Fame space.

Jones laid out $875M for the stadium (Arlington's contributions were capped at $325M). Within one year of the stadium opening, Jones had reduced his debt on the stadium to $190M. I would imagine that he's retired that debt at this point.

 

[erod]

Because moms are hearing the media say, "Don't let your kids play football" over and over. But yet, youth football leagues, high school football teams, etc. are still as popular and full of players as ever. The media has an agenda which goes well beyond the health safety of potential football players.

As I said, I do believe the game will change considerably over the next 15-20 years, but it's not going away. People have been saying it for years and will be saying it for years to come.

On the bright side, the media's focus on football safety will continue to lead to improved safety when playing football which is definitely a good thing, even though that's not their real goal or concern.

We're amidst a "Revenge of the Nerds" era. Nowdays, the techie geeks have found their footing in society (which is a good thing), and it seems they've partnered up with the media nerds to attack the quarterbacks who got all the chicks.

Athletes can't get away with anything anymore. The stuff said in a 70s or 80s locker room would get players suspended for a year today.

 

[Swanny]

I was first row upper deck for my first game, at the 45 yard line and it felt like I was watching the game from the Rangers ballpark.

I mean just look how far back from the field that upper deck is pushed. It's literally 50-75 yards away from the sideline. It's a terrible venue for anything other than packing in as many people and making as much $ as you can per game. It feels like nothing about the stadium was designed with actually watching the game in mind.

I have been to two games at the stadium both in the end zone. I loved it. I think the stadium is awesome. Its a terrible home field advantage but the stadium is gorgeous and I had no issue with how far away my seats were. I know when going to a game at any stadium you are not going to get a great vantage point. If you want the best view watch the game from you couch in your living room. Going to a live sporting event is about the atmosphere and the experience. Cowboys fans as a whole make the experience lousy as I have had fans yell at me for standing up or just cheering. But that is not a fault of the stadium itself it is the fault of Cowboys fans themselves and Jerry Jones pricing out the avg fan. Which I don't blame him. Sell the tickets for as much as people are willing to pay.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Does that chart include merchandise revenue or just stadium revenue. The cowboys get to keep all their merchandising revenue, all other teams have to share. Lol go jerry.

 

[Plankton]

Does that chart include merchandise revenue or just stadium revenue. The cowboys get to keep all their merchandising revenue, all other teams have to share. Lol go jerry.

Actually, they don't.

The Cowboys have to contribute whatever their share to the pie would have been ahead of time (say it's the same as the top 5 contributors). Anything above and beyond that, they get to keep without sharing.

 

[Virginia-Dave]

Personally, I hate the new stadium. Not how it looks (it's a beautiful stadium), but it was built for entertainment, not for the Cowboys. The stadium is such a huge destination that fans from other teams make the Cowboys game at Cowboys stadium worth the trip. The Cowboys have no identity at the stadium. If you watch the Bears, Packers, Commanders, Patriots, etc., their stadiums just scream football and their home team. The Cowboys stadium feels like a neutral field. It's like the Cowboys are playing in a college bowl game somewhere else.

That is what I hate about the stadium, the fact that it's become a destination for fans of opposing teams. The problem is that when Jerry looks out at the crowd on game day, he doesn't see Commanders, eagles, giants, niners, and steeler fans, all he sees is $$green$$.

I would disagree with including the Commanders stadium with the other teams mentioned. That stadium is garbage, and all skins fans hate pretty much everything about it. RFK was a football stadium, I don't know what that place they play in now is.

 

[CyberB0b]

Revenue doesn't equate to profit, although I am sure their profits are through the roof.

 

[Virginia-Dave]

I have been to two games at the stadium both in the end zone. I loved it. I think the stadium is awesome. Its a terrible home field advantage but the stadium is gorgeous and I had no issue with how far away my seats were. I know when going to a game at any stadium you are not going to get a great vantage point. If you want the best view watch the game from you couch in your living room. Going to a live sporting event is about the atmosphere and the experience. Cowboys fans as a whole make the experience lousy as I have had fans yell at me for standing up or just cheering. But that is not a fault of the stadium itself it is the fault of Cowboys fans themselves and Jerry Jones pricing out the avg fan. Which I don't blame him. Sell the tickets for as much as people are willing to pay.

I agree, I really enjoyed my experience at the stadium, and I was sitting in the nosebleed section. I didn't really mind the distance to the field from my seats, I expected it. It probably has to do with me not living in the Dallas area, so every trip down there is awesome for me. I just happy to be at a game. If I was local and wanted to go to multiple games every season my opinion would probably change, but as a once every couple of years trip, it's an awesome overall experience.