NFL Overview and Economics: Professor Salvatore Galatioto
NFL Overview and Economics: Professor Salvatore Galatioto
NFL Overview and Economics: Professor Salvatore Galatioto
NFL Economics
$8.3
$9.0
$6.0
$7.1
$6.2
$6.5
$5.3
$4.9
$3.9
$7.6
$8.0
$4.3
$3.0
$0.0
2000
2001
2002
___________________________
Source: Forbes.
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
40%
31%
40
30%
30
20
2004
47.8
50
2003
20%
12.0
10
12%
10.2
3.0
10.0
1.8
0
N FL
NBA
17%
MLB
10%
1.0
7%
6%
Auto
R acing
NBA
3.4
0%
N HL
N FL
Reg u la r Sea s o n
Ch a mpio ns hip s
___________________________
Source: Multiple public sources including the Sports Business Daily.
MLB
___________________________
Source: Harris Interactive Poll, 2010.
College
Football
$40
7.3% CAGR
$35
$28.7
$30
$33.4
$32.7
$33.2
2008
2009
2010
2011
$26.2
$23.4
$25
$20.1
$20
$15
$33.3
$30.6
$14.5
$16.4
$10
$5
$0
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
S eason
Generally more predictable (and potentially sizable) positive cash flow versus teams in other leagues
NFL investors are comfortable that the first check they write is their last
- Owners of teams in other leagues are often subject to capital calls following initial investments
Extremely strong and accomplished League management
Proven ability to monetize and unlock value (e.g., establishment of NFL Network)
Unparalleled demand for games as traditional and new media content
NFL contests have transformed from games to events
Football has arguably replaced baseball as the quintessential American sport
Historically strong relationship with players
Growth in NFL franchise values closely mirrored the explosive growth in media rights revenues and the
development and construction of high-amenity (revenue generating) stadiums
3
League controls all regular season and playoff TV broadcast rights locally, regionally and nationally
Each of the Leagues 32 teams share equally in the most robust set of national broadcast contracts in
sports ($4.95 billion annually from 2014 through 2022) (1)
Unique revenue sharing policies foster competitive and financial balance among member clubs
Strong governance and oversight from the Commissioners Office geared towards strategically increasing
the value of the League as a whole and operating in a fiscally responsible manner
The Thanksgiving Day games, Playoffs and Super Bowl have become national and global media events
The majority of the top 20 highest rated TV programs in the U.S. have been Super Bowls
___________________________
1. CBS, FOX and NBC recently renewed nine-year television deals through 2022; ESPNs Monday Night Football contract is eight years through 2021.
National media revenues, shared equally by all clubs, include national broadcast, national satellite TV, NFL
Network, and national satellite and terrestrial radio revenues
Revenues shown in the chart are generally contractually obligated aside from those of the NFL Network
Teams retain the rights to local media revenues from radio broadcasts, most preseason game television
broadcasts and non-game local television (e.g., coaches shows)
NFL Ventures manages the NFLs digital/new media opportunities as well as satellite TV, international
television, the NFL Network and national radio
Also responsible for licensing and merchandising the NFL and its teams brands
Estimated National Media Revenues Per Team by Season
( $ i n mi l l i o ns )
$ 19 8 .4
$200
$150
$100
$ 8 2 .3
$ 9 0 .6
$ 9 3 .8
$ 9 6 .9
$ 10 0 .0
2002
2003
2004
2005
$ 12 9 .2
$ 12 9 .2
$ 12 9 .2 $ 12 9 .2
$ 12 9 .2
2006
2007
2008
2010
$ 13 8 .5
$ 14 0 .2 $ 14 0 .2
2011
2012
$ 6 4 .5
$50
$0
2000
2001
N a t io n a l T V B ro a d c a st
D ire c T V
2009
___________________________
Note: NFL Network assumed to maintain current contracted rights fees from 2012 through 2021. DirecTV assumed to maintain current contracted rights fees from 2014-2021.
2013
N FL N e t w o rk
20142021
($ i n m i l l i o n s )
$180
$154.7
$140
$120
(1 )
$94.8
$100
(1 )
$96.4
$72.5
$80
$60
$32.3
$40
$20
$14.8
$38.3
$17.0
$0
1982-1986 1987-1989 1990-1993 1994-1997 1998-2005 2006-2011 2012-2013 2014-2021
Co n t ra ct Te rm
(1 )
$160
NFL Sunday Ticket is distributed by DirecTV to in-home customers and commercial establishments on a
subscription basis
Provides subscribers access to all live telecasts of NFL regular season games on Sunday afternoons
The Sunday Ticket contract was extended in 2009 and covers the 2011-2014 playing seasons
Average gross annual rights fee of $1 billion for the 2011-14 seasons represents a 43% increase over the previous
contract
7-year agreement with Sirius for regular season broadcast rights to all games during the 2004-10 seasons;
extended agreement in November 2010 through the 2015 season
Terrestrial radio agreement with Westwood One, Inc. and CBS for the 2005 through 2014 seasons
Teams are still allowed to broadcast their own games with their local radio affiliates
___________________________
1. Excludes value of NFL Network content, for which the League received third-party bids for a reported $400-500 million per annum.
NFL Ventures
New media ventures, including the NFL Network, may be a source of future growth
NFL Network
In 2004, the League established the NFL Network to provide year round programming to cable TV and satellite TV
operators on a subscriber fee basis
NFL Network has been one of the most successful launches of a TV channel
Network had more than 40 million subscribers by the time it broadcast its first NFL game (November 2006); as
of February 2012, the NFL Network had approximately 60 million subscribers
Beginning with the 2006 season, the NFL Network started carrying eight live NFL games as part of the Leagues
Thursday / Saturday primetime package
Bids from third parties for this package were reported to be in the $400-500 million per annum range
NFL Networks ability to carry live games (along with the NFLs satellite TV distribution) increases negotiating
leverage with third-party national broadcast and cable partners
Beginning in the 2012 season, the NFL Network will carry five additional games as part of its primetime package
Resolution of pending carriage disputes will help determine the long-term NFL business model
The NFL is capitalizing on the trend of traditional content finding its way into new media
More fans, including the crucial 18-34 male demographic, are interacting with the NFL through digital/new media
As a content provider, the NFL is developing a strategy within NFL Ventures to maximize new media revenue
NFL.com is the 4th most visited sports website (behind Yahoo! Sports, FoxSports and ESPN.com)
The NFL recently elected to centrally manage its internet operations given the strategic, financial and other
benefits the League believed it could achieve by operating both NFL.com and the NFL Network
Similar business models in other leagues (e.g., Major League Baseball Advanced Media) have proven to
generate considerable value for those leagues teams
NFL Properties is a league-level entity that is focused on (i) developing, licensing, and marketing the teams
intellectual property, such as their logos and trademarks and (ii) managing advertising campaigns and other
promotional ventures on behalf of the NFL and its member teams
Each of the 32 teams owns an equal stake in the entity
Accordingly, net revenues from league-wide sponsorships with major corporations as well as NFL
merchandise sales (unless sold directly on the teams website or in its team stores) are shared equally
by the member clubs
While the NFLs domestic broadcast revenues dwarf those of the other major sports leagues, the Leagues
international media agreements are not believed to be a significant source of revenues
2011 attendance remained near all-time highs, despite the challenging economic environment and
resulted in teams playing in stadiums filled to approximately 95.1% of capacity
Given the popularity of the League, its teams have played to an average of 96.1% of capacity over the past
10 seasons
As a result, the League has been somewhat constrained in attendance growth other than through
franchise expansion or the construction of new stadiums
NFL Historical Total Attendance (1) (2)
(in m illio ns )
H o u s to n
Expansion
20.0
16.1
16.4
16.3
17.0
17.0
17.3
17.3
17.6
17.5
17.3
17.1
17.3
98.3% 98.2%
16.0
95.9% 96.0%
94.3%
93.5%
95.5%
94.8% 94.9%
94.7%
95.1%
CA G R = 5.0%
$72.20
$74.99
$76.47
$77.34
2009
2010
2011
$66.94
$70
$62.38
97%
97.3%
12.0
$80
100%
17.6
$58.95
$60
$50
94%
93.7%
$47.49
$50.02
$52.95
$54.65
$40
8.0
91%
4.0
88%
$30
$20
$10
0.0
85%
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
A tte nd a nc e
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
$0
2011
2001
% Ca p a c ity
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Season
___________________________
1. Source: Sports Business Daily.
2. Attendance generally does not include games which were not played at a NFL teams home stadium.
3. Source: Team Marketing Reports. Figures prior to 2001 included premium component of premium seating and therefore data is not comparable and was not included
2007
2008
The prior CBA was originally signed in 1993 and extended on March 8, 2006
Agreement was originally set to expire after the 2012 season, subject to affirmative votes by both the owners
and the NFLPA during the term of the agreement; in 2008, NFL Owners voted not to extend the CBA beyond the
2010 season due to the continued development of a number of issues that needed to be bridged:
NFL Position
NFLPA Position
Economic: Costs of building new stadiums and investing in footballrelated businesses are outstripping revenue growth and therefore need
to be factored into the calculation of the percentage share allocated to
players
18-Game Season: View the conversion of two preseason games from
preseason to regular season games as a way to grow revenues and
resolve the core economic issue. Contend research suggests limited
increased injury risk would result from the additional games
Rookie Wage Scale: Believe the escalation in contractual amounts
being paid to unproven rookies necessitates a slotted system that
would pre-determine the salary range for a rookie based on their draft
position
Player Fines: Would like to maintain the current system that gives the
Commissioner great discretion and authority to enforce fines for on and
off-field behavior
Federal Oversight: Believe federal oversight is no longer necessary and
that the parties can and should settle disputes without federal judicial
intervention
Revenue Sharing: Players required a supplemental revenue sharing
program under the prior CBA to ensure low revenue teams could
continue to afford player salaries, but formulating a plan has served as
a point of contention between owners and something low revenue team
owners may demand going forward (regardless of the players position)
10
The new CBA is a 10-year agreement, and one that generally is viewed as a win by the owners
It contains the standard no-strike and no-lockout clauses that ensure labor peace through the term of the
agreement
Unlike the prior CBA, there is no early termination option by either party
The CBA maintained many of the key features from the prior CBA
Maintained a Salary Cap System that established a maximum and minimum amount that can be paid to players as
salaries and benefits by indexing team salaries to a percentage of League gross revenues
Cap has been reduced to 47%-48.5% of Total Revenues versus 57%-58% of League Revenues under the prior
CBA
However, the calculation of revenues was revised to exclude many of the credits that had previously been used
to calculate revenues under the prior model
-
New definition only allows a 1.5% revenue credit for the construction of a new stadium
Net effect is that on an apples-to-apples basis - player costs were reduced from approximately 51% of Total
Revenues to the 47%-48.5% range, or a 3-4% reduction
With approximately $9 billion of League-wide revenues expected in 2011, this equates to approximately $285$380 million of savings across the League, or $9-$12 million of reduced player costs per team in the first year
of the agreement
Maintained existing revenue sharing mechanisms (including sharing of national media revenues and 34% visiting
team share and sharing of club seat premiums), but reduced the reliance upon the SRS program
No SRS program for 2011 as the program had not been funded in advance of the 2011 season
Going forward, large market owners SRS contributions are capped at $3.5 million per team per annum
Mechanisms were introduced to wean teams off of the SRS system over time
11
Players share reduced from ~51% to 47%48.5%, with the only credit being 1.5% of
revenues from new stadiums
18-Game Season
NFL: Conversion of two preseason games from preseason to regular season games as
a way to grow revenues and resolve the core economic issue
NFLPA: Two additional regular season games will increase injuries and concussions
NFLPA: Not opposed to the concept of a rookie wage scale, but propose that
maximum rookie contracts be limited to three years (as opposed to five)
Player Fines
NFL: Current system that gives the Commissioner great discretion and authority to
enforce fines for on and off-field behavior
Federal Oversight
Revenue Sharing
NFL: Players required a SRS program under the prior CBA to ensure low revenue
teams could continue to afford player salaries
NFLPA: Players less focused on SRS program as a component of the new CBA and
instead focused on the players share of revenues
12
The CBA establishes a maximum and minimum amount that can be paid to players by indexing team
salaries to a percentage of all revenues
Cap set at approximately 47%-48.5% of all revenues during newly signed CBA
Generally, players will receive 55% of National Media Revenue, 45% of NFL Ventures Revenue, 40%
of Local Revenue, 50% of new line of business revenue
- An annual true-up will occur to reflect variances in actual revenue versus projections
The new CBA bases the Salary Cap on all revenues, while the previous CBA counted only those
revenues defined as League Revenues (with expense credits)
For 2011, League committed to cash spend of 99% of Salary Cap
For 2013-2020, League committed to cash spend of 95% of Salary Cap; each team committed to a
cash spend of at least 89% of Salary Cap
For the 2011 season, the Salary Cap was $120.4 million ($142.4 million including benefits)
The margin between shared national revenues and total player costs narrowed significantly in 2006
Reflected increased player costs under the previous CBA as well as a year-on-year decline in the
national broadcast revenues upon the contract renewals because of the upward sloping of national
broadcast contract bundles
Regardless, the largest single expense (player compensation) is still largely covered by each teams share
of League-shared revenues alone (i.e., before any local revenues are generated)
Newly signed national media agreements with FOX, CBS, NBC and ESPN will ensure player costs
continue to be covered by League-shared revenues
13
Many attribute the success of the NFL and its competitive balance to the Leagues long-standing policy
(since the early 1960s) of sharing its national television broadcast revenues
League-generated revenues currently include third party national television and radio contracts, NFL
Network, licensing/sponsorship and new media opportunities
Pooling and equal redistribution of 34% of each teams non-premium gate receipts
Plan was modified in 2001 to its current form whereby the visiting team share of gate receipts for all leaguewide preseason and regular-season games are divided equally between the teams
Previously, the visiting team would receive 34% of gate receipts for the actual away games it played
Reduces the economic disparities between the large and small market teams
The Leagues newest form of revenue sharing, which was introduced primarily as a result of the growing
disparity between teams local revenues
While an SRS program existed previously, SRS provisions under the prior CBA were enhanced and
enlarged with the stated goal of ensuring a teams player payroll costs did not exceed 65% of revenue
Going forward, under the newly signed CBA, large market owners SRS contributions are capped at $3.5
million per team per annum and mechanisms were introduced to wean teams off of the SRS system over
time
14
15
$80
$70
$60
$50
$40
$30
$20
$10
$0
C in
C le
ati
Be
wn
ls
er s
ar s
ag u
n ga
Br o
le J
er s
an e
als
ms
ai d
B il ls
nd
n
ci n
falo
nv il
dR
ns
a
is R
L io
r di n
u cc
i ns
yB
Ca
Ba
a
vel
Bu f
n
kl a
k so
J ac
Oa
L ou
tr oit
a
zon
lph
ns
wk
T i ta
ah a
see
Do
pa
mi
n es
16
St.
De
Ar i
T am
Mi a
T en
er s
rs
gle
el e
n th
St e
s
con
Ea
iefs
i ng
Vi k
Pa
Se
na
ttle
r oli
F al
o ta
rg h
sb u
n ta
Se a
Ca
Pi t t
Atl a
ne s
h ia
Ch
e
rag
C ity
Av e
g er
an s
T ex
ha r
ts
r
ck e
lt s
s
9e r
ts
s
ki n
Sain
Pa
oC
elp
sas
la d
Mi n
Ph i
Ka n
g ue
on
g
Di e
us t
L ea
Ho
Sa n
Ba y
Co
ns
l is
cos
ro n
rl ea
rB
ed s
4
co
nR
c is
ap o
en
wO
G re
Ne
i an
nv e
In d
De
n
Fr a
tr io
s
ven
Pa
ar s
Ra
g to
or e
n
shi
Sa n
Wa
Be
nd
n ts
oys
Gi a
wb
s
Jet
ng la
or k
Co
or k
go
ti m
i ca
wE
wY
Ba l
Ch
Ne
Ne
l las
wY
Da
Ne
___________________________
1. Figures represent the product of the average public ticket price and public total attendance data and represent regular season gate receipts only.
Luxury Suites are typically the highest quality and price point premium seating offered
Typically an exclusive area with the best views and accompanying high end amenities
Contracts are generally sold on a multi-year basis providing long-term contractually obligated income
For the 2010 season, the average NFL team in a new stadium had approximately $24 million of luxury suite
revenues, while the average NFL team in an old stadium had approximately $13 million of luxury suite
revenues (figure includes GA component of tickets)
Luxury suite premiums are not currently shared across the League
As a result, newer stadium configurations have focused on the maximization of luxury suite revenues
NFL Luxury Suite Revenues (1)
($ in millio n s)
$120
$100
$80
$60
$40
$20
$0
sas
falo
Ka n
Bu f
C it
4
co
fs
rs
er s
9e
ar g
hie
yC
c is
Ch
in ts
er s
Sa
i ng
Vi k
ai d
B il ls
n
Fr a
o
i eg
nD
San
Sa
o ta
ns
i ns
ag e
v er
dR
nes
eA
n
kl a
gu
lph
wk
ar s
rs
nals
el e
wn
ls
agu
aha
rl ea
Do
wO
Mi n
Oa
Lea
Ne
mi
Se
r di
le J
St e
Ca
rg h
Br o
ms
nga
cos
ro n
nv il
a
zo n
a ttle
Mi a
Se
Ar i
k so
J ac
rB
sb u
nv e
nd
Ra
Be
ts
er s
17
Pi t t
De
uis
a
ve l
Lo
ati
er s
i ta n
s
ven
ane
atr io
ack
eT
yP
s se
Ra
dP
ar s
lan
Ba
or e
n
ci n
nn e
C le
St .
C in
Te
en
ti m
G re
Ba l
Be
ng
go
wE
i ca
ons
al c
u cc
lt s
ge
gle
Co
yB
l is
Ba
aF
ba
an t
Ne
Ch
At l
T am
apo
ion
xan
era
Te
Ea
s
ki n
er s
eds
n th
h ia
Av
it L
i an
tr o
In d
De
on
elp
Pa
nR
s
Jet
n ts
oys
Gi a
wb
g to
na
g ue
us t
i la d
r oli
Lea
Ho
Ph
Ca
or k
or k
Co
n
sh i
wY
wY
l las
Wa
Ne
Ne
Da
___________________________
1. Figures represent the product of the average public suite price (midpoint of suite price range) and the number of available suites.
Effectively serve as seating with added benefits such as access to a private club, seat cushions or
simply extra room
Currently two teams are without club seats (49ers and Vikings), both of which are looking to move into
new stadiums
34% of Club Seat premiums are typically contributed towards the Leagues SRS program
However, teams building new stadiums are permitted to use these contributions for the 15 years
following the opening of the stadium in order to help finance the stadium construction
NFL Club Seat Revenues (1)
($ in millio n s)
$60
$50
$40
$30
$20
$10
$0
wO
f falo
Ne
Bu
rl ea
ns
ai d
B il ls
dR
Sa
in ts
er s
er s
rs
iefs
ar g
Ch
Ch
ity
sC
n
kl a
n sa
ge
i ns
era
lph
Av
Do
g ue
mi
o
i eg
nD
Oa
Ka
Sa
Lea
Mi a
el e
s
con
St e
F al
rg h
n ta
sb u
ls
er s
nga
am
is R
Be
ack
wn
ar s
als
wk
Br o
yP
ati
Ba
L ou
n
ci n
At l a
Pi t t
St .
C in
en
nd
r di n
aha
Ca
agu
lt s
i ta n
le J
Co
eT
Se
a
ve l
G re
C le
a ttle
a
zo n
s se
nv il
s
xan
l is
ion
apo
nn e
i an
it L
Te
18
Se
Ar i
Te
k so
J ac
In d
tr o
ge
eer
iots
gle
s
ven
era
Ra
Av
cos
Ea
ar s
ro n
or e
on
l ti m
us t
De
Ho
Ba
g ue
rB
Be
h ia
a tr
n
cc a
s
ki n
er s
dP
Bu
lan
ay
n th
n ts
s
Jet
Gi a
Pa
elp
go
nv e
i ca
i la d
Lea
De
Ch
Ph
ng
aB
na
or k
or k
wE
mp
Ne
Ta
r oli
wY
wY
eds
oys
nR
wb
g to
Co
n
sh i
l las
Ca
Ne
Ne
Da
Wa
___________________________
1. Figures represent the product of the average public club seat ticket price and the number of available club seats.
The League, as part of the national media agreements, retains the right to broadcast all regular season
game broadcasts
However, teams retain the right to produce all additional local television and radio show content for their
local (and any affiliated) markets
Content typically includes shoulder programming and ratings are generally strong due in large part to
these programs ability to piggy back off the game itself
Local Sponsorships
Teams retain the right to sell all their local sponsorship and advertising inventory in agreements with
national and local corporations, businesses and other entities
Per cap concession sales continue to grow as teams provide a greater variety of premium amenities, in
particular as teams build new stadiums and increase their number of luxury suites and club seats
One unique distinction with NFL teams is that they retain merchandise revenues sold through their team
websites (but not through NFL.com)
All other merchandise, aside from items sold at a team store, is shared equally by the member clubs
Parking Revenues
19
National exposure and unmatched television ratings for the NFL drive the high levels achieved for football
naming rights revenues, even in some of the smaller NFL markets
For recent stadium naming rights transactions, the average agreement is 19 years in length and has a total
value of $205.0 million, which corresponds to an average annual rights fee of $10.9 million
Potential naming rights partners are likely to pay a premium for stadiums in larger markets and/or with
the potential to host future Super Bowls
($ in millions)
Team
Fac ility
Farmers Field
MetLife Stadium
University of Phoenix Stadium
Bank of America Stadium
Lincoln Financial Field
Lucas Oil Stadium
Sports Authority Field at Mile High
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Qwest Field / CenturyLink Field
Average Contract
Total
Contrac t
Value
Number
of Years
$600.0
500.0
154.0
140.0
139.6
121.5
60.0
55.0
75.0
30 yrs
25 yrs
20 yrs
20 yrs
20 yrs
20 yrs
10 yrs
10 yrs
15 yrs
$205.0
19 yrs
Agreement Tenor
Expiration
Year
na
2036
2025
2024
2022
2028
2021
2020
2019
Firs t Year of
Agreem ent
na
2011
2006
2005
2003
2009
2011
2011
2005
___________________________
1. Figures represent public values of total sponsorship package with naming rights partner (i.e., includes any additional sponsorships within the stadium or its surrounding areas).
20
Average
Annual Value
$20.0
20.0
7.7
7.0
7.0
6.1
6.0
5.5
5.0
$10.9