The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

Brian Fein's post in another topic got me thinking:  What would happen if you ended NFL monopolies?  Would it be good or bad for the sport?

For example, what if all team equipment wasn't made by the same companies?  What if the Dolphins jerseys were made by Reebok, but the Cowboys were made by Puma.  ...and the Chiefs were made by some start-up company in Kansas?

Would it open the door to some teams getting too rich, compared to others?

It was like this years ago.  I used to buy Adidas jerseys because I found the cut was better fitting for me.  However, when they made it "Reebok exclusive" the price went from $40 to $75 overnight "just because they can."

It follows with the team equipment too.  Of course it leads to having a uniform hat for all teams in different colors, but so what?  Diversity is great, and promotes great new designs and better competition to make a better product.  I don't see how it can be bad for anyone.

Didn't Reebok lose the future jersey contract awhile ago?

I think somethings it's good,other things not so much....I think it also depends on which team you are(as in ownership,or player),or what team you're a fan of,or the NFL.

I feel jersey's could be a problem,in that companies would pay much more for the right to get the more popular,larger market teams...

I think somethings it's better for all the parties to keep these monopolies.

Its better for the companies for sure.  EA was getting its ass kicked by 2K sports.  Their football game was better and sold for $20.  Madden sales took a dump.  Enter monopoly exclusive contract, 2K sports is out of business, and EA charges $60 for their game EVERY YEAR.  They're the only game in town, and really haven't done jack to make the game better.

Instead of making a better product they just boxed out the competition.  How is this good for anyone other than EA Sports?

It's all about the HUGE licensing fees that the NFL collects from the producing companies.  Interesting topic...on one hand the NFL has the right to do business with any company they choose, on the other hand the NFL is a monopoly itself, can it be allowed to drive up the costs to consumers and eliminate competition??  Makes you think of how Microsoft used to run over any other software company that came up with an innovative program.  Seems like it would take a lawsuit from fans in order to end the practice.

This really only affects two areas as I see it, jerseys and "official" sideline items. There are many manufacturers for any other clothing items that are registered with the NFL. Given that these particular items are the official game day wear on the field, I don't mind the limitations. Now if every item that had a team logo on it had to come through this limited fashion I would see it as a problem.

Then things would be like they were prior to 2002, when Reebok signed the exclusive agreement with the NFL.

Jerry Richardson is having another heart attack in Carolina with this notion being brought up...lol

The recent American Needle v. NFL Supreme Court decision flatly rejected the NFL's broad argument that things like "merchandising" could be handled as though the NFL were one company and not 32 competing ones. The ruling wasn't that it was illegal, however, just that the lower courts' acceptance of the NFL's arguments for Sherman Act (Anti Trust) exemption was invalid. If nothing else, the waters have been muddied and there's hope (for all those companies WITHOUT an exclusivity deal with the NFL) that the courts will determine that the NFL cannot do these blanket deals.

Wasn't that the topic of a S. Ct. case recently? IIRC the decision allowed the teams to contract independently for merchandise(I think hats), but I might not recall correctly. 

Read my post above. The SCOTUS bailed and didn't really decide anything. The did establish that the NFL can legally act as a single entity sometimes, but they threw out the lower courts acceptance of the teams not being subject to anti trust legislation in this regard (Sherman Act exemption). So, the case now rests with the lower courts (again) and they need to decide if the NFL did in fact violate anti trust laws by acting as a single entity for the purpose of merchandising.

There's a very good (brief and well-written) explanation of the ruling at SCOTUSblog.com (great site, btw):

http://www.scotusblog.com/?p=20636

They have more in-depth analysis as well, if you look around.

I think the NFL should end DirecTV's monopoly on NFL Sunday Ticket.  If all the other cable and satellite companies have the other premium sports channels, why can't they have the NFL Sunday Ticket? 

I'd love for them to end the monopolies on certain stuff.  For example, the NFL shouldn't be allowed what to tell you to wear on the sidelines.  I'd rather see coaches in suits than in the half assed stuff they're forced to wear now. 

Don't get me wrong I'm fine with a dress code to a certain degree but really in the grand scheme of things does it matter who makes the jerseys or what company makes your cleats (I miss my old Pony's)?  Or what sports drink is allowed on the sidelines?

Some stuff you're not going to really be able to end the monopoly on though.  For example I think Riddel is the only company still making the helmets and pads although I'm not sure who makes those concussion proof lacrosse looking helmets.

I don't know that they can end the DirecTV Sunday Ticket even if the monopoly is broken up because if I remember correctly that's actually up to the TV Networks more than it is the NFL.  I'm not sure though because it depends on how that contract fits in.  Is it a licensing thing?  Is it part of the general TV contract?  lots of questions there.

I just hope they get their shit together and we have a season. 

It's funny that you should mention the ONE area where the NFL allows player choice. Under current rules, players are allowed to choose any helmet from any manufacturer that passes the requirements. According the this nfl.com link (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81fc21d7/article/study-reveals-many-nfl-players-chose-lowrated-helmets), about 75% of players chose a Riddell helmet (half of whom chose the worst helmet available). Schutt has 23%, Xenith 2% and Adams USA "a handful" (helmets, not percent).

Yea, this was my first thought when I saw this thread. Actually I don't think 2K sports is out of business, they just don't make football games anymore, iirc. There is though, a class action lawsuit against EA sports over this matter for anyone that purchased any copies of Madden 2005 and up.

Seems like a strange answer coming from someone that lives in the panhandle of Florida with a boat.Direct Tv has a mobile Dish, you can watch games anywhere,not to mention NFL sunday ticket to go....

Not all cable companies have premium sports channels....

Thats not a monopoly. DirecTV bought the rights to Sunday Ticket. It's like saying ESPN has a monopoly on Monday Night Football. NO...it went up to bid and ESPN paid the most to get Monday Night Football. Same with Sunday Ticket, it goes up for bid and DIRECTV pays the most to get those rights to Sunday Ticket.

Sorry, Sunday Ticket is an artificially-created monopoly.  Only one network can have the rights to Monday Night Football because, necessarily, someone has to be in charge of producing the broadcast.

However, DirecTV has no hand whatsoever in producing NFL programming; they simply rebroadcast the CBS/Fox feeds.  As such, there is no logistical reason why Sunday Ticket could not also be on Comcast, or Dish Network, or AT&T U-verse at the same time it's on DirecTV.

This is no different than the NFL's deal with EA Sports to only allow Madden as the official NFL game.  It's an unnecessary, artifically-created monopoly that only serves to stifle competition.

Absolutely right. As mentioned before, 2K sports had a superior product that retailed for less dough and Madden couldn't handle the competition. No reason that Dish network couldn't air Sunday ticket for less money than direct tv which in turn would lower direct TV's cost through competition. This kind of thing should be illegal...............