Thoughts on NFL Licensing

[gridironpainter]

I read a comment by Jimmie in another thread about how if the NFL walked into the convention, everyone would be in trouble for not having a license. I started thinking about how much the NFL license is what allowed Tudor/Miggle to promote the hobby. It was when miggle made the NFL teams that they had the market over all the other EF companies. Now that Miggle has lost thier liscence, the support for miggle is falling (it seems).

I saw Bob Costas act like a fool on a game day show a couple of years ago trying to run an electric football board. They obviously had the board set way to fast, the players had to have been adjusted intentionally to run soor poorly ,and he was making it seem like a pathetic game. Did any of you see that show? There was an obvious bias by the producers to minimize electric football in the eyes of viewers. That was shortly before Miggle lost the liscense. I say this because there was an obvious agenda. My question is what was that agenda?

I think the NFL is so concerned with image now that they shut down anything they see as potentially negative. Think about the percieved negativity from thousands of kids getting a miggle board that needs adjustments, bases that are sporadic and need tweaking, and QB/kickers that take many hours, if not years to master. Those kids will get frustrated thier parents get angry about spending about $100 on the game that doesn't work, and the retailers get a bunch of returns. The NFL then decides they don't want the bad publicity.

The thing is, we all have learned to make adjustments and the hobby fixes the flaws in the game, and if the NFL did happen to walk in, they might see that there is a good potential in this.

My point to all of this is, how does the NFL set a price for a liscence? Is it set at $100,000 like I read on the Miggle forum? Or are there different levels based on production? What eventually needs to happen is someone gets a new NFL license that can operate as a parent company to all of the small ones. I seemed like Miggle tried that, with Electric Gridiron facemasks, Proline figures, etc. And, I have no idea what all went on in those arrangements, but I think that type of arrangement is what would make the hobby grow. Or, would there be anyway for the MFCA to obtain a liscense that allows members to operate under. What are your thoughts on this?

If this has been discussed before I appologize for not knowing of it.

Thanks,
Michael

[NATIONAL]

Originally Posted by Eightball

If the NFL was worried about bad publicity and its affect on children they wouldn't have let Michael Vick back in. It's all about the Benjamins, nothing more or less.

I think it's all about the dollars as well.

The NFL shut down that show about the football team...I think it was on ESPN or HBO, but they said it gave them a bad image. I really liked that show. I forget the name of it.

ESPN has done shows on our game (thanks to Miggle) The Nissan commericial (Thanks LAEFL) is the best piece done on electric football in my opinion. So the sport/hobby has been shown in a good light.

MF is chess, most people like checkers.....it's quick and fast. You have to grow into an appreciation on lining your players up, and in 6 seconds do it all over again & again & again.

Promotion is the key!

Nat'l

[Silverhorse 228]

Madden 10 is checkers! I bought the game and although it is very fun to play...it is two diminsional. Don't get me wrong...I love video games...I am a 'gamer', but MF gives football the dimension it deserves...3D hands on.

Maybe if we got 100 guys to send in $1,000 each then the MFCA could purchase a NFL license. Sound nutts! Well...maybe a little...but just sit down and figure out how much money everyone spends on airline tickets, hotel rooms, figures, boards...etc...and it does not sound so 'out there'.

We are working on getting this game to the masses...it might take some time...but WE WILL PREVAIL!

It is all about perserverance!

If the hobby is not strong enough to stand on its own merit, then its demise is a certainty. I personally believe that while the NFL relationship was valuable in the past and for most of us nostalgic, it is no longer of any value. In fact, tying in with the NFL would in many ways constrict the potential growth of the hobby. In my mind the game stands on its own, especially if folks embrace the value in creating and promoting their own personal teams. The way I see it, if you were fortunate enough to raise $100,000 in this community, there are a lot better ways to spend it than on an NFL license.

[Coach Rip]

, ..........the $100, 000 is JUST for the license. Then some poor fool would be obligated to Stock 64 varieties of nfl teams, ( home and road uniforms) and some won't buy them because they are not in the particular variety they want.........ie. "I want the Rams in blue pants, not the gold you have in stock..."
minimum runs on a per team would be 1000, ................that's 64,000 team sets, .....and just how soon would he sell out of those??????

1000 x $$ x 64 = a frickin' lot of $$$$$$$

[roller]

We dont need no stinkin' NFL!

Just a little variation on Blazing Saddles...

[MplsTom]

The NFL sets high prices on licensing because they want to ensure that people using their brand are serious and reliable.

They don't want a mom & pop with a "cool idea" but then diminish the brand with poor service, not enough capital, etc...so they insist on a minimum of years in the business (i.e. printing materials would need to be a printer with a minimum of X dollars in business and 2 yrs experience), etc.

Like it or not, they have a valuable commodity and can afford to be picky in protecting their brand. The whole issue of brand management is serious stuff...look at the last campaign. Regardless of your political affiliation, you never saw anything from the Obama campaign that wasn't in the prescribed font, look, etc. Many marketing experts have commented on how well they managed their brand throughout the campaign as it convyed the image of being in control.

A manufacturer with either some pockets or sponsorship dollars is what it would take...we're below the radar and we're hobbyists. For the most part the NFL leaves us alone, but occasionally they do send "messages" via some of the niche vendors just to let us know who is in charge.

The info given here is quite accurate, albeit just the tip of the iceberg. The NFL is the NFL and we are not. That is the long and the short of it. It would take deep pockets and a solid, existing market share to get a license from them.

On another issue, I have frequently read in past posts where people have said "the NFL should thank us for promoting their product(s). We are doing them a favor." As far as they and common sense are concerned, nothing could be farther from the truth. THEY (the nfl and the ncaa) are billion dollar businesses. That is Billion with a B. They spend hundreds of millions of dollars for their promotions. Those promotions are executed by paid professionals. I know of no one in this hobby that works for a production or marketing company at that level. So, as far as they are concerned, we are not qualified to promote, let alone legally licensed to do so. When we step on their toes and refuse to say "sorry," we become a pain in their butts. That is not a smart method in attempting to show or to get their support. It is better to have them shake our hands than to force them to feel like they need to shake us (the community) up. "Don't poke the friggin bear."

Some, if not a lot, of us knew these things quite some time ago. That is the reason that I agreed to get on-board with the development of the High Voltage League. All founders, including myself, agreed to form a venue independent of big ticket licensing entities (nfl, ncaa, etc.). We can take the show where ever we choose, without licensing restrictions. Each coach has complete ownership and intellectual property rights (at the very least) over the team(s) they have created.

Getting an NFL or NCAA license eventually (if not immediately) requires doing what they want done, they way they want it done. We, the NHFL, have been and will continue to do things they way we want them done. No permission(s) required. Much the same can be said for the MFCA. It too is without big ticket licensing restrictions.

I am a big football fan, including both the NFL and the NCAA. I would love to see either or both lift us up. But we (the hobby at large) have stepped on their toes so often I doubt it's gonna happen again without a LOT of reform.

I am by no means saying one way is better than they other. But when it comes to getting things done, we have a choice on which way we want to roll. Personally, I prefer to roll without licensing restrictions whenever possible. Plus I can not afford to pay the fee to roll down their tracks, in their direction, at their speed. And for what? Under those circumstances, I like the way I'm rollin' just fine.

All that said, it sure would benefit US if we had a better relationship with both the NFL and the NCAA. We certainly need them more they ever need or needed us. But as Rich stated, the hobby can and should stand on its own. I.E., as an independent entity. Or not......

-Mike Pratt

[jimmie]

Most of this info about the NFL license thier are all kinds of wierd things that have NFL License Miggle didnt renew thier license it wasnt worth it anymore!!The NFL is most popular with MF not fantasy teams I wouldnt play anymore if I couldnt play with the lions and bears.That company that sold the game would have made more teams if the game had made them money, they got out because of the cost it! didnt sell as good as they hoped.The best days of this game is gone it is what it is!!Come up with the money you can get a NFL license.

[larue]

Nuts to the NFL they could care less about this hobby or the people in it.
Unless it's a big time company like Nike or Sony attaching an NFL logo on ther products the NFL behemoth is not interested.Tell them to shove their license and the rest of their greed driven merchandise.
The NFL is not fan friendly or Super Bowl ticket prices would not be so high that only Donald Trump and other corporate fat ****** shmoozers can see the game and God forbid the team with the best record gets to play at home because the cigar chomping money bags might get cold toes.
The NFL picking on little guys selling plastic football figures for a few bucks a bag shows just how greedy they are ,it's like the Marines going after someone running a garage sale because they didn't pay taxes.
Do it this way guys,support S I Warehouse,Miggle,Figures.net and all the rest
who are trying to make an honest buck selling EF stuff.........
If we can raise $100,000.00 then lets use it to order a mother load of
figures and paint till our arms fall off.......and nuts to the NFL bully.
Larue