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

[Orleanian In Exile]

Originally Posted by gridironpainter

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 doubt if there was any sort of agenda to the spectacle. Probably it was a last-minute decision to throw in an electric football segment to Costas' show and it was slapped together in a hurry, by people who really had no idea of the most basic methods to get controlled play with figures even if they're just mounted on rookie bases. It is certain that there was not an experienced gameplayer advising Costas' production crew or Costas. Most likely, they proceeded in ignorance and went with the assumptions of electric football being an "unplayable" game with figures that either just fell over or spun in circles, and of course they would have no idea how to properly adjust the board. Ignorance and haste are the likely culprits here.

[mklingbeil]

This is perhaps the most entertaining and intellectual discussion this or any other EF message board has ever seen. Honestly, all talking points were very articulate, well-thought out, and in my mind...right on the money!

Thanks for a good read all!
Mark

[NEW CASTLE HiTMEN]

Unfortunetly, when people think about football they think about the NFL. WHEN our hobby starts growing the NFL will step in and shut us down without a license. Thats why I have always said that as a member we should be able to create and possibly sell our own teams. I dont want to make this a rule but rather a snub to the NFL. Use what you want to use but when the stuff hits the fan we can tell the NFL that we use our own teams. The business Associates then can use these teams to promote their figures, fields and decals. I know I am but just think that while we are promoting, people can also be creating. THE MFCA LEAGUE.

[jimmie]

The NFL is why most coaches play I dont many coaches want and will play with fantasy teams.The NFL is the big star here they have the product!!

[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...