1. OOTP in-game adjustments
We see game generated changes at the end of each season, and though I suspect their generation centers around much of what we examine, I can not say with any certainty at all what causes these changes. OOTP game generated changes in Market Size are as follows:
Increase:
There were no noted in-game changes to Market Size, though I did notice that at some point, not recorded by the Commish, West Virginia did pass into the Astronomical zone.
Decrease:
None in 2032 - for the second straight year.
OOTP game generated changes in Fan Loyalty are as follows:
Increase:
Havana moves from Good to Very Good
Decrease:
Arlington drops from Good to Above Ave
2. Financial Management Penalties
This has been a point of off and on debate in the past couple seasons, but no viable options to cause any change for this season. We will continue to consider the language and purpose of this, but for now:
Article IV of the Constitution, regarding Financial Management outlines the following penalties:
Cash Minimum:Constitution wrote:
- a) For every $5M below league cash minimum (-$35M) a team ends a season with, the team will lose a point of fan interest: -$40M is a point lost, -$45M is 2 points lost, etc.
- b) An additional fan interest penalty is also assessed to teams who end consecutive seasons with negative total cash and who have failed to make progress towards break-even. Consecutive seasons that move deeper into debt will trigger the penalty. Consecutive seasons that move towards solvency will not trigger a penalty.
- c) Teams that suffer losses in excess of -$25,000,000 (Season Profit/Losses figure) will also suffer a loss of one market size. Teams may chose to seek Owner-Provided Cash Relief to avoid this penalty (see below). Owner-Provided Cash Relief is capped at $10M – thus teams that suffer loses greater than -$35M will lose one Market size.
- d) 1st-year GMs shall be exempt from these penalties above, unless it is deemed by the Board that they are negligent in their handling of the team.
- e) Losses in excess of -$35,000,000 will be reviewed by the Board and could be grounds for dismissal from the league.
- f) Intentionally driving a team’s debt beyond the -$35,000,000 limit, such as by releasing multiple expensive contracts during one season, will be grounds for immediate dismissal, pending Board investigation.
There were no teams that finished in this category.
Consecutive, Increasing Negative Balance:
One teams fit this category, a bottom line of losing more in 2032 than they did in 2031, and this team loses a point of Fan Interest:
Madison (-9.1M in 2031, -$25.3M in 2032).
Profit/Loss greater than -$25M:
Two teams fell into this category this year:
Madison, who lost -$25.3M, barely falling into this category, but they will sell a point of FI to retain a point of Market Size.
Kalamazoo, who lost -$26.8M - but they will sell a point of FI to retain a point of Market Size.
3. Performance Based Market/Fan Loyalty Adjustments
The PEBA also looks at Fan Expectations and Team performance as it relates to Loyalty and Market Size, and we used the same rubric and formula that we have since 2028. As stated by the Constitution:
As such, the idea is a team goes into a season with Expectations, and those are based on Market size (larger Market, more expectations), Budget size (spend more money, more is expected), and your record over the past 5-seasons and play-off appearances over the past 10-seasons - playoff spots carry a little more fan hope over the long-term. A team's results are measure against League averages to create an Expectation score. Like-wise, a team is graded on their current performance - in essence, did you meet expectations? A performance score is determined similarly to the Expectation score, using 2032 Final Record, Division Standing and Playoff finish (all teams receive a minimal score of 1). The difference between Performance and Expectation is your score. The results are below.Constitution wrote:
- A team’s performance has the potential to affect its fan loyalty and market size. Since expectations are different in different markets, each team will be reviewed based on the expectations for their market. Teams with the largest markets and largest budgets will have the greatest expectations. Teams in smaller markets with smaller budgets will have lesser expectations. Teams will be awarded or penalized based on how they fared against those expectations.
- The team that exceeds expectations by the greatest amount will receive a market size increase. The next 4 teams who most exceeded expectations will see a fan loyalty increase.
- The team that performs the worst against expectations will see a market size decrease. The next 4 teams who most faltered against expectations will see a fan loyalty decrease.
- Expectations will be based on market size, team budget, playoff appearances in the last ten seasons, and team record over the last 5 seasons. Points are awarded/subtracted based on team record, place in division, playoff appearance, and winning a championship.
- A minimum of 2 years must pass between fan loyalty changes, and a minimum of 3 years must pass between market size changes. Winning a PEBA championship makes a team exempt from market size/fan loyalty drops for the next 3 years.
This year's team that garnered the highest score jumped from 2nd place in 2031, and is not too much of a surprise: Kalamazoo. The Badgers have been on a nice rise the past two season. They have earned themselves an increase in Market Size, from BELOW AVERAGE to AVERAGE. They are exempt from future out-game +changes of Market Size for three years. Finishing 2nd - 5th were Reno (ABOVE AVERAGE to GOOD), Amsterdam (VERY GOOD to GREAT), San Juan (GOOD to VERY GOOD), and Neo-Tokyo (exempt from this for gaining this reward in 2031), and they receive a Loyalty boost. They will be exempt for two years, Congrats to all of the Top 5 for an excellent season.
The bottom of the barrel included Niihama, who as an expansion team, and Arlington, who not only lost loyalty in-game this season, but was on the lose Loyalty list in 2031 - both are exempt. Two new teams join the bottom echelon and lose a point of Loyalty: Kentucky (GOOD to ABOVE AVERAGE) and Shin Seiki, who's 2029 title exempts them from negative change for three seasons - this is season three. Kentucky will be exempt for two seasons. Rounding out the list, at #28 is Aurora. The Borealis have been a team in flux over the past four seasons - despite their PEC appearance in 2030, but they suffered a Market Size hit in 2029, and this is their last year of exemption, so they do not suffer a penalty. Next year could be a different story for Aurora. A continued drop in Budget, Win% and 3 years in 4 of missing the playoffs may dampen expectations in 2033 (we hope).
Lastly, 2032 Rodriguez Cup holder West Virginia is exempt from negative future change for three years, ending 2035. 2031 Champ San Juan will be exempt from all negative changes for two more seasons. 2030 Champ West Virginia will be exempt from all negative changes for one more seasons - but this made moot by this years title. Lastly, 2029 Champs Shin Seiki have timed out on their exemption and will be eligible for change next year.
