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 cannot say with any certainty at all what causes these changes. OOTP game generated changes in Market Size are as follows:
Increase:
Crystal Lake moves from Big to Very Big.
Decrease:
None in 2033 - for the third straight year.
OOTP game generated changes in Fan Loyalty are as follows:
Increase:
Aurora moves from Above Average to Good
Florida moves from Good to Very Good
Decrease:
None in 2033
2. Financial Management Penalties
After some off and on debate over the past couple seasons, we will see a shift in the language below (in bold). 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 -$30,000,000 (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 -$40M 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:
There were no teams that finished in this category – that is promising.
Profit/Loss greater than -$30M:
Two teams fell into this category this year:
Charleston, who lost a whopping -$45.39M, but they are exempt due to the new GM rule
Shin Seiki, who lost -$31.27M - but they will be exempt, due to the information below – there is no ‘double-dipping’ allowed, so to speak.
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 2033 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 17th place in 2032, and will be getting their 2nd Market Size bump in 5-seasons: Fargo. The Dinosaurs rode their Sovereign League title to this benefit. They have earned themselves an increase in Market Size, from VERY BIG to HUGE. They are exempt from future out-game changes of Market Size for three years. Finishing 2nd was Toyama who receives a Loyalty (GOOD to VERY GOOD) boost. Finishing 3rd through 5th – but being exempt from changes were Florida (in-game change), Amsterdam (exempt from this for gaining this reward in 2032), and Neo-Tokyo (exempt from this for gaining this reward in 2031). Congrats to all of the Top 5 for an excellent season.
The bottom of the barrel included Crystal Lake, who were on the -Loyalty list in 2031, and Kentucky, who were on the -Loyalty list in 2032 - both are exempt. Two new teams join the bottom echelon: Bakersfield, who will lose a point of Loyalty (ABOVE AVERAGE to AVERAGE), and Hartford, who will be exempt with the arrival of a new GM. Shin Seiki, who's 2029 title exempted them from negative change for three seasons – finished in last with the lowest score over the past 6-seasons – just below the mark that Aurora set in 2029. As the Borealis can attest – Big expectations can be hard to meet. For the Evas, though, thanks to an in-game boost from Astronomical to Astronomical in a previous season, will remain Astronomical.
Lastly, 2033 Rodriguez Cup holder Florida is exempt from negative future change for three years, ending 2036. 2032 Champ West Virginia will be exempt from all negative changes for two more seasons and 2031 Champ San Juan will be exempt from all negative changes for one more season. Lastly, 2030 Champs West Virginia, who were made moot by the 2032 squad, would have timed out after this year.