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:
None in 2034
Decrease:
None in 2034 - for the fourth straight year.
OOTP game generated changes in Fan Loyalty are as follows:
Increase:
Aurora moves from Good to Very Good
Florida moves from Good to Very Good
Kentucky moves from Good to Very Good
Shin Seiki moves from Good to Very Good
These four teams will be ineligible for out of game Loyalty increases next season.
Decrease:
None in 2034
2. Financial Management Penalties
As per The Constitution:
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:
Four teams fit this category, a bottom line of losing more in 2034 than they did in 2033, and these teams lose a point of Fan Interest:
New Orleans (-7.9M in 2033, -$28.7M in 2034)
Okinawa (-4.8M in 2033, -$9.4M in 2034)
San Antonio (-8.5M in 2033, -$14.2M in 2034)
San Juan (-17.8M in 2033, -$20.0M in 2034).
Profit/Loss greater than -$30M:
There were no teams that finished in this category.
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 2034 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 didn't have far to go - finishing 2nd in 2033: Toyama. Like the Dinosaurs in 2033. the Wind Dancers 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 Kalamazoo who receives a Loyalty (VERY GOOD to GREAT) boost. Finishing 3rd through 5th – but being exempt from changes were Florida (in-game change in 2033-34), Amsterdam and Reno, who were exempt from this for gaining this reward in 2032. They will be eligible once more next season. 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 once more are eligible for the deduction, and Bakersfield, who were on the -Loyalty list in 2033 and are exempt. Shin Seiki, who were except for one last season, and Hartford, who will be exempt with the arrival of a new GM, fill out the Loyalty loser list. Palm Springs finished in last as a result of an unusually poor season. The Codgers 59-103 mark was the worst in team history - matching the 2017 club that finished 37 games behind the eventual champion Bakersfield Bears. This was Palm Springs fourth consecutive losing season after winning the Desert Hills title for the first time in 2030. Their Market size will drop from Huge to Very Big.
Lastly, 2034 repeat Rodriguez Cup holder Florida is exempt from negative future change for three years, extending to 2037. 2032 Champ West Virginia will be exempt from all negative changes for one more seasons and 2031 Champ San Juan has timed out after this year.