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:
After there being none in 2034, for the second straight season we have a team who received an in-game increase - and for the second time in a row:
Kentucky - ABOVE AVERAGE to VERY BIG
Decrease:
None in 2036
OOTP game generated changes in Fan Loyalty are as follows:
Increase:
West Virginia moves from GOOD to VERY GOOD
New Jersey moves from GOOD to VERY GOOD
The Alleghenies and Hitmen will be ineligible for out of game Loyalty increases the next two next season.
Decrease:
None in 2036
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.
Last year only four teams finished with a negative total - this year there were 7 teams, though a few were just on the bubble of even - on either side of that coin. There was no massive losses; two teams finished at -$9M, the worst, and both were teams that had high hopes and finished low. Overall, an excellent job League-wide.
Consecutive, Increasing Negative Balance:
No teams fit this category, a bottom line of losing more in 2036 than they did in 2035, and only one team had consecutive losing seasons - one whose loses in each were small (NO).
Profit/Loss greater than -$30M:
There was one team that finished in this category after there were none last season.
Arlington lost -$32.4M, but as per the Constitution, they chose to sell 1 FI for $2.5M and will move below the threshold and suffer no penalty.
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 2035 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 will not be a surprise to anyone. Aggressively building, from day one upon the club's planned return to the PEBA after exile to the WIL, and culminating with an exciting quasi-upset win in the PEC: Niihama-shi. The Ghosts were making their first ever PEBA playoff appearance - after two in the WIL and five in the League of the Rising Sun, their original home. 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 is the amazing Scottish Claymores who receive a Loyalty (GOOD to VERY GOOD) boost. Finishing 3rd – but being exempt from changes, was London (they got a boost last season and are ineligible next season). Reno, with their first Desert Hills crown since 2032 (and only their third) finished 4th and get a bump up from GOOD to VERY GOOD. They will be ineligible through 2038. Finishing 5th was Florida. The Farstriders will also see a loyalty boost from GOOD to VERY GOOD after being exempt the past two seasons. They will once more be ineligible through 2038. Congrats to all of the Top 5 for an excellent season.
The bottom of the barrel included New Jersey, who is exempt due to their expansion status - next season will not be so kind. Also exempt from a Loyalty drop is Crystal Lake, who saw a drop two seasons ago. They, too, will not be so lucky in 2037. Havana and Shin Seiki are the two teams at the bottom who will receive a decreased loyalty - Havana's first venture into the bottom of the barrel and for the Evas, it's their fifth straight bottom five finish. The Leones will drop from GOOD to ABOVE AVERAGE, while the Evas move from VERY GOOD to GOOD. Both teams will be exempt from negative Loyalty changes for two seasons. As surprising the top finish of the Ghosts may be, equally surprising is the last place finish of the Bakersfield Bears. Failing to make the playoffs for the 4th time in 5-seasons - and finish 5th in the 6-team Desert Hills could not help. Their fans have high expectations (the 7th highest in the PEBA) - which a massive market and high budget reinforce. We have seen this before - Aurora has finished last (twice, once exempt), Shin Seiki twice (once exempt), and Duluth twice after winning their lone Rodriguez Cup (exempt the first time because of their title/new GM). With the recent trend putting perennial playoff teams in peril - perhaps there is a cautionary tale in there, somewhere. For the Bears, hard work is ahead to avoid a second bottom finish in the near future.
Lastly, 2036 Rodriguez Cup winner Niihama-shi is exempt from negative future change for three years, extending through 2039. 2033 Champ Florida, thanks to their three-straight titles maintains exemption through 2038.
