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:
The Amsterdam Lions were the only team to experience an in-game adjustment, with their Market Size moving upward from BIG to VERY BIG.
Decrease:
None in 2038
OOTP game generated changes in Fan Loyalty are as follows:
Increase:
None in 2038
Decrease:
None in 2038
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.
The past two seasons there were seven (2037) and six (2036) teams who finished with a negative total - this year there were 3 teams. Excellent! There were three teams that pushed the envelope, but whose owners bailed them out with some generosity that brought their balance to zero.
Consecutive, Increasing Negative Balance:
There were none in 2038. Great Job to all clubs.
Profit/Loss greater than -$30M:
There were two team that finished in this category.
Yuma lost -$35,222,754 this season, and choses to sell 3 FI points to 'buy out of' the Market Size penalty. Shin Seiki lost over -$41M, but will not be penalized for this - more below.
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 2038 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 is the 5th in 10-seasons to have won the title. The Toyama Wind Dancers parlayed their 2038 win in the PEC into a top P/L score - the second time the Win-D's have finished on top (2034), and have earned themselves an increase in Market Size (HUGE to ASTRONOMICAL). They are exempt from P/L market changes for three seasons. Finishing 2nd to 5th and gaining Loyalty boosts are the London Underground who receive a Loyalty (VERY GOOD to GREAT); Okinawa (VERY GOOD to GREAT); Niihama-shi (GOOD to VERY GOOD); and Amsterdam (GOOD to VERY GOOD). After last season seeing all of the Top Five teams being exempt from change, this year all five received their well earned rewards. Congrats to all of the Top 5 for an excellent season.
The bottom of the barrel includes Bakersfield and Havana, both of whom finished in the bottom five last season, with Bakersfield experiencing a drop in Loyalty; Havana was exempt. Havana will be eligible again next season, while the Bears will have another year of exemption. New Jersey and Neo-Tokyo also finished in the bottom five and received a drop in Loyalty. For the Akira it is a second drop in four seasons (ABOVE AVERAGE to AVERAGE), while the Hitmen drop from VERY GOOD to GOOD. Failing to make the playoffs for the 1st time in their PEBA history finished with the lowest score in the last 11-seasons. The Market Size drop (ASTRONOMICAL to HUGE) is the Evas 2nd drop in five seasons. They will be exempt for the next three seasons.
Lastly, 2038 Rodriguez Cup winner Toyama is exempt from negative future change for three years, extending through 2041. 2034 Champ Florida sees their exemption expire, Niihama-shi through 2039 and last seasons Champ, West Virginia is exempt through 2040.