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:
The Shin Seiki Evas were awarded an increase of Market size, from Astronomical to Astronomical+1
Decrease:
None in 2031
OOTP game generated changes in Fan Loyalty are as follows:
Increase:
Duluth moves from GOOD LOYALTY to VERY GOOD. Tempe moves from AVERAGE to ABOVE AVERAGE
Decrease:
None in 2031
2. Financial Management Penalties
This has been a point of debate in the past few days, but too late 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 was only one team that finished with greater than $40M worth of debt, and that is Arlington. The Bureaucrats nearly were nicked the 1 point penalty two years ago, and last year they finished $65.621M in the red, resulting in a -6 FI. This year they improved, though still -$45M, earning a 2 FI penalty. A lesson about bad contracts is in here somewhere.
Consecutive, Increasing Negative Balance:
One teams fit this category, a bottom line of losing more in 2031 than they did in 2030, and this team loses a point of Fan Interest:
Florida (-1.16M in 2030, -$27.3M in 2030)
Profit/Loss greater than -$25M:
Two teams fell into this category this year:
Florida, who lost -$27.3M, but they will sell a point of FI to retain a point of Market Size.
London, who lost -$25.61M - barely falling into this category, 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 2030 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 5th place in 2030, and is not a surprise: San Juan. The Coquis put together a fabulous run through the playoffs and has been on the cusp for the past two seasons, culminating with this years Rodriguez Cup. They have earned themselves an increase in Market Size, from AVERAGE to ABOVE AVERAGE. They are exempt from future out-game +changes of Market Size for three years. Finishing 2nd - 5th were Kalamazoo (GOOD to VERY GOOD), Fargo (exempt from this for gaining this reward in 2029), New Orleans (GOOD to VERY GOOD), and Neo-Tokyo (VERY GOOD to GREAT), 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 Florida, who was on the lose Loyalty list in 2030, and Arlington, who was on the 2029 list - both are exempt. Two new teams join the bottom echelon and lose a point of Loyalty: Aurora (GOOD to ABOVE AVERAGE) and Crystal Lake (GOOD to ABOVE AVERAGE). Both will be exempt for two seasons. Rounding out the list, at #28 is Duluth. The Warriors have had their struggles of late, but they suffered a Market Size hit in 2028, and this is their last year of exemption, so they do not suffer a penalty. Next year could be a different story for Duluth.
Lastly, 2031 Rodriguez Cup holder San Juan is exempt from future change for three years, ending 2034. 2030 Champ West Virginia will be exempt from all negative changes for two more seasons, 2029 Champs Shin Seiki is exempt into 2032, and 2028 Champ Fargo have timed out on their exemption and will be eligible next year.
