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, we have one team who received an in-game increase - one that has been a long time coming:
Kentucky - AVERAGE to ABOVE AVERAGE
Decrease:
For the four straight years we had no in-game change, but this year, despite record attendance (4.88M+):
Niihama-shi - HUGE to VERY BIG
OOTP game generated changes in Fan Loyalty are as follows:
Increase:
Toyama moves from GOOD to VERY GOOD
The Wind Dancers will be ineligible for out of game Loyalty increases the next two next season.
Decrease:
None in 2035
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. As a matter of fact, only four teams finished with a negative total - one was close to the threshold (CST), the other three combined (NO, FAR, NJ) were just at about -$9M. Overall, an excellent job League-wide.
Consecutive, Increasing Negative Balance:
No teams fit this category, a bottom line of losing more in 2035 than they did in 2034, and only two teams had consecutive losing seasons - one whose loses in each were small (FAR), and the other who made huge strives moving in the right direction (NO).
Profit/Loss greater than -$30M:
There were two teams that finished in this category after there were none last season.
Charleston lost a whopping -$66M and as a result will lose a Market Size, going from ABOVE AVERAGE to AVERAGE.
Yuma lost -$32.7M, but as per the Constitution, they chose to sell 2 FI for $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 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 has been on the rise for a few seasons now, making big waves in the SL - culminating with a thrilling loss in the PEC: Kalamazoo. The Badgers have had four playoff appearances in the past five seasons with three Great Lakes title - including the last two, during that span. 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 was surprise IL wild card winner London who receives a Loyalty (GOOD to VERY GOOD) boost. Finishing 3rd and 4th – but being exempt from changes were Florida (in-game change in 2033), and Toyama, who likewise were exempt from this for gaining this reward in 2033. They will be eligible once more next season. Finishing a surprising 5th was San Antonio. The Calzones will also see a loyalty boost from GOOD to VERY GOOD. Congrats to all of the Top 5 for an excellent season.
The bottom of the barrel included Gloucester and New Jersey, who are exempt due to their expansion status. Fargo and Neo-Tokyo find themselves in the decreased loyalty zone for the first time (in recent memory, at least). The Dinosaurs will drop from EXTREME to GREAT, while the Akira move from GOOD to ABOVE AVERAGE. The Evas, despite continuing their amazing streak of playoff appearances, finished at the bottom of the Performance/Loyalty standings. Perhaps their five straight seasons not winning the Rising Sun and six seasons since their last Rodriguez Cup - coupled with a massive budget and not getting past the Divisional round of the playoffs the past four seasons, led to this result. Their fans have high expectations (the highest in the PEBA) - which will not change in 2036. The Evas finished at the bottom in 2033, and will be exempt from this change this season and next. Other perennial playoff teams have suffered this pattern of fate - perhaps there is a cautionary tale in there, somewhere.
Lastly, 2035 repeat Rodriguez Cup holder Florida is exempt from negative future change for three years, extending to 2038. 2032 Champ West Virginia has timed out after this year and will be eligible for a boost in 2036.