NFL Lockout 'Near Certainty' Next Season, DeMaurice Smith Says

Bloomberg:

The executive director of the National Football League players union said a player lockout next season is a "near certainty," and that it would cost the U.S. economy an estimated $5 billion in lost wages, taxes and other revenue if the entire season is canceled.

In an interview on "Political Capital With Al Hunt" airing this weekend on Bloomberg television, union chief DeMaurice Smith said if NFL owners lock out players in order to get concessions in a labor dispute, it would be devastating to local communities as the country struggles with a 9.6 percent unemployment rate.

Read the whole story: Bloomberg

Comments

[Edogg62]

06:34 PM on 11/29/2010

I think people are so sick of the greed in pro sports at this point, that any work stoppage, strike or lockout seriously threatens the gravy train they've ALL been feeding upon for the last 20 years or so. The money is ALREADY vulgar... players and owners alike, sorry ESPN... so as they say, billionaires fighting millionaires over a few extra bucks for the chosen 1% of each team's roster isn't going to sit well with any fans that still have a brain stem. I personally have been obsessed with the NFL since the early-to-mid 70s, but with year I grow more and more tired of it all and less obsessed. A lock-out could just be the knockout blow for my passion for wasting 16-20 Sundays a year in front of the tube...

[chiodo08]

01:50 PM on 11/29/2010

zzzzzzzz....I'm sure there is something better I can do on my Sundays than support rich brats

[angrymanspokane]

10:46 AM on 11/29/2010

Union thugery and fearmongering, only this time working for the benefit of millionaires. Wow! If these guys have the audacity go on strike, count me out as a fan.

[chiodo08]

01:51 PM on 11/29/2010

see ya...nobody really gives a s*** about you anyway...just sayin

[samuraifrog37]

07:31 PM on 11/28/2010

Bad for economy and Football. The good news is...THE BEARS BEAT THE EAGLES today. Great game.

[rbchilds]

03:30 PM on 11/28/2010

Since most cities own the stadiums and have modified them for the teams, I say the cities should sue the Players, Union and Team Owners for failure to perform.

Nice to see the players union putting margionally paid stadium workers out of a job, Unions for America, yea right.

[LCDTV]

08:09 PM on 11/28/2010

the players are willing to play; they are willing to honor their contract. it is the owners who are locking out the players from playing. it is the owners putting margionally paid stadium workers out of a job, Big business for America, yea right.
you do not read much.

[ChrisInAR]

01:36 AM on 11/29/2010

IF they are willing to play, then PLAY! Come to terms w/ the owners & get on w/ it. Like President Obama said, there comes a time when some people have earned way too much money...& the NFL players & their union passed that point YEARS ago.

[Y2KCockroach]

02:44 PM on 11/28/2010

I don't see this as quite the problem that the union suggests. Yes, there will be economic dislocation for many businesses that feed off the games, but most people will find other ways to spend their entertainment dollars and much of that money is going to flow into those communities just the same. For example, I normally buy tickets for two games each season here in Seattle, but I will just use that money to take my wife to dinner instead. The idea of spending a few nights over candlelight, enjoying conversation with my wife will surely blunt the "pain" of not watching the Seahawks a few times....

[rbchilds]

03:31 PM on 11/28/2010

And those people who work the games for income will do what?

[Y2KCockroach]

07:08 PM on 11/28/2010

I did not mean to be dismissive of the people and the businesses that rely upon the games in order to make their financial bottom line (I had tried to recognize that in the second sentence of my earlier post). However, the premise of the article above was in the NFLPA's position that the various cities would lose massive revenues during a strike. My point was in response to that. I don't argue that many individuals and businesses will feel dislocation (of course they will), but my point is that the consumer dollars will by and large continue to flow into those communities, even during a strike. In other words, people will continue to spend their discretionary entertainment dollars in the community, even if they don't spend them on football games. This is also the dirty little secret that the NFL owners dont want you to know, when they come begging for taxpayer funded stadiums.

What is bad for the NFL and spin-off businesses is actually good for other local restaurants, theaters, clubs, sports venues, etc. I don't mean to suggest that it is a "zero-sum equation", but it is not nearly as bad as the NFLPA would suggest.

[constitutional 1]

09:12 AM on 11/28/2010

Replacement players should make for a fun season. Bring on Falco

[LCDTV]

08:13 PM on 11/28/2010

there will be no replacement players. this is a lock out; not a strike. the owners are prevent football from being played. the players are willing to play under contract that the owners have signed. there will be no picket line to cross. the doors will be locked by the owners.

[grayflannelsuit]

12:28 AM on 11/28/2010

Damn, if only the XFL could've held on a little longer they'd be in prime position to capitalize on this.

[Billy Mays]

10:15 PM on 11/27/2010

For me the strikes have killed baseball and hockey. Now football and basketball look to go down the same road and screw their fans. I wont come back and support these sports and my favorite teams if they do. They don't care so why should I? College football and basketball will do just fine!

[kaylayuh]

12:28 PM on 11/28/2010

This isn't the first NFL lockout. The last one was in the late 1980s. I believe it may have been 1989.

[LCDTV]

08:15 PM on 11/28/2010

there is not much press about the NBA shutdown. that is serious also.

[ChrisInAR]

01:39 AM on 11/29/2010

Screw them, too....& I'm an NBA fan.

[calloy]

09:02 PM on 11/27/2010

i can't believe these millionaires/billionaires are going to be dumb enough to do this again.

[ChrisInAR]

01:44 AM on 11/29/2010

I can: it's called GREED....capitalist greed.

Sports teams should be taken over by the State. We need to have a federal Department of Sports, & the price of tickets will depend on income & political affiliation.

[jayquintana]

05:19 PM on 11/27/2010

Whether one sides with the owners or players, one thing is certain ... the biggest losers will be the fans. Again. Tickets, parking, concessions, apparel, cable TV ... all of their fees will go up.

[sqeptiq]

02:48 PM on 11/27/2010

Will conservatives sympathize with the players because they worship rich people, or oppose them out of hatred for unions? Tough call!

[Almightynick]

10:30 PM on 11/27/2010

Ill oppose them for hatred of all those that try to prevent me from watching football

[ChrisInAR]

01:48 AM on 11/29/2010

The good folks are damned no matter what they do, aren't they?

[vesaversa1]

02:06 PM on 11/27/2010

What?! No football in 2012? Stop the NFL from locking out players and destroying local economies: http://bit­.ly/cRxlk

And on that note it is time for football beer subs and chicken wings and then more beer and football .Good day HP

[ladyvader]

06:10 PM on 11/27/2010

No football next year. Maybe 2012 too, but I see a deal getting done before that happens.

[dbishop76]

01:06 PM on 11/27/2010

College football will still be around.

[SquealingPig]

12:53 PM on 11/27/2010

Ricky Henderson cured me of Baseball . .
This Strike could cure me of Football, Life Long Fan . .
BUT!!! . . Whinney Millionaires just Rub Me the Wrong Way . .

[ChrisInAR]

01:50 AM on 11/29/2010

Nancy Pelosi comes to mind, doesn't it?