BuzzerBeater Forums

I posted this in the help forum a couple months back but it didn't really get any traction so I am posting here as I feel it is definitely something that needs help. Due to the fact that a team does not have to pay salaries if they finish 5th place, there is an inhererent financial advantage to tanking to avoid 3rd or 4th place if you don't think your team can make a deep playoff run. Even if you manage to make a deep playoff run, playing all your games on the road probably puts you in a situation where you are losing money those two weeks. I do understand that finishing higher helps your fan survey and will boost your attendence the following season, but I am not convinced it is equal.

I have a potential solution and my apologies if it has been posted before. The NFL and MLB in the United States only pay their players' salaries during the regular season. If a team is fortunate enough to make the playoffs, the players receive a bonus depending on whether they lose the game/series and it is significantly lower than the salaries they earn during the regular season. Furthermore, it is funded out of a central account (i.e. the clubs don't pay it out of their operating budgets, though they have paid into the central fund at some point).

Here is my suggestion: Have playoff teams pay reduced salaries during the playoffs, maybe 25%-40% of their regular season payroll. This would effectively mimic what the clubs pay in to the central fund.

Definitely open to feedback here! I really enjoy this game and I am just trying to make it even better!

I've written something about it few weeks/months ago.

Basically I kind of agree with you.

There is a reason why it is best to finish as high as you can - it will affect your financial income from Arena at the next season, but I believe that it should be an additional to a direct financial outcome.

I understand your concern about offseason salaries and it's definitely unfair that a team that has struggled to get to that instance will be affected economically, but I think the suggestion should target an increase in ticket prices for all playoff game, which is more consistent with reality in any professional sports league.

Last edited by MrKid at 1/4/2012 11:12:11 PM

In my mind, how we even it out for the 3rd and 4th place finishers doesn't matter as long as it is evened out. Heck, if you finish 6th or 7th you are at least guaranteed a home game during the relegation series to help defray your salaries cost that week.

Don't disagree with your suggestion, just want to stress there are a lot of ways to to fix this and they probably are not all that difficult to implement.

I understand your concern about offseason salaries and it's definitely unfair that a team that has struggled to get to that instance will be affected economically, but I think the suggestion should target an increase in ticket prices for all playoff game, which is more consistent with reality in any professional sports league.

but if the bb are right, if we raise the po income the profit the succesfull team is much bigger then the income from the bottom teams which result that you could defend your top spot easily.

Good! I have been thinking and I consider my proposal would be workable and fair. That PO matches automatically be increased to double the ticket prices. For example, do the calculations in your specific case (USA III.9 / Big 8)

Arena 1st Big 8 http://www.buzzerbeater.com/team/23002/arena.aspx
Arena 4th Big 8 http://www.buzzerbeater.com/team/23486/arena.aspx

If
Total Revenue At home 1st Big 8 = 285250$
Total Revenue At home 4th Big 8 = 179210$

According to the rules

The revenue from ticket sales to playoff and relegation games is split: 2/3 for the home team and 1/3 for the visitors.

see in PO game

Proposal Actual	Seat	Arena 1st Big 8
24$	12$	12000	Bleachers
110$	55$	1250	Lower Tier
300$	150$	350	Courtside Seats
2000$	1000$	20	Luxury Boxes
-	-	13620	Total
288000$	144000$	-	Bleachers revenue
137500$	68750$	-	Lower Tier revenue
105000$	52500$	-	Courtside Seats revenue
40000$	20000$	-	Luxury Boxes revenue
-	285250$	-	Total Revenue 100 %
380333$	190167$	-	Revenue PO 1st Big 8 (2/3)
190167$	95083$	-	Revenue PO 4th Big 8 (1/3)

Then
Proposal
PO Profit 1st Big 8 (Sugesstion - At home) = (380333$ - 285250$) = 95083$
PO Profit 4th Big 8 (Sugesstion - At home) = (190167$ - 179210$) = 10957$

I think this is better than the current losses
Actually
PO Profit 1st Big 8 (Actual - At home) = (190167$ - 285250$) = -95083$
PO Profit 4th Big 8 (Actual - At home) = (95083$ - 179210$) = -84127$

Last edited by MrKid at 1/5/2012 12:40:36 PM

you forgot in the actual system the half home game in it, he get extra. Also the next season income, which makes him already earn more money then the fiifth placed team.

I also suppose there is an equity issue if you are lucky enough to play in a bigger arena on the road than other teams. The easiest approach is probably just to extend the no salaries rule to all teams when the playoffs start and keep the current revenue splits for the playoff and regulation games. That makes 5th place a disadvantage financially compared to 6th and 7th, but you don't have to worry about relegating so it is a fair trade in my mind.

Last edited by jista26 at 1/5/2012 12:52:10 PM

i think if you freeze the salarys for all then also freeze the income, cause the bonus isn't that low you get enxt season.

But freezed salares would lead to salaries monster with short term contracts on the teams, since no salary means actually no monster even when they loose money when they sell them again after the play offs.

Excellent point on the salary monster playoff rental. I suppose this points to the need to charge all teams to pay salaries if they are playing games that week, but tweaking what the teams receive for income during the playoffs. Maybe something similar to the cup format that you get a flat amount, only differences being it scales on based on division and both teams get something win or lose, with the home team getting more.

@GM-CrazyEye

but if the bb are right, if we raise the po income the profit the succesfull team is much bigger then the income from the bottom teams which result that you could defend your top spot easily.

Yes, but remember that the successful team of third division probably has significant disadvantages with respect to the second division to which it aspires. For their part it is logical that teams less sporting and economic are struggling should be affected in any format, maybe to descend...

@jista26

I also suppose there is an equity issue if you are lucky enough to play in a bigger arena on the road than other teams.

Usually teams leaders in the league have the largest stadium.