Did a bit of financial analysis on the league. I compared avg gate receipts and current salary by team, and then used the league averages for merch/staff/infra/scouting, along with team-by-team adjustments for merch based on who is likely to have better or worse merch than the league average. It left me with some interesting takeaways and a big question about the sustainability of the top team in each conference...
The league on aggregate is in a better position financially this season than last. Last season, the league in totality was consistently running a deficit and I estimated that 8 of 16 teams were negative net income per week. That is likely in the 5-6 range this season, with fewer teams losing 50K+ a week.
There look to be 2 teams that are running drastic deficits: Alaska Alphas and NY Nugs. I estimate they are both losing around 70-100K a week depending on how high their merch is and how cheap they are going on staff/scouting. Are they prepared to lose another 500K+ the rest of the season to try and promote?? Looks like it given Alaska just upgraded to a more expensive big... but at least one of them will be left unsatisfied by the end of the season
EBW is killing us with his arena. Somehow he is racking up 400K a game which is closer to NBBA gate receipts than it is to a standard D2 gate receipt. Even though his team cracks 500K salary, he is comfortably making profit every week, I estimate ~50K. The promo bonus is treating him well, and he must have a good PR manager or a TV/Radio station.
Our 3 tanking teams (Finisher, Forza, Goofily) are comfortably making 100K+ a week, a few may even be at 150K+. Serene Wolves looks to be joining them after selling off 3 starters with 2 more on the TL.
White Mambas and EDH Wolves are both negative weekly profit while being more likely to be an underdog in a relegation series vs making the playoffs. I'd guess both will make some changes at some point, whether it is a full tank like Serene Wolves or just selling off 1 piece to reduce the wage bill.