I was looking to promote to the EBBL this season after having a very good time of it. I was looking forward to being able to build up my stadium, save up some money for a big time star, the works. After these changes, I'm really not so sure I can afford it or want to afford it.
My arena turned over $197,000 tonight in my play-off game and can (under current prices) turn over a maximum of $240,000 if sold out. If I promote, I can't earn more than $144,000 from my arena compared to in the region of $150,000-180,000 if I stay put.
This puts my weekly income, before cup games, at a maximum of $179,000 in the top flight and from $185,000 in Div II, including the frankly pathetic $35,000 weekly TV money.
I'm wondering if it's worth it to promote. Unless the promotion cash bonus is sizeable - in the hundreds of thousands of dollars - I have no financial motivation to promote and it may be worth camping in my current division.
Now, if you tell me that from next season I'll be able to sell out a 10,500 seater every week in the top division with my current fanbase, I'll be partially mollified, and then exasperated since I'll have to add 3,000 seats just keep earning at my current rate in the EBBL. Yes, the revenue sharing will decrease over time, but next season will really hurt.