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-   -   The business side (https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com//showthread.php?t=283217)

Foppa21 11-24-2017 02:35 PM

The business side
 
A little of the following I have already written on other contributions. I would like to take up these thoughts again here, bring them together and continue some suggestions for inspiration and discussion. For the following the approach that not everything has to control by the GM is essential in my view. Therefore there could be assistants like in real life, assistant GM, assistant marketing manager, assistant community manager and so on. The CPU then would handle this for all the computer controlled franchises anyway, so everybody can chose which aspect of the game everyone wants to deepen. Or there is the possibility to restrict one or another function similar to use the GM-mode only or simulate some but not all possible leagues. That means the game remains also playable without newly business and other ideas. My focus is essentially the current NHL. I would love it, if the business/attendance/arena side would be more complex in the future by a bigger package as Jeff mentions earlier. I am very excited what exactly it will become. Thanks for reading!

Foppa21 11-24-2017 02:35 PM

Finance

The GM gets more opportunities to negotiate TV or internet contracts, merchandising offers, side fence advertising etc. Different offers of the companies depend on market size, success, number of crowd pleaser or star player on the team (four to five stars, personal successes of players depend on trophies and so on), and phase of the team (rebuilding, contender). The success of these deals influences the player payroll specifications of the owner. There could be different owner types, some donate everything or the most to the teams and others want the maximum amount of the money. Revenues could also play a bigger role of the further development of facilities and as invest in the community.

Foppa21 11-24-2017 02:36 PM

Attendance and Facilities

The GM could fix the price of games and food and drinks or merchandising articles during game days. For example, different categories at the arena have different prices, such as luxury boxes, business seats and simple seats. Recoverable prices could depend on market size, success, star player on the team, opponent (rivalries) and willingness to travel abroad from the opponent fans, condition of the arena, loyalty of the fans, popularity of coach and management and so on. The revenues could have an influence on the specifications of the owner for the team budget and on further budget for the maintenance of the facilities.

Some franchises are only tenants and others own the facility and haven more possibilities to design the facilities and develop them freely. Owned facilities can be expanded like little more seats but especially better seating comfort, mainly equipment as larger HD video cubes, workplaces for media with fast internet, wlan for fans, tv screens in the outdoor areas, number and scope of the care facilities as WC, snack bars and so on. Tenants are dependent on willingness and attitude of the lessor. Best example maybe the Islanders, which not quite so happy with their leased facility and now plan a new construction of their own.

Facility maybe must be also renovated time by time. The condition of facilities could deteriorate with increasing time depending on the number of uses. That means if there are more games because of seasonally playoff games or other users such as basketball franchises then the time could be reaching faster. Seats, WC, changing rooms, media, everything uses of or is not anymore state of the art. (Predictive) Maintenance has an impact on achievable prices for the games. After twenty years or so the discussion of a new main building is thrown from management, media and fans. Duration and success depends on the attitude of the market to the existing one, sizes of the media market and settings of the politics (elections) and so on. See also the current discussions in Calgary or Ottawa.

The Arena environment could be also important for the loyalty of fans, training success, for the development of prospects, recovery of players. That means size and equipment of training and medicine facilities and facilities for fans (club room, charity events, fan rinks etc.).

The reachability of the arena could also have an effect of the utilization and on the pricing. Arenas with connection to the public transfer system need less parking slots and so on. The whole could also reflect the culture of the region, in some regions public transport is preferred by the fan basis, others prefers their own cars. Maybe it is possible for the GM to come to an agreement with the local public transport cooperation – one dollar fee of each ticket - so that clearly less parking slots must be built and maintain. Of course this could also have an effect on the advertising readiness of car manufactures on the one hand and rather something different oriented businesses on the other hand.

Champions League in the expansion of the finance influences and controls would be natural if such topics as the impact of the fluctuating Canadian dollar on the Canadian markets would be programmed, such as influences on the team budget or the starting of discussions on relocation at a falling Canadian dollar. But that would probably be something for FHM23 or so ;-)

Foppa21 11-24-2017 02:36 PM

Community and Environment

Player which becomes involved in the community could increase the perception of the franchise or the fan loyalty which leads to more spectators, higher revenues of merchandising, tv contracts and so on. Not all players are suitable for this purpose, have the appropriate mindsets or the personalities, not all GMs consider this equally important. Also this have a massive impact in some markets, in others this cannot do much, which could depend on the basic attitude of the market.

The organization of the financially participation (provision of player equipment, training facilities) on junior teams or tournaments slowly but also could sustainable broadens the fan basis over time; which depend of course also on the maximum market size. Franchise maybe could also initiate special hockey programs for the promotion of young people. All this could have positive effect in different areas but of course cost resources, not every owner or GM is there equally committed and not for every GM, franchise the reputation increases and so on. Good reputation has also effect on free agents liabilities, satisfaction of the players and staff with their environment. The satisfaction with the environment and the appeal of a city or region could be also depending on the geographic region. Some people loves snow in the winter, others prefers sunshine the whole year. Of course, such effects are rather subordinate at negotiations, but at comparable offers from two or more franchise can this make the difference. Maybe the GM must offer a little more than another GM to finalize the contract if the preferences of the player are not matching perfect with the city or region.

Foppa21 11-24-2017 02:37 PM

Events

Outdoor games become a permanent event in several leagues, such as Winter Classic or Stadiums Series Games in the NHL. Such an event could electrify a fan base, renew old rivalries or celebrate special franchise achievements with positive effects on media reports and greater chances of successful tv contracts, merchandising revenues, growing fan basis and so on. It is conceivable that the GM must search for allies around the league, at sponsors and media and then have to advertise at the commissioner and players association for example. Some franchises have it easier to find allies, depend on market environment, fan base, existing rivalries, league affiliation and so on. The league has also preferences for some franchises. That means that traditional or very big or successful markets have a higher probability to get such an event.

For such an event there are also new functionalities at the team control screen imaginable. A football or baseball stadium and fan areas must be made fit with several weeks in advance. Which players are turned off for an interview or a home story to fuel the interest and sell out a 50.000 or 80.000 people stadium? Which prevoius events can be organized? Alumni Games?

Other events could be the banner rising after a successful season or if a deserved player has retired. Such events also cause special attention at the fan base or at the media.

In addition league events can also have an effect on some or all franchise. For example, hundred years of the NHL was celebrated the whole year.

Foppa21 11-24-2017 02:37 PM

Media

Maybe there are also various news channels in the future with different stuff or differently edited. Like everything for the game day around "Hockey Night in Canada", rather serious at newspaper, press conferences and so on, quick and dirty or linguistically different for other target groups at social media. Every franchise/GM can set different balance points, dependent on the composition of the local fan basis, local media and so on. Depending on the market, own efforts to the media have an influence on revenues, tv contracts, merchandising and so on. Of course, the fun costs too, depending on the activities. Not always big expenses lead to positive effects. During the recording of dozen social media platforms with maybe two staff members could lead to confusion of the own activities such as negative comments of the social media posters not be noticed in time, the **** storm with all the negative effects is there. Additionally some of the players, staff member are media affine or extrovert others are rather shy. Depending on the media market and fan basis, more of the one type or the other type is good for the media work.

Foppa21 11-24-2017 02:38 PM

Camps and summer training

Next to the main training camp, it would be great if there is also a development camp for the prospects. The GM can additionally invite not drafted young players which are no longer available for the draft. And of course GMs can give them entry level contracts if they are good enough. GMs get also a good idea which prospects should be invited for main camp and which prospects could be send straightway to their junior teams or to college or to Europe.

For the main camp try out contracts would be a good option to test one or the other player without immediately placing full-time contracts. This can also be an option to stimulate the competition for some roster spots. That works of course not for all spots, more likely for the bottom six or the seventh defender or so. In addition it depends on the personal characteristics of the players. Some can be taken out from behind the stove, for others more competition decreases the performance. Maybe they are not so mental stable and need a more comfortable environment for themselves, more verbal support and spot safety.

It would not be bad either if the GM would get a message before the camps in which shape the players are – maybe as the result of the physical test day. Players should come in different conditions from their mostly individual summer training. Some players are training champions, others are rather lazy, younger players could manage a heavier workload and develop faster in more areas, older players rather do a fewer amount but work more targeted and so on. The staff should get a better idea what needs to be worked on at training camp. Maybe some players need some extra training sessions.

Before the next summer, the training staff could also give tasks to the players for preparation to the next training camp. What role is being considered for the player, at what aspects should the player work on and so on. As above some players will do that well and achieve good results over the summer, others make their own thing and improve in other areas as the staff wished.

Foppa21 11-24-2017 02:38 PM

Trades

I don’t know if it is rarely clear what the AI is doing long term. I think every franchise should have a plan for the near or longer future. This means concrete needs. How will the team build for the season? What will be addressed when things are not going well? The needs could be depend on the situation of the franchise, if they are a contender, gaps will be filled on the roster short term with best aged players, maybe with top players which start to decline. These GMs maybe tended to overpay for short term success. If the franchise is in a rebuild mode they rather look long term and fill gaps with young talents with great potential. It is maybe more time to wait for the right offer. These GMs could also take bad high paid contracts from not very well performed older players and will be compensate from contenders if those can clear cap space, for example with a late draft pick. In the other direction then maybe nothing has to go. Also three team trades would be fantastic, even if these are very complicated to negotiate and do not happen very often.

Foppa21 11-24-2017 02:39 PM

Analysis

New types of assistants could support the player evaluation of scouts. Video, big data analysts give a more extensive of players, shows player behave in different game situations, support by the evaluation of the training style for the team or support by the selection of the best tactic for offense and defense depending available players (injuries) and opponent. This could also be the fundament for the increase of the fun factor at game day in the arena. This could lead to more information at the video cube or at the smartphone and support the live experience of special fan target groups. Maybe a completely new business could be created around, digital revenue models.

Foppa21 11-24-2017 02:40 PM

Farmteams and collaboration

As others mentions before, a more comprehensive control of the farmteam included merchandising, relocation, change the affiliation by time, negotiations with not ownend farmteams, arena environment and others as above, would clearly increase the fun factor.

Foppa21 11-25-2017 08:16 AM

GM meetings, commissioner and CBA

The GM meeting, which could also include the commissioner, once a year could to lead to some decisions, such as the start of a new expansion processes with investor A or investor B, the introduction of new awards, will there be a new world cup, should there be some preseason games in new market to growing the game, what is the salary cap next year, which rules changes are necessarily (weighting of penalty for hooking, interference, playoff format after expansion) or what are the specifications from the GMs for the negotiations with the player association regarding the CBA, for example the length of the CBA, maximum length of player contracts, maximum high of a single player salary in dependence of the salary cap, number of draft rounds, minimum salary, minimum and maximum salary of prospects, length of prospects contracts, proceeds in the pension fund or insurance for work-related accidents. The CBA could have an effect at the spending willingness of some owners. Here would be an accountant certainly not at a wrong place. On the one hand different cost like pension fund, player and staff payroll, facility maintenance and so on and on the other side revenues like tv contracts, merchandising, sponsoring, ticket revenues and so on.

Foppa21 11-25-2017 08:17 AM

Taxes

At the salary negotiations with free agents the amount of state taxes is also an aspect for the players in real live. In one state the income tax is just over zero percent in other states the look on the payroll after income tax sometimes causes abdominal pain. That means if for one player the maximum of the net income at maybe his last contract as free agent is most important for his decision, franchises in states with high income taxes have to increase the gross offer accordingly. Consumption taxes could also have an influence for the decision of players. If the live spot of the player outside the NHL season is in a state with low consumption taxes the effect above plays maybe a less important role. Taxes could also have an effect for net revenues, when investing in new facilities and so on.

Foppa21 11-25-2017 08:17 AM

Agents

Agents and agent agencies could enrich negotiations. Not all players should have such agents, but just star players at junior age are represented accordingly. Negotiation with agents don’t make the GM job usually easier, but maybe the GM already has a player from the same agent under contract and knows the negotiation tactic and can take advantage of that. This of course applies in both directions. Next to the actual contract there could also be other agreements between the GM and the agents for the player. For example how much time must the player spend regularly at the media, how will he get in integrated charity events, events with the fan base, agreements with sponsors and so on.

Foppa21 11-25-2017 08:17 AM

Player events and player environment

The happiness of the players could not only be influenced by ice time or a new contract. It is also possible that the personal development has an influence, the role at the team (core player, supplement player), marriage and founding a family, fate proposals – if the grandma dies the player maybe misses some games and rarely plays his best hockey the next games (the outside confirm the rule) or a (new) girlfriend leaves the player on a euphoric wave, the parents are or other family members are at the games and so on.

Foppa21 11-26-2017 12:10 PM

Market size

Over time the market size could change. Next to the population size in the metropolitan region maybe there could be a point system for general hockey interest (penetration) and the change resulting of success and fan work and so on. With great short term success average markets could turn into very big markets for a while for example. The result could be corresponding consequences for merchandising or free agents willingness to join the team and so on. If the success is not sustainable, the market shrinks again to the exit level. On the other hand we all know there are traditional very crazy, very big hockey markets where the success can stay away for a long time and the market still does not shrink. Sometimes even the opposite happens there because the region is very dynamic in general and hockey rather is a sense of life.

Foppa21 11-26-2017 12:37 PM

World Cup of Hockey and Olympics

The NHL wants to grow the game worldwide but also wants to have some control of it. There are sometimes different opinions around the league if the Olympics advance the game. Especially for European players and fans that is an important tournament, for North American players and fans probably mostly the World Cup of Hockey is more important. Maybe these tournaments become a more integral component of the NHL schedule in the future. Players who participate in it could get hero status, depended of personal and team success. World Cup or Olympic winners gain also attention by fans and media in their career autumn even when they decline in terms of performance. That means having such a player on the roster could have a positive effect for the attendance, media reports, merchandising and so on. A successful World Cup also gains a lot of money for the league, so that is very probably that the salary cup raises the next saison.

Moe Cronin 11-29-2017 12:26 PM

Amazing!!!

tward13 11-29-2017 02:06 PM

Quite a list. I hope most of it would be optional. I want to play a hockey manager, not a financial simulator.

Nino33 11-30-2017 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tward13 (Post 4255937)
Quite a list. I hope most of it would be optional. I want to play a hockey manager, not a financial simulator.

I feel the same way...



Things like "The GM gets more opportunities to negotiate TV or internet contracts, merchandising offers, side fence advertising etc" & "The GM could fix the price of games and food and drinks or merchandising articles during game days" make no sense to me.....these are not things that I think a GM (or any person related to the actual hockey playing really) would spend any time on at all


Has anyone ever heard of a GM negotiating TV contracts? Or determining the price of food and drink? It's certainly not something I've ever heard of a NA GM doing

Nino33 11-30-2017 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foppa21 (Post 4255137)
There are sometimes different opinions around the league if the Olympics advance the game. Especially for European players and fans that is an important tournament, for North American players and fans probably mostly the World Cup of Hockey is more important.

IMO as someone from NA who's been following hockey for decades, the idea that "North American players and fans probably mostly the World Cup of Hockey is more important" is completely untrue


NA fans/players as a whole I think care about "best-on-best" regardless of what you name it.....so an Olympics with access to all players (and thus best-on-best) would be just fine for those in NA, it's the Olympics with 2nd/3rd tier players or lower that NA wouldn't care about




Last year's World Cup was not massively popular in NA. The format/fake teams turned people off and so it wasn't considered a true best-on-best.....I think it was paid attention to as just a fun tournament to watch. The Olympic hockey next February, with lower quality players, only diehard Olympic fans will care in NA (it won't even be considered a fun tournament to watch)


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