ATTN: Leagues struggling to find owners

Cyclone792 · 06-05-2005, 02:51 PM

If you're the commish or an owner in an online league struggling to fill out your league with owners, then those of us in SMLB (see link in sig) may be interested in talking to you.

SMLB is a league that started in 2003 with real rosters and is now in the 2010 season, hence it is an original real roster league nearly eight seasons in. Those of you who understand the life forms that online leagues generally take can probably guess what is beginning to happen in SMLB: interest is fading because few people want to join/participate in a league where the real life stars are being phased out by incoming fictional talent.

Currently, SMLB has a core of approximately 10-15 committed owners who are open to just about any idea that would restore the fun and excitement we had about five seasons ago. Unfortunately, due to several circumstances, including a recent commissioner swap and about two-thirds of the league's owners MIA, the chances of SMLB reviving its glory is virtually nil given its current state. Also add in the fact that the league is a real roster league eight seasons in, and it's easy to understand why SMLB is having a difficult time attracting quality GMs that won't up and disappear three weeks later.

So what are we proposing? Merely a radical idea to merge the SMLB teams controlled by our remaining 10-15 committed owners into another league that is in a very similar situation. If we can find another league in a similar state with over half its league MIA and the other half desperately trying to maintain its life, then it might be an idea worth considering. Or better yet, if you're a smaller league willing to add in 10-15 solid, committed owners, then we'd be all ears for that too.

We understand the vast amounts of logistical problems that would have to be ironed out if this idea was to be carried out. Different leagues have different rules, different levels of overall talent, different rating scale systems, etc. There may also be situations where we'd have two teams/players of the same name in a newly merged league, however, it seems that most of us in SMLB would be willing to change any necessary team/player names to fictional names if that problem arises. With the other logistical problems, we'd obviously be willing to attempt to find a common ground. FWIW, the overall talent level in SMLB is slightly higher than the common league so a league with a similar talent level would be ideal.

Of course, this is a radical idea, and after a quick search through these forums I was unable to find any precedent for this idea. But essentially this is nothing more than 10-15 people willing to try anything to at least partially save a league and their individual team they've poured hours upon hours into. We've tossed around several ideas and we're trying to figure out something we can do to save the league.

Drop me a PM or reply to this thread if you are involved in a league that may be interested.

canadiancreed · 06-05-2005, 03:05 PM

too bad this didnt come up about a month later, i'd be more than happy to invite you guys into a league i'm looking at starting

Matteo · 06-05-2005, 03:07 PM

I have been thinking about this a lot myself. We are currently in 2011 and originally started in 2003 with TotalMinors Roster Set (Real MLB).

We also have about 15 owners that have been with us since day 1, and the other owners joining along the way. It is funny that a lot of owners who left are the ones that joined later. When I asked them for feedback they told me it was "hard to get into it". The problem is that all incumbent owners have already molded their team to their needs, and the newer owners find it hard to trade. For myself, looking at my team I hardly know how to improve. Everyone is holding on to their players.

We have been rather succesfull pumping fresh blood into the league. I think as a commissioner you have to lead by example. Come up with new ideas/rules to stir things up. We have been succesfull with this and have always kept 30 owners. However, at a certain point IMO you need to get all owners out of their "comfort zone" with the risk of losing them.

I know one league that started over after like 20 years. DLBC or something like that. I personally would hate to lose all league history so it might be interested to hear from owners from that league. I do think though that this saturation effect also applies to fictional leagues. Maybe we have to accept that all leagues have limited lifespan, with the leagues with good leadership surviving the longest.

In your case, I don't think merging would be the best way for the reasons you stated (complexity). I would suggest you either start over or contract the remaining teams...

Matt

Cyclone792 · 06-05-2005, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canadiancreed

too bad this didnt come up about a month later, i'd be more than happy to invite you guys into a league i'm looking at starting

If you're still thinking about starting it up and we're still hanging around in limbo, please keep us in mind. Currently, we're in August of our 2010 season and we're going to at least finish this season regardless what happens or what direction we take. That still puts us about three weeks away in real time at the earliest from making any move in direction.

Cyclone792 · 06-05-2005, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matteo

I have been thinking about this a lot myself. We are currently in 2011 and originally started in 2003 with TotalMinors Roster Set (Real MLB).

We also have about 15 owners that have been with us since day 1, and the other owners joining along the way. It is funny that a lot of owners who left are the ones that joined later. When I asked them for feedback they told me it was "hard to get into it". The problem is that all incumbent owners have already molded their team to their needs, and the newer owners find it hard to trade. For myself, looking at my team I hardly know how to improve. Everyone is holding on to their players.

We have been rather succesfull pumping fresh blood into the league. I think as a commissioner you have to lead by example. Come up with new ideas/rules to stir things up. We have been succesfull with this and have always kept 30 owners. However, at a certain point IMO you need to get all owners out of their "comfort zone" with the risk of losing them.

I know one league that started over after like 20 years. DLBC or something like that. I personally would hate to lose all league history so it might be interested to hear from owners from that league. I do think though that this saturation effect also applies to fictional leagues. Maybe we have to accept that all leagues have limited lifespan, with the leagues with good leadership surviving the longest.

In your case, I don't think merging would be the best way for the reasons you stated (complexity). I would suggest you either start over or contract the remaining teams...

Matt

Thanks for the suggestions, Matt, and hopefully we'll figure something out.

I agree with the things the commissioner has to do and with implementation of various ideas/rules to help keep the interest. EOTD recently sprung up as a sort of sister league to POTD and they are loosely tied together. Based off this loose affiliation and future ideas to spring off it, we've been able to create a unique environment that should maintain a high interest level.

In SMLB, I'm just an owner, but the current new commish is giving his all yet he's also a raw rookie at running leagues. There appears to be a double-edged sword here; he's trying to keep the league alive, but with limited interest from the owner base he is also probably questioning how much effort he should put into it and fears it being a grand waste of time. As an owner in the league and seeing how the lack of activity currently is, I can't really blame him for any of that.

With gloom looking down upon the owners, the one unified voice the remaining committed owners have is they'd like to find some way where they can keep their current team's skillset in some sort of league environment. When you spend five, six, seven seasons molding your team to your liking, an attachment grows and they'd like to find some way to maintain that attachment. It makes sense to me and I can understand their sentiments.

Thanks again, and time will tell what path we eventually embark on.

rem · 06-05-2005, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matteo

I know one league that started over after like 20 years. DLBC or something like that.

DBLC

chicagofan28 · 06-05-2005, 08:48 PM

I would be interested in joining the league if i dont need to own the game. I am currently in 3 other leagues and enjoy it very much.

06-05-2005, 02:51 PM	#1
Cyclone792 All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 572	ATTN: Leagues struggling to find owners If you're the commish or an owner in an online league struggling to fill out your league with owners, then those of us in SMLB (see link in sig) may be interested in talking to you. SMLB is a league that started in 2003 with real rosters and is now in the 2010 season, hence it is an original real roster league nearly eight seasons in. Those of you who understand the life forms that online leagues generally take can probably guess what is beginning to happen in SMLB: interest is fading because few people want to join/participate in a league where the real life stars are being phased out by incoming fictional talent. Currently, SMLB has a core of approximately 10-15 committed owners who are open to just about any idea that would restore the fun and excitement we had about five seasons ago. Unfortunately, due to several circumstances, including a recent commissioner swap and about two-thirds of the league's owners MIA, the chances of SMLB reviving its glory is virtually nil given its current state. Also add in the fact that the league is a real roster league eight seasons in, and it's easy to understand why SMLB is having a difficult time attracting quality GMs that won't up and disappear three weeks later. So what are we proposing? Merely a radical idea to merge the SMLB teams controlled by our remaining 10-15 committed owners into another league that is in a very similar situation. If we can find another league in a similar state with over half its league MIA and the other half desperately trying to maintain its life, then it might be an idea worth considering. Or better yet, if you're a smaller league willing to add in 10-15 solid, committed owners, then we'd be all ears for that too. We understand the vast amounts of logistical problems that would have to be ironed out if this idea was to be carried out. Different leagues have different rules, different levels of overall talent, different rating scale systems, etc. There may also be situations where we'd have two teams/players of the same name in a newly merged league, however, it seems that most of us in SMLB would be willing to change any necessary team/player names to fictional names if that problem arises. With the other logistical problems, we'd obviously be willing to attempt to find a common ground. FWIW, the overall talent level in SMLB is slightly higher than the common league so a league with a similar talent level would be ideal. Of course, this is a radical idea, and after a quick search through these forums I was unable to find any precedent for this idea. But essentially this is nothing more than 10-15 people willing to try anything to at least partially save a league and their individual team they've poured hours upon hours into. We've tossed around several ideas and we're trying to figure out something we can do to save the league. Drop me a PM or reply to this thread if you are involved in a league that may be interested. __________________ Jason POTD: Co-Commish and Glacier Bay Ice Pirates

06-05-2005, 03:05 PM	#2
canadiancreed Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 11,660	too bad this didnt come up about a month later, i'd be more than happy to invite you guys into a league i'm looking at starting __________________ PT21 PT22

06-05-2005, 03:07 PM	#3
Matteo Major Leagues Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 473	I have been thinking about this a lot myself. We are currently in 2011 and originally started in 2003 with TotalMinors Roster Set (Real MLB). We also have about 15 owners that have been with us since day 1, and the other owners joining along the way. It is funny that a lot of owners who left are the ones that joined later. When I asked them for feedback they told me it was "hard to get into it". The problem is that all incumbent owners have already molded their team to their needs, and the newer owners find it hard to trade. For myself, looking at my team I hardly know how to improve. Everyone is holding on to their players. We have been rather succesfull pumping fresh blood into the league. I think as a commissioner you have to lead by example. Come up with new ideas/rules to stir things up. We have been succesfull with this and have always kept 30 owners. However, at a certain point IMO you need to get all owners out of their "comfort zone" with the risk of losing them. I know one league that started over after like 20 years. DLBC or something like that. I personally would hate to lose all league history so it might be interested to hear from owners from that league. I do think though that this saturation effect also applies to fictional leagues. Maybe we have to accept that all leagues have limited lifespan, with the leagues with good leadership surviving the longest. In your case, I don't think merging would be the best way for the reasons you stated (complexity). I would suggest you either start over or contract the remaining teams... Matt __________________ ESPN The Show live chat during 2004 ALCS: Julie (Boston): Do you think Jeter does the fist pump everytime he disappoints a woman in bed? Or does he save it for when he's with A-Rod? Bill Simmons: Whoops - I didn't mean to post that. Really, I didn't.

06-05-2005, 08:48 PM	#7
chicagofan28 Bat Boy Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 9	I would be interested in joining the league if i dont need to own the game. I am currently in 3 other leagues and enjoy it very much.