Most of us watched the Super Bowl Sunday as the Green Bay Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 in a hard-fought game.
However, due to failures by NFL owners and the NFL Players Association, this might be the last game played in 2011.
If both organizations fail to agree on a collective bargaining or labor agreement by March 3, the players might go on strike for the year. The deal has not been completed primarily due to disagreement on two particular issues: the salary of the NFL players and the possibility of an 18-game season.
Ultimately, the disagreement between players and owners could hurt fans and local economies. The labor agreements currently taking place echo the same negotiations NHL owners and players faced six years ago. Unfortunately, both parties failed to reach a compromise, and the popularity of the NHL diminished as fans went a year without the sport. Some fans moved on to other sports, and infamy of the lockout caused the NHL to struggle to regain popularity.
In addition, the absence of NFL teams in many cities would harm economies. Restaurants, bars, hotels and other businesses benefit from fans who come to the city every Sunday. The NFL Players Union suggests that if a lockout were to occur, “$160 million in local spending and 3,000 jobs would be lost in each NFL city if the season is not played.”
The NFL owners and players must consider the long-term effects a lockout would present to the league rather than focus on short-term gain. If they do not, fans will have to find something new to occupy their time every Sunday.
Football is the nation’s favorite pastime. We love the hard-hitting violence of the game, the strategy, the bravado and whole-heartedly supporting our teams.
The fans would be hit hardest.