Posted on 05/10/2017 12:39:32 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
The Raiderettes had reason to cheer Wednesday, as the the proceeds from a $1.25 million settlement was distributed to nearly 100 women who worked as cheerleaders for the Oakland Raiders
The lawsuit, the first filed on behalf of cheerleaders in the NFL, claimed the Raiders failed to pay their cheerleading squad minimum wage for the hours they worked, failed to pay overtime, and failed to reimburse thousands of dollars of incurred expenses from 2010-14.
Women who danced as Raiderettes for multiple seasons will receive over $20,000.
The class action suit was brought by Raiderettes Lacy T. and Sarah G., whose identities are protected. There were then similar lawsuits filed by members of other NFL dance squads, and teams have adjusted their pay practices.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
But what about socializing with the wealthy football fans at the games??¿
Not all teams have them (Greenbay, and Pittsburgh don’t, maybe others), but thanks to merch sales (re calendars) cheerleaders add about $2 million to the bottom line. So while you can make a case they’re needless they sure aren’t an expense.
Thanks for the follow up....I would say that they may contribute to the bottom line for the team owners or the NFL and can be justified on that basis (so does beer sales :-), but I still think that they add little to the game itself.
They add nothing to the game, unless it’s a really bad game and you’ve got good binoculars. But they definitely add to the away from game experience. Let’s face it, say you decide you absolutely must have a team calendar which set of pictures do you prefer to look at all year: sweaty dudes or pretty ladies? Sadly my team is the Steelers, I’m not really into team calendars ;) And of course that is how the NFL empire is built, we focus on those big fat TV contracts but a lot of that money comes in $30 - $200 at a time for logo merch.
Cheerleaders are also paid essentially nothing. I think Deadpsin did an article on salaries a few years ago. I’ll try to find it.
Interesting. An ex of mine was a Raiderette for a few years when the team was in LA. Back then they got a whopping $75 per game, then there were personal appearances where the individual squads could go out do their routines and make some extra cash. There were other perks like free gym and salon memberships.
Most of the girls had regular day jobs too.
She had a buddy who worked for a season with the Rams and those girls only got $50 per game.
My first thought too. They will all be out of a job.
I don't understand why pro football teams even have cheerleaders. You never see anyone in the stands following the cheerleaders' yells, like at high school or college games. Get rid of 'em altogether at the professional level.
It wouldn't even bother me if they did away with them at the college level as well.
Good.
Husband or modeling gig
That I can't say........
But if you're as good looking as those chicks are, you don't need to be a cheerleader to attract wealthy football fans........Just hang out where they do.
Just do what the Bears did 30 years ago. They dumped their cheerleaders right after superbowl XX.
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