Posted on 12/24/2017 2:58:16 PM PST by Oshkalaboomboom
In September, Matt reported about the Baltimore Ravens National Anthem singer who quit his job due to the National Football League protests sparked by Colin Kaepernick in a supposed attempt to highlight police brutality by kneeling during the Star Spangled banner.
Joey Odoms quit, not because he did not support these players, but because of the fans who did not make an effort to understand why these protests were happening.
“The tone/actions of a large number of NFL fans in the midst of our country's cultural crisis have convinced me that I do not belong there,” said Odoms on Facebook:
Dear Ravens Flock
I am resigning as Official National Anthem Singer of the Baltimore Ravens. The people I've had the pleasure of meeting at the Ravens organization have been nothing but nice to me, however the tone/actions of a large number of NFL fans in the midst of our country's cultural crisis, have convinced me that I do not belong there. Someone once told me to always "go where you're welcomed". This is not an emotional reaction to recent events, rather an ethical decision that part of me regrets but my core knows is the right choice.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to grow as a performer and for allowing me to live out a dream of sharing my gift with you."
Odoms, however, was not unique in his boycott. Fans from across the political spectrum shut the TV off in droves; some disgusted by the disrespect shown towards the flag, others irked by the treatment of players who knelt. However, no team has actually admitted the damage caused by these protests and the NFL’s handling of this mismanaged public relations saga until now.
This week, the Baltimore Ravens sent fans and season ticket holders a letter blaming ticket sales declining because of the teams protests.
"The numbers [of no-shows] are higher, and it is noticeable," Cass wrote in the 656-word letter. "There are a number of reasons for the no-shows, but surely the one-time protest in London has been a factor."
The Ravens' first protest as a team occurred in London on Sept. 24, when more than a dozen players knelt during the national anthem before the first NFL game of the day. That began a daylong chain of protests in the wake of President Donald Trump's critical comments and tweets about protests during the anthem.
"We have responded to your concerns about the protest by re-doubling the efforts of both the organization and our players to make the Baltimore area a better community," Cass wrote.
According to Cass, the Ravens reached out to a number of fans who wrote to the team or called about the protest. Cass also personally made a number of phone calls and met with some fans, the letter stated.
"We want the Ravens to continue to be a strong, unifying force and source of pride in our community," Cass wrote. "When the Ravens win, we can bring families and the community together. We've done that before, and we can do it again.
"In light of recent events, we are also reminded that winning alone is not always enough to make the Ravens the unifying force we want to be. We don't take your support for granted, and we know that we must continue to earn your respect and investment in us."
The inundation of politics into sport as of late has affected anybody who has weighed in on the matter. Colleague Jazz Shaw summed it up nicely over on HotAir.com:
"Will the admission from Cass and his commitment to “do better” in the future make a difference? Perhaps, but probably not right away. If all of this protest nonsense can be put behind the league and kept to venues outside the stadium by next season, people will probably come back. But it’s also yet another example of the dangers of dragging politics into areas where people simply don’t want to see it. Just yesterday we were talking aboutt the hit that Papa John’s Pizza took, leading to the resignation of their founder and CEO. They lost a lot of sales this year after he came out in opposition to the anthem protests.
You can see how it doesn’t really matter which side of the issue you come down on. Obviously, people aren’t looking for a side order of political ideology with their large, meat lovers’ pie. Those who disagreed with the display began abandoning the brand, just as they’ve done with the Ravens. And those who agree were not willing to suddenly begin making up the difference. Those who opposed the protests weren’t buying more pizzas and those supporting the protests weren’t buying up the tickets to go to Ravens games.
Too little, too late, at least as far as this season goes. Perhaps the lesson can be taken forward next year and we can get back to enjoying the game."
Oh well, live and learn.
For many NFL fans, that spell of ‘undying Team Loyalty no matter what’ has been broken, and their eyes have been opened.
Really? They want to be a unifying force and make Baltimore a better community by supporting a bunch of idiots who think cops are out to get black guys? How about making it a better community by encouraging young black men to obey the law and stop shooting each other? Or maybe football players could be an example by not siring a half dozen kids with various women? I’m so tired of this crap. Their entire protest is based on lies, so the NFL can pound sand. Everybody in this country is scared to death of blacks and what they will do if they get angry. Maybe it’s time for 2 separate countries.
“”The numbers [of no-shows] are higher, and it is noticeable,””
A No Show is not the same as a ‘tanked ticket sale.”
With a tanked ticket sale, the number of tickets sold decreases.
With a No show, people pay for the tickets, the team gets their money, but the ticket buyer does not show-up at the game.
Big difference.
A Republican is elected president... it is now considered a cultural crises. SMH.
I could be wrong but my guess is that the NFL’s single most important source of revenue is TV broadcasting rights.I’d love to see how the contracts that they have with the networks are worded on the general subject of a drop in ratings.
Considering the whole protest movement is built on false premises, why would anyone respect those protesting?
Next years ticket sales will see the no-show converted into the tanked ticket sales.
Baltimore is a sewer and will never be the great city I left in 1960.
Nevermore
Ravens of Baltimore
There is a contract, the network writes the NFL a check.
For the years 2014-2022 the networks will pay the NFL $39.6 billion for the broadcast rights.
I believe that contract can be adjusted based on viewers.
Unless and until the protesting players, coaches, and owners learn there is no respectful way to show disrespect to the flag and anthem they will reap the “rewards” of their behavior.
Perhaps, but there are NFL teams that have thousands upon thousands of people on the waiting list for season tickets.
As for the Baltimore Ravens, the Waiting List for Season Tickets is 20 years.
The Waiting List for Green Bay Packers Season Tickets is 30 years.
Big difference in lost concessions and merchandise sales also. That's why they notice. Advertisers also notice the empty seats. So they did get their money from the ticket but a lot of ancillary revenue is staying away along with that no show. Tanked ticket sales will start showing up next year.
Oh, how can so many people be so wrong?? Fortunately this is how dimorats lose elections.
What was I rooting for a logo? I left two years ago and the Ravens in London made my decision feel so much better. After this season is over we will see cracks begin to show at the highest levels on the NFL. I’m hearing from relatives in the know that people are being laid off. All we need is two teams with small markets for the Super Bowl and just the gamblers will be watching.
That could be the case, but the networks do compete for NFL broadcast rights.
So instead of almost $40 billion, the payout to the NFL may drop down to $35 billion?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.