Beware The Ides Of March For The NFL Exclusive License

[SuckaRepellent]

Not that I hate Madden just wish the NFL would allow competition.

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[Big FN Deal]

Quote: Originally Posted by Iggles

That's a possibility, but let me play Devil's Advocate. The lockout didn't affect Madden 12. What I mean is whether there was a season or not, Madden 12 was going to be released with all NFL teams, trademarks and players. I don't see why the lockout would've prevented M13,14,15,or 16 from being released, or being exclusive. Nike, and a host of other licensees, also signed new license deals, and those deals are worth a lot more money than the deal between EA and the NFL. Maybe they were just trying to feel things out, as you said, because of the lockout, or EA wasn't interested in extending the deal at all, but since there was no way of telling whether the lockout would extend into the season, which it didn't, the NFL reduced the fee for one year, but in return, EA had to agree to a one year extension. Here's what the NFL could have been thinking: If they didn't reduce the Licensing fee, and went into a lockout, they'd hurt one of their business partners; if they reduced the fee but the lockout didn't go into the season, they'd miss out on money. A perfect solution to this is for EA to agree to another year at the full licensing fee. Now the only reason, that I can think of, that the NFL would be concerned about gaining something on the back end, with a one year deal, is that EA wasn't interested in extending the exclusive deal. If they were, IMO, the deal would've been for more years as it accomplishes the same thing but offers the more security ,concerning this license, to the NFL.

All good points except I don't know about the other licenses being worth more money. I just recently read that Wall Street Journal article about the one year extension and it states this about the NFL exclusive license with EA , "The licensing deal it agreed to with the league in early 2008 is believed to be worth well into nine figures in guarantees and royalties over its original five-year term. That stands as one of the most, if not the most lucrative non-TV contract the NFL enjoys." http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/J...es/NFL-EA.aspx

That said, going back and reading this article again after reading your post, does make me wonder. Like you stated, why would an one year extension be part of a deal for a reduced price if an extension was already a given. That could easily be interpreted as EA asking for a reduced fee for the potential lockout year with no initial intention of extending the exclusive license but the NFL offered it as a compromise. That definitely doesn't make it seem like EA has a set business plan of keeping the NFL exclusive license. Good point Iggles.

[roadman]

We all have our good points/theories and it's a good discussion.

We aren't privy to what goes on behind closed business doors, so, it's always a good thing to discuss and guess what the parties are doing.

Until we know for sure, I'm out of theories.

It's either they will be extending the EL within the year or they are not.

Time will tell.

[Kaiser Wilhelm]

Just going to add my two cents...

It makes absolutely no sense for EA to extend this deal, except to maintain buisness relations.

Simply put, EA is the only company with the resources and history to create an annual football title.

SCEA may have the resources but not the recent history or team in place to step in immediatly.

Also if another company were to step in, it would, in my opinion, have to be a mutliple year development process for the primary release, meaning even more resources need to be dedicated.

For all these reasons, renewing the contract from EAs point of view, seems unlikely.

[roadman]

Yep, I agree with Kaiser, here, on EA's part, it seems unlikely.

Here's the thing I was just thinking, though.

If EA says no no no, no more EL, does this mean the stadiums and all everything NFL leaves Madden. If you say, well, then the NFL can have open licenses, that doesn't work for the NFL. If they know EA won't reup, they will receive less revenue from a paltry EA open license. We all know that another company won't step up to the plate with all the cost involved.

It was already proven during the first EL that the NFL makes more revenue off one license vs.multiple ones.

Do you really think Madden will go w/o stadium names and the NFL branding name? I know I wouldn't buy it if it was the only football game on Earth.

The Milwaukee Packers, I don't think so.

That's why I feel that a deal will be struck between the two, deep down, it may be for less money than what they are used to paying.

[Kaiser Wilhelm]

Quote: Originally Posted by roadman

Yep, I agree with Kaiser, here, on EA's part, it seems unlikely. Here's the thing I was just thinking, though. If EA says no no no, no more EL, does this mean the stadiums and all everything NFL leaves Madden. If you say, well, then the NFL can have open licenses, that doesn't work for the NFL. If they know EA won't reup, they will receive less revenue from a paltry EA open license. We all know that another company won't step up to the plate with all the cost involved. It was already proven during the first EL that the NFL makes more revenue off one license vs.multiple ones. Do you really think Madden will go w/o stadium names and the NFL branding name? I know I wouldn't buy it if it was the only football game on Earth. The Milwaukee Packers, I don't think so. That's why I feel that a deal will be struck between the two, deep down, it may be for less money than what they are used to paying.

Interesting. idea.

The only reason I would disagree with that is that were the NFL to do that, they would lose all revenue as well as anger a lucrative buisness partner. EA can claim the market value has decreased and they are trying to make a good buisness move, where as the NFL in that scenario is the sore loser who takes his ball and goes home mid-game.

The only real reson I see EA extending this deal is if SCEA or 2k make a bid, but even then the deal would be cheaper.

Like I said in my previous post, the only reason I, as a theoretical decision maker at EA would renew the deal, is purely for buisness relations, but even then I want a decreased price because the market value is down.

[adembroski]

Almost every "fact" cited in this thread is wrong. Just sayin':P

[Only1LT]

Don't put much stock in the premise of the topic. I'll believe it when I see it and Football gaming is almost off my radar completely anyway. I liked the OP though solely based on the animated gif lol.

[Big FN Deal]

Quote: Originally Posted by adembroski

Almost every "fact" cited in this thread is wrong. Just sayin':P

LOL.

Gotta have something to do why we wait for the promising noobs on the Madden developer team to make NFL simulation video game history this August. No pressure though. lol

EDIT* Meant "noobs" as new people on the development team not as an attack on anyone's abilities.

[Kaiser Wilhelm]

Quote: Originally Posted by Big FN Deal

LOL. Gotta have something to do why we wait for the promising noobs on the Madden developer team to make NFL simulation video game history this August. No pressure though. lol

The term you want is newb. Newb describes a new member. Noob is an attack at ones abilities relative to a newbie.

These things gotta be right. As is your post is almost an insult to the Madden team. Jus' sayin'.

Quote:

Almost every "fact" cited in this thread is wrong. Just sayin':P

I must have missed the "facts," I thought this was just random speculation to pass the time, and in the off case someone was 100% correct down to the very last detail that person could then claim uber intelligence and or pyschic powers.

Though I must say it is nice to see a dev lurking the forums in January.

Heres to hoping this new year will bring the best Madden yet.