1) For the 2020 season it took the owners months to whittle the players down to a 60 game season, to get the owners losses down to a manageable amount that they could stomach.
2) The 2021 season needs another agreement / negotiations, but there will also be player contract decisions on every entire roster this offseason, with a poor undecided economic outlook again for the owners.
3) The owners previously felt it was necessary to negotiate the players salaries down by 63%, shaving 102 games off a 162 game schedule. Why on earth would they treat this offseason any differently than the 60 game negotiations, with nearly the same expected attendance revenue stream as 2020?
4) We as fans can paint as rosy of scenario as possible with partial to full attendance, for 2021, but it isn’t our money that needs protecting from losses. Right now, as soon as free agency gets started, the attendance stream has not changed. That sprinkling of fans at Globe Life Stadium qualifies as little to no change. Why wouldn’t the owners look at the possible 2021 losses in the same light as the 2020 negotiations?
5) Are we as fans in denial of how bad this offseason could be, because we don’t want to re-live the chaos it took to get the 2020 season underway? These owners know they have to go back to the negotiation table with the same economic uncertainty and slug it out with the players. Why wouldn’t they be looking at 2021, and this offseason, with the same 63% reduction in salaries?
6) There are a few reason to hope the owners don’t take a hard financial stance again, like the CBA negotiations coming up, but that’s not reason enough to sacrifice 100’s of millions per club in 2021. That CBA bridge is down the road, cutting 2021 losses is on the table as long as Covid is, and we’re still wearing masks. I think it’s more dire than is being acknowledged, but the owners should be the last source expected to come out and say so during their postseason money grab. I’d keep my mouth shut and rake in every cent I could also.
sorry about the downer post. plz correct anything above that is incorrect, good news would be welcomed.