[Mykle VanHausen]

The NFL’s Debt - It was reported at the meetings that the NFL is 9 Billion dollars in debt. That figure needs to be looked into at a time when the league’s NFL Network is losing money - while they are still encouraged/funding it, the spending of millions in building the league’s many new stadiums/palaces at low-interest loan prices with little chance for revenues, small market teams like the Buffalo Bills hurting (enough to go to Canada for dollars) and we all know something is brewing at NFL Films. And can someone give me a straight answer on how all this debt is possible when the NFL is by far the most popular game in the world in terms of attendance, merchandising, ticket sales, and television dollars.

WTF?!

Either their cooking the books or these supposed big time business mavens are morons.

With tax payers helping to fund stadiums, whats their excuse for this bs.

Sounds like a tax dodge or something to me.

With the average worth of a team around $978 million (Dallas is tops at $1.5 billion) how can the League lose nearly a THIRD of its entire value?

Criminal.

2008 NFL Annual Meeting is Over and This is What We Learned Taking it to the House

[Anotharaiderfan]

Matt Ryan stole it

[Anotharaiderfan]

Seriously Goodell needs to go, but its simple new stadiums put teams in short term debt. The Giants, colts, Dallas and Arizona just built new stadiums. If the team goes belly its the NFL assumed debt. NOT MY JOB

[MileHighRaider]

Whoa.

I bought a jersey last year and a few shirts! WTF - I thought I did my part!!!

[Raider Ran]

Originally Posted by Anotharaiderfan

Seriously Goodell needs to go, but its simple new stadiums put teams in short term debt. The Giants, colts, Dallas and Arizona just built new stadiums. If the team goes belly its the NFL assumed debt. NOT MY JOB

He is only going into year 2. Could be a bit early to fire him. NFL economics are a train wreck with salaries etc for sure.

[WNYRAIDER]

You would think the politicans were running the league with that kind of red.

[Mykle VanHausen]

Originally Posted by Anotharaiderfan

Matt Ryan stole it

Highlarious!

[Mykle VanHausen]

Originally Posted by WNYRAIDER

You would think the politicans were running the league with that kind of red.

Amen.

[Mykle VanHausen]

Originally Posted by Anotharaiderfan

Seriously Goodell needs to go, but its simple new stadiums put teams in short term debt. The Giants, colts, Dallas and Arizona just built new stadiums. If the team goes belly its the NFL assumed debt. NOT MY JOB

That may have merit and I don't know for sure, but don't tax payers usually foot part of that bill too?

Crazy...

[Attyla]

where did they see it last...I mean, it shouldnt be hard to find...its a big pile of money

[Mykle VanHausen]

Originally Posted by Attyla

where did they see it last...I mean, it shouldnt be hard to find...its a big pile of money

In Europe apparently!

Either that or gas for team buses put the crunch on em'...

[Nemesys]

It almost seems like the NFL is trying to shoot itself in the foot like MLB did.

[Mykle VanHausen]

One big tax write off.

"Darn it generated billions but had expenses so no taxes. Sorry! But can we get some federal aid like Chrysler?"

[trueraiderfan17]

I call BS on that. no way the NFL lost 9 BILLION dollars last year!

[HughC]

Having debt and losing money are two different things. The $9billion number refers to the collective amount of money owed by 32 teams, that includes financing of stadiums, lines of credit for daily operations, money owed to minority partners, etc. These teams are all making a nice profit, their revenue is more than their expenses.

To put it another way, if I owe $150,000 on my home and have $10,000 in the bank, it doesn't mean I am losing money or am bankrupt. If I go and take on another $10,000 in debt, which increases the value of my home by $20,000, that is a smart move - as long as I keep making more money than I spend then I am still "making a profit", and at the same time I am increasing my net worth (increasing the value of the team).