Steelers Organization Will Support Players Who Kneel

[SCSteeler4life]

I am spitballing and pasta throwing a little bit here, but my guess is the NFL's target with all this is young audiences, not the old established fan. They are catering to the next generation of fans to lock up revenue for the next 30 years. The older fans like many of us...they are counting that the losses they get through this will be offset by the new adds they get from the young crowd. Alas, i don't think teens and twenties right now are ever going to get hooked on football if htey are not already.

I agree no way they sit still for 3 hours and watch a game. My sons friends thinks he is crazy to love the Steelers and spend so much time watching and following them. He is 21 and had no choice growing up. He came home from the hospital wrapped in a terrible towel.

 

[ZonaBurgh]

I am spitballing and pasta throwing a little bit here, but my guess is the NFL's target with all this is young audiences, not the old established fan. They are catering to the next generation of fans to lock up revenue for the next 30 years. The older fans like many of us...they are counting that the losses they get through this will be offset by the new adds they get from the young crowd. Alas, i don't think teens and twenties right now are ever going to get hooked on football if htey are not already.

It's how marketing for everything works. Target the young and impressionable in order to have them empty their pockets for you. It's always been that way, although there is the gamble, as previously stated, that they actually give a rats *** about sports, rather than being self absorbed.

 

[SteelerSask2]

Many aspects of lets call it the pageantry of the game do not include the players. And often in the past I know the team would pray before heading out on the field. (Don't know if they still do). If this is going to be such a divisive event for the fans, why don't they just keep the players in the locker room for the National Anthem and then do the player introductions. So like 12:55 Anthem. 1:00pm player intro and coin toss. 1:10 Kickoff.

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

I hope the crowd sings the anthem as the players kneel.

 

[Hoot]

It's how marketing for everything works. Target the young and impressionable in order to have them empty their pockets for you. It's always been that way, although there is the gamble, as previously stated, that they actually give a rats *** about sports, rather than being self absorbed.

exactly, so when people in their 50's, 60's, etc say "don't get mad when i don't watch"...well, the NFL isn't and even expects it. In fact, I suggest the number of lifetime fans who follow through with that threat will be fairly small. The NFL is counting on your 'addiction' to the game and is willing to take a small bit of losses so they can start to tap the new money. How man rules changed because of the rise of fantasy football? I grew up enjoying a 3-0 defensive battle. Today's fans want 48-44 score fest (in no small part because it helps their fantasy team). The league is desperate to find new pools of revenue - youth, women, international, etc. So, ultimately, it is certainly a fine topic to debate on a message board, in the end, thumping one's chest and saying "I just won't watch" isn't worth a good green glob of phlegm spat into a stiff headwind in the great scheme of the NFL plans.

 

[43Hitman]

exactly, so when people in their 50's, 60's, etc say "don't get mad when i don't watch"...well, the NFL isn't and even expects it. In fact, I suggest the number of lifetime fans who follow through with that threat will be fairly small. The NFL is counting on your 'addiction' to the game and is willing to take a small bit of losses so they can start to tap the new money. How man rules changed because of the rise of fantasy football? I grew up enjoying a 3-0 defensive battle. Today's fans want 48-44 score fest (in no small part because it helps their fantasy team). The league is desperate to find new pools of revenue - youth, women, international, etc. So, ultimately, it is certainly a fine topic to debate on a message board, in the end, thumping one's chest and saying "I just won't watch" isn't worth a good green glob of phlegm spat into a stiff headwind in the great scheme of the NFL plans.

Yeah, you're most definitely right and i certainly didn't mean to sound self righteous, I'm just tired of identity politics being shoved down my throat day after day after day. Hell you can't even listen to sports radio anymore without politics dominating all the topics of the day. And that was pre corona, pre woke mob. It's completely unbearable now and the season hasn't even started. So yeah, me deciding to not give the NFL another red cent will probably do nothing to their bottom line but it will do wonders for my own mental health. If that makes sense.

 

[SCSteeler4life]

exactly, so when people in their 50's, 60's, etc say "don't get mad when i don't watch"...well, the NFL isn't and even expects it. In fact, I suggest the number of lifetime fans who follow through with that threat will be fairly small. The NFL is counting on your 'addiction' to the game and is willing to take a small bit of losses so they can start to tap the new money. How man rules changed because of the rise of fantasy football? I grew up enjoying a 3-0 defensive battle. Today's fans want 48-44 score fest (in no small part because it helps their fantasy team). The league is desperate to find new pools of revenue - youth, women, international, etc. So, ultimately, it is certainly a fine topic to debate on a message board, in the end, thumping one's chest and saying "I just won't watch" isn't worth a good green glob of phlegm spat into a stiff headwind in the great scheme of the NFL plans.

Attendance for the games say different.This is a gamble that will cost the NFL , the people they are pandering too have 5 minute attentions spans and don't spend money on the NFL.

 

[Hoot]

Yeah, you're most definitely right and i certainly didn't mean to sound self righteous, I'm just tired of identity politics being shoved down my throat day after day after day. Hell you can't even listen to sports radio anymore without politics dominating all the topics of the day. And that was pre corona, pre woke mob. It's completely unbearable now and the season hasn't even started. So yeah, me deciding to not give the NFL another red cent will probably do nothing to their bottom line but it will do wonders for my own mental health. If that makes sense.

wasn't calling anyone out but just stating a perspective. certainly if good for you to not watch then do so. I just don't think the corporate execs in NY or owners really care about the individual fan.

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[Hoot]

Attendance for the games say different.This is a gamble that will cost the NFL , the people they are pandering too have 5 minute attentions spans and don't spend money on the NFL.

it isn't today they are looking at but rather cultivating the audience for the next 30 years. long term planning. sure there is risk, that is biz 101. trying to break into international markets is proving difficult but the NFL keeps trying. initial failure is part of a new process or thing. expectation of full success out of gate is poor thinking. trying gets you data and lessons to build on.

and don't you think that young people not spending on nfl might be why the NFL is pandering to them? that is the crux of my point. develop new revenue streams or go the way of newspapers and typewriters.

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[SCSteeler4life]

it isn't today they are looking at but rather cultivating the audience for the next 30 years. long term planning. sure there is risk, that is biz 101. trying to break into international markets is proving difficult but the NFL keeps trying. initial failure is part of a new process or thing. expectation of full success out of gate is poor thinking. trying gets you data and lessons to build on.

and don't you think that young people not spending on nfl might be why the NFL is pandering to them? that is the crux of my point. develop new revenue streams or go the way of newspapers and typewriters.

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The love of football and a persons favorite team is generational , people aren't going to just wake up one day and be football fans. This is passed down from fathers to kids, sometimes 3-4 generations . This will be the end of the league as we know it. Just my opinion.

 

[Vader]

it isn't today they are looking at but rather cultivating the audience for the next 30 years. long term planning. sure there is risk, that is biz 101. trying to break into international markets is proving difficult but the NFL keeps trying. initial failure is part of a new process or thing. expectation of full success out of gate is poor thinking. trying gets you data and lessons to build on.

and don't you think that young people not spending on nfl might be why the NFL is pandering to them? that is the crux of my point. develop new revenue streams or go the way of newspapers and typewriters.

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Like SC said, football, like all sports, aren't just things people pick up. I hate soccer but it's becoming more part of the schools today. Some schools are moving away from contact sports like football. Trying to turn young people who have no desire or even money to spend on anything, into football fans is ignorant. I'm sure some old fans will stick around because they are "woke" as well. But overall the ratings will suffer and the NFL will become more local.

 

[Hoot]

Like SC said, football, like all sports, aren't just things people pick up. I hate soccer but it's becoming more part of the schools today. Some schools are moving away from contact sports like football. Trying to turn young people who have no desire or even money to spend on anything, into football fans is ignorant. I'm sure some old fans will stick around because they are "woke" as well. But overall the ratings will suffer and the NFL will become more local.

i have said in many threads that the popularity of football among youth is falling. it isn't just other sports like lacrosse or soccer, but also other activities like dance, music, and even video games. When i did coach, i had this conversation with a lot of other coaches across teh country. There is no question there is competition for future fans. Again, all the more reason for the NFL to play to their likes in an effort to attract them. I never said they would be fully successful. But you know what happens if they don't try? The fan base slowly dies as older fans die. That is my entire point - in the long term, the NFL needs to cultivate new fans (i.e., revenue) - youth, women, international are all examples of possible revenue stream. Even generational fan base is more likely to shrink rather than grow over time in my opinion. Just cuz dad likes it doesn't mean all the kids will grow to like it given all the other possible things they have access to now. Tthe NFL has to find ways to cultivate the fan base. that may come with the risk of losing some established fans, but my bet is the NFL considers the risk of some established fan losses much smaller than the risk of failing to cultivate new fans over the long run. Bottom line - y'all can believe what you want and your importance to the NFL, but if revenue shrinks too much, the business dies. Fans like you and I won't live forever.

 

[ZonaBurgh]

Yeah, you're most definitely right and i certainly didn't mean to sound self righteous, I'm just tired of identity politics being shoved down my throat day after day after day. Hell you can't even listen to sports radio anymore without politics dominating all the topics of the day. And that was pre corona, pre woke mob. It's completely unbearable now and the season hasn't even started. So yeah, me deciding to not give the NFL another red cent will probably do nothing to their bottom line but it will do wonders for my own mental health. If that makes sense.

It's why I barely watch network news anymore.

 

[SCSteeler4life]

i have said in many threads that the popularity of football among youth is falling. it isn't just other sports like lacrosse or soccer, but also other activities like dance, music, and even video games. When i did coach, i had this conversation with a lot of other coaches across teh country. There is no question there is competition for future fans. Again, all the more reason for the NFL to play to their likes in an effort to attract them. I never said they would be fully successful. But you know what happens if they don't try? The fan base slowly dies as older fans die. That is my entire point - in the long term, the NFL needs to cultivate new fans (i.e., revenue) - youth, women, international are all examples of possible revenue stream. Even generational fan base is more likely to shrink rather than grow over time in my opinion. Just cuz dad likes it doesn't mean all the kids will grow to like it given all the other possible things they have access to now. Tthe NFL has to find ways to cultivate the fan base. that may come with the risk of losing some established fans, but my bet is the NFL considers the risk of some established fan losses much smaller than the risk of failing to cultivate new fans over the long run. Bottom line - y'all can believe what you want and your importance to the NFL, but if revenue shrinks too much, the business dies. Fans like you and I won't live forever.

Your wrong the fan base doesn’t just die. We are the reasons the younger generation likes football (51 year old here ) I have passed the love of the Steelers to all 4 of my kids 2 girls, 2 boys. It’s a family thing we do. If I stop watching I guarantee they’ll stop. We will find something else to do as a family. When I turn it off they will not only lose 1 fan they will lose 10-15 more. It’s like the old saying - Cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face. Like I said before they will pay for this for years to come. I value your difference of opinion on the subject. My opinion is no way directed bad towards you.

 

[ZonaBurgh]

Your wrong the fan base doesn’t just die. We are the reasons the younger generation likes football (51 year old here ) I have passed the love of the Steelers to all 4 of my kids 2 girls, 2 boys. It’s a family thing we do. If I stop watching I guarantee they’ll stop. We will find something else to do as a family. When I turn it off they will not only lose 1 fan they will lose 10-15 more. It’s like the old saying - Cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face. Like I said before they will pay for this for years to come. I value your difference of opinion on the subject. My opinion is no way directed bad towards you.

This is the case in my family. I have a son and daughter, 30 and 35, both grew up in AZ but became Steeler fans because of my passion. My son even has a Steeler tatoo on his forearm. But they are not the fan that I am, or was. They may watch a game or not, and aren't aware when the season starts or when a game may be on. If they watch, they will cheer for the B&G, but it's just as likely they will be doing something else and not care if they missed the game or not.

 

[SteelChip]

This is the case in my family. I have a son and daughter, 30 and 35, both grew up in AZ but became Steeler fans because of my passion. My son even has a Steeler tatoo on his forearm. But they are not the fan that I am, or was. They may watch a game or not, and aren't aware when the season starts or when a game may be on. If they watch, they will cheer for the B&G, but it's just as likely they will be doing something else and not care if they missed the game or not.

Same here, mine wear the stuff and will even watch a game with me on occasion but most time it's " when do the Steelers play again Poppy ?" or " who do the Steelers play this week Poppy ?"

I had to look twice to make sure this wasn't my granddaughter.

Oh well....another year is about to begin ( maybe ) and Tomlin is ready to "rain down"..."rain hell"..."bring rain"....something like that anyway.

Old age and ambiguity has found both me and my football team....sigh

 

[Djfan]

Raised all four kids as Steelers fans. Only one is still. The rest just don't care. he and I talk hockey some, but rarely football.

We moved almost two years ago. My huge shrine, along with my jerseys are still packed in boxes. No one really cares at my home anymore.

Why did I go from a fan who starts fan clubs, organizes away game rallies, and traveled a lot to see games? The cheating, the league not caring about the cheating, the rules being so lame, and the politics.

They just lost. That is six of us who no longer care. We are certainly not the olny family walking away.

 

[Steelworth]

That gave me a good chuckle.

 

[Drink IRON City]

The NFL has been near peak for awhile now. I think with the state of current affairs that we have actually seen the peak. They may tap a foreign market here and there but here in the GOOD O'l USA, I don't know where that market will come from. Like some have said it is a calculated risk, similar to chosing to play two seperate national anthems.

When the military pulls out of their agreement, that could be the final nail to mediocracy.





Salute the nation

 

[Supersteeler]

Raised all four kids as Steelers fans. Only one is still. The rest just don't care. he and I talk hockey some, but rarely football.

We moved almost two years ago. My huge shrine, along with my jerseys are still packed in boxes. No one really cares at my home anymore.

Why did I go from a fan who starts fan clubs, organizes away game rallies, and traveled a lot to see games? The cheating, the league not caring about the cheating, the rules being so lame, and the politics.

They just lost. That is six of us who no longer care. We are certainly not the olny family walking away.

All my vintage Steeler jerseys I've collected over the years and would ritualistically wear every Sunday for game time are currently still hanging untouched on the same hangers I put them on when we moved into this house......8 years ago. It's not that I don't still watch the Steelers and enjoy the games, but it's nothing like what it used to be 10 years ago. I've become a casual fan that doesn't have the energy or incentive to make the game day experience an event anymore. I watch the games in a mostly neutral state with a sprinkle of excitement every once in awhile. It's not that I've lost respect for the Steelers as much as I've lost respect for the league. And the Roger Goodell era has a HUGE part of that happening. His regime has undermined the integrity of the game in multiple ways.

 

[Steelworth]

It's not that I don't still watch the Steelers and enjoy the games, but it's nothing like what it used to be 10 years ago. I've become a casual fan that doesn't have the energy or incentive to make the game day experience an event anymore. I watch the games in a mostly neutral state with a sprinkle of excitement every once in awhile. It's not that I've lost respect for the Steelers as much as I've lost respect for the league. And the Roger Goodell era was a HUGE part of that happening.

Amen. Same here. When we'd go back to Pittsburgh to visit (which was typically once a year and now it's about once every three years), my cousins, uncles, my pops and I would go to games. This was around 2002-2010. Now when we go back, nobody even really mentions it. My jerseys are also sitting in the back closet, collecting dust.

Here in California, used to get friends together and we'd go to a Steelers bar just about every Sunday. Whether it was up in the mountains in Big Bear, or by the waves in Hermosa Beach, you could always trust there was a Steelers bar somewhere (we are everywhere). On an old Steelers board I used to frequent, they got a big group together & watched a game at (I think it was called) Sharky's in Newport Beach, CA. People from different parts of the country actually showed up and made it a mini vacation for themselves and family. It was for Super Bowl XLIII so it was obviously a big event, but still.

Now? Not sure if we can even get a few local people together.

 

[Djfan]

Amen. Same here. When we'd go back to Pittsburgh to visit (which was typically once a year and now it's about once every three years), my cousins, uncles, my pops and I would go to games. This was around 2002-2010. Now when we go back, nobody even really mentions it. My jerseys are also sitting in the back closet, collecting dust.

Here in California, used to get friends together and we'd go to a Steelers bar just about every Sunday. Whether it was up in the mountains in Big Bear, or by the waves in Hermosa Beach, you could always trust there was a Steelers bar somewhere (we are everywhere). On an old Steelers board I used to frequent, they got a big group together & watched a game at (I think it was called) Sharky's in Newport Beach, CA. People from different parts of the country actually showed up and made it a mini vacation for themselves and family. It was for Super Bowl XLIII so it was obviously a big event, but still.

Now? Not sure if we can even get a few local people together.

It was Sharkeez. I used to run one on Waring Rd by I-8. There was a Howard Johnsons there, with a bar. We would pack in 100-150 every week. Had a huge one just north of Temecula in Canyon Lake. 200-250 every week. Hired Mike Merriweather to come out a few times. Great times. (Our old myspace is still up! So Cal Steel City Mafia).

Organized a couple of rallies in Denver. One with Frenchy Fuqua. He signed autographs on the hood of my Astrovan. Was flown out to Phoenix once, put up in a resort, given free tickets to the game, so that we could have a rally at Harolds Cove in Cave Creek, AZ. Been to Pittsburgh a bunch of times. We even did our 29th anniversary there. Saw the Pens lose, and the Stillers beat the Stains. Made it to Latrobe the year after we took the second SB.

Now I don't care.

One caveat. If we get to the playoffs, I will watch Tomlin lose again.

 

[Steelworth]

It was Sharkeez. I used to run one on Waring Rd by I-8. There was a Howard Johnsons there, with a bar. We would pack in 100-150 every week. Had a huge one just north of Temecula in Canyon Lake. 200-250 every week. Hired Mike Merriweather to come out a few times. Great times. (Our old myspace is still up! So Cal Steel City Mafia).

That's it, Sharkeez. And holy ****, I lived in Canyon Lake from like 12 years old until I graduated high school. Then moved down to San Diego where you are also from. And I seem to remember So Cal Steel City Mafia. This was about 10 years ago. And that's great you coordinated so many events like that. I know how you feel now, especially when putting all that work & money into it I imagine.

At least we have old times rather than no times at all.

 

[Steelworth]

One caveat. If we get to the playoffs, I will watch Tomlin lose again.

Same here. As I'm sure the rest will. And if that happens again, I'd like to get together with anyone who's willing. Problem is, we're not really going to know where that would be.

I'd like to make a couple more memories before this once great country becomes just a memory.

 

[Djfan]

That's it, Sharkeez. And holy ****, I lived in Canyon Lake from like 12 years old until I graduated high school. Then moved down to San Diego where you are also from. And I seem to remember So Cal Steel City Mafia. This was about 10 years ago. And that's great you coordinated so many events like that. I know how you feel now, especially when putting all that work & money into it I imagine.

At least we have old times rather than no times at all.

That was my club. We met at Pepe's right by the main gate. Used to have a house right on the corner of the main drag and Lands End, after the causeway. Took out a loan for our struggling tuxedo shop in Temecula (Men's Warehouse opened up right across the strret in the mall.), but got hosed during the housing crash about 15 years ago. Left, and never looked back.

That's how I feel about the nfl - won't be looking back.