2003 Regular Season 4 SIM Complete - Next SIM Thursday 09/12

[BradZ]

Can someone explain to me how Pawtucket is able to be $11.5 million over budget, particularly this early in the season?

I never understand how this game's finances work.

Those numbers are essentially just guidelines, and don't actually reflect the true final expected end reality. In all likelihood, should everything remain as it is today, he'll probably end up being over budget by closer to $3-5mil (your mileage may vary). The Tucker deal is what pushed his projected shortfall to the level it shows today.

[BradZ]

Down and dirty (related to PAW's budget figures):

Last season's revenue = $118mil, but his budget was set to $113 (the projected budget room figure uses budget minus expected expenses). It's very likely that he meets (or even exceeds) the $118mil this year, so that immediately makes up for $5mil of the expected shortfall.

On top of that, his attendance is up at the moment by 6+%, meaning that $118 revenue from last season may end up closer to $120+, should he continue to draw fans, making another ~$2mil reduction in his current projected shortfall.

[Dave]

I never understand how this game's finances work.

I will never understand them either. Perhaps we should have a symposium one day.

[BradZ]

I will never understand them either. Perhaps we should have a symposium one day.

It was easier to follow when you could see each team's Front Office -> Budget & Owner Info page. I'm not sure why they took that view away from other owners.

It basically boils down to $$ coming in versus $$ going out . . . and knowing which figures are being used in the calculations being presented (budget figures (static) vs expected actuals (dynamic)).

[funclown]

Can someone explain to me how Pawtucket is able to be $11.5 million over budget, particularly this early in the season?

I never understand how this game's finances work.

Derrik Tucker is why. HOWEVER, my project balance (which yes is negative) has decreased each sim since our attendance , fan interest , ect has risen. Take into account our ticket price is ALREADY $15.25 versus $13.00 at this stage last season we should be fine. Also, my budget is increasing each season as long I make the playoffs.

Summary, we are red lining our budget at the moment. Maybe we can FINALLY get out media contract to actually rise????

[Z]

Those numbers are essentially just guidelines, and don't actually reflect the true final expected end reality. In all likelihood, should everything remain as it is today, he'll probably end up being over budget by closer to $3-5mil (your mileage may vary). The Tucker deal is what pushed his projected shortfall to the level it shows today.

Right, I get that part. What confuses me is that he's "allowed" to go that far over his budget, albeit a "temporary" budget.

I'm not accusing him of anything nefarious. He's not smart enough or commissioner.

I'm just confused because my budget is a full $10 million higher than his, according to the financial report, yet I'm right up against my budget and his payroll is $11 million higher than mine.

That's a $20 million turnaround.

Hell, he somehow signed Huerta to a multi-million dollar deal after the Tucker trade.

It doesn't make sense to me.

[BradZ]

Right, I get that part. What confuses me is that he's "allowed" to go that far over his budget, albeit a "temporary" budget.

I'm not accusing him of anything nefarious. He's not smart enough or commissioner.

I'm just confused because my budget is a full $10 million higher than his, according to the financial report, yet I'm right up against my budget and his payroll is $11 million higher than mine.

That's a $20 million turnaround.

Hell, he somehow signed Huerta to a multi-million dollar deal after the Tucker trade.

It doesn't make sense to me.

We allow trades to push you over, because at the end of the season everyone is held responsible for their negative balances. My guess on Huerta? The offer was submitted before the trade for Tucker, and therefore the internal mechanism allowed the offer at the time and the the player agreed to the deal after sitting on it for a bit.

[funclown]

Hell, he somehow signed Huerta to a multi-million dollar deal after the Tucker trade.

Okay on that.....I made an offer to him the SIM BEFORE I made the trade. Then he sat on it. Well next sim I made a trade with the Dino's. Very next sim (think it was) He actually agreed to the deal.

That one was luck. I actually figured he was going elsewhere. No one attempted to sign him???

That was all timing. Was even going to hold off on the deal until he signed. I sort of gave up on him.

Yes and Brad is right. We can trade til were blue in the face and have a payroll of 200 million, but then eventually the taxman will gut your team. In this case, I'm not all worried. We may end the season slightly in the red, but should come out in 2004 with a decent budget increase to go along with 3 team options(About 40 million) that may need to be "discussed".

[Z]

Remind me how people are being held responsible for negative balances.

Someone needs to write a Larry Coon-style CBA FAQ for the BLB.

By the way, thank you for taking the time to explain things, Brad.

I know I'm not the only one who has no idea how some of these things work, and I feel like I would have gotten a snarky response had I asked these questions a year ago.

[funclown]

Remind me how people are being held responsible for negative balances.

Yes, its called "you made your bed"..... something like that?

[Z]

What does that mean though? Does the game penalize you, by slashing your budget the next year or something?

[funclown]

What does that mean though? Does the game penalize you, by slashing your budget the next year or something?

Well remember he said I had a 118 budget? Well to some extent no. My guy only gave me 113.5 to work with since i was -4.5 in red. So while I had some room I was limited. If you have 120 budget, but 100 mil in expenses + 20 mill in debt you aren't going to do anything. The need for trades increase. Also this is why the "Jerry Daly" extension was a joke. If start to run too much into the red, you will lose your homegrown players.


Sort of on subject. Is there a way to DISCLOSE when our local/ national media contract are up??? Are we on different time scales?

[Z]

And that applies to the following season? So if you finish $8 million over budget this season, then next season, $8 million of your budget will be set aside to pay off that debt?

[funclown]

And that applies to the following season? So if you finish $8 million over budget this season, then next season, $8 million of your budget will be set aside to pay off that debt?

Nope! Its your FINAL balance that will punish(or help) your bottom line. Budget is irrelevant. The init budget is sort of like a "forcast" of what you need to run a team. Does not take into account increased revenue, mechandise increase, ect. Works in reverse also BTW. That media contract plays a nice part which is one thing I only semi get at the moment.

Its basically up to our management to do this. Also, playoff revenue is a good thing something my team didn't get last season.

[Z]

So if your final balance is negative $8 million, what happens?