What things do you associate with fall? Thanksgiving? The leaves changing colors? School starting? Maybe. But for the majority of Americans, the first thing thought of is football. Whether it's at the professional, collegiate or high school level, when fall rolls around, millions of Americans get fired up to watch their favorite teams compete. However, as many of us know, the NFL team owners and players are in quite the scuffle right now which has resulted in a (heart-breaking and depressing to many) lockout for the upcoming season.
In case you are not familiar with this issue, I found this great article called "NFL owners meetings: Can Leage, NFLPA find harmony amid lockout?" posted on USAToday that breaks down the situation in a way that's easy to understand. This article gives a snap shot of what's currently going, a look at what's to come and answers ten different commonly asked questions about the issue.
Whether you're a die-hard NFL fan or not, this issue has gained a ton of media coverage since the get-go and will continue to as the season approaches. To me, it's crazy to think about fall without professional football! What's going to happen to all the people employed by these teams? This article touches on some of the things different departments are doing.
For example, tickets are still being sold (with the hopes that things will be resolved) and you better believe that the PR pros representing the NFL are hard at work. As a communications professional in this type of position, what do you do? Plan for the BIG crisis...that's for sure. I would also guess that planning a campaign directed toward consumer relations (fan bases and toward the players) would be happening too. As a soon-to-be college grad heading into the professional sports world with a B.A. in sport management and public relations...this issue made me analyze how a big happening like this could affect the people behind the scenes. I'm looking forward to see how it all plays out, and I'm crossing my fingers that next fall I'll be able to watch the leaves change colors AND NFL football.
Couldn't agree with you more Ellen- I can't imagine a fall without football! I've been looking at this situation from a little bit of a different perspective as well, considering my cheesehead football loyalty. The Green Bay Packers are the only community-owned franchise in the league- so that means that an NFL lockout would literally affect the entire town. Townspeople are fans and shareholders alike, and no doubt all are waiting on pins and needles, hoping for some good news.
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