NFL The Latest Hit By Economy As It Plans To Cut 150 Employees

The NFL is cutting its staff by 150 employees over the next 60 days as part of a cost-cutting plan caused in part by the current economic climate. A voluntary separation program will be offered to league personnel later this week as the first aspect of the reductions. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in an internal memo sent this morning said, "These are difficult and painful steps, but they are necessary in the current economic environment. I would like to be able to report that we are immune to the troubles around us, but we are not." The league currently has 1,100 employees in its three offices (THE DAILY).

IRL Teams Report Few Staff Cuts Despite Economy

IRL TEAMS HOLDING ONTO EMPLOYEES: In Indianapolis, Curt Cavin reports as NASCAR teams cut jobs and Honda withdraws from F1 due to the current financial crisis, IRL teams are "traveling in a different direction," as some are hiring and the rest are "holding on to the majority of their employees." IRL team execs said that the current recession "has had little effect on staffing." Cavin notes "whatever fat was in team payrolls was trimmed long before the unification" of the IRL and the Champ Car World Series last February. Across IRL, there have been a "few layoffs among year-round employees since the season ended" on October 25. Vision Racing has "cut three of its 40-plus positions." Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is "down about seven spots, to 25, although" team co-Owner Dennis Reinbold said that he "plans to fill them as the 2009 season nears." KV Racing Technology has "added four employees since September," and A.J. Foyt Racing "hired a lead mechanic and upgraded its engineering department." Dale Coyne Racing is also "in hiring mode." IRL President & COO Brian Barnhart said that league staffing "remains at the same level." Meanwhile, "more than 700 people have been released from NASCAR Sprint Cup teams since the season ended three weeks ago" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 12/9).

ISC NOT IMMUNE TO ECONOMY: ISC Senior VP/Marketing & Business Operations Roger VanDerSnick said the company is not “immune” to the economic downturn and that the company is “seeing it in our fans.” VanDerSnick: “There’s been some pullback for some (fans). There’s been a bit of a pullback on the sports sponsorship side and what it causes us (is) to be smarter and to work harder and to innovate more.” VanDerSnick: “There’s no secret the sponsors are scrutinizing their marketing budgets even more … (but) I like where we stand in that because what we deliver are marketing solutions to our sponsors” (“America’s Nightly Scoreboard,” Fox Business, 12/5).

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