Lower NFL ratings? League pulls election lever

Declining ratings were obviously a hot topic of conversation here, and the now usual suspects were trot out: the election, poor matchups, migration to digital.

“Probably something to do with the election; the previous rating period was just higher, coming off a bump, could be a factor,” said Woody Johnson, the New York Jets owner.

Joe Lockhart, NFL executive vice president of communications and a former White House press secretary, said all ratings during election years have fallen dating to 1980, and promised a chart shown to owners to go with it. The chart that he produced dated to 1995-96 (see box). It showed declining ratings in the year of the election ranging from 2 percent in 2004 and 2008, to the 15 percent through four weeks this year. The previous high was a 10 percent drop in 2000.

Owners did not seem particularly troubled by the ratings decline, seeing it as a small sample size, and knowing the broadcast contracts are in only the early stages. Nevertheless, if the ratings stayed down 15 percent after Nov. 8, maybe that will get their attention. Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters that the league and the broadcasters steadfastly believe the national anthem protests are unrelated to the decline.

■ NOTHING TO SEE HERE: Speaking of Lockhart, the architect of the league’s stronger PR approach, appeared to back off threats to sue The New York Times. In March, the newspaper wrote a hard-hitting story linking the NFL to the tobacco industry. The NFL reacted furiously and threatened a lawsuit against the newspaper, sending a letter warning the Times to keep all of its reporting records from the piece.

Asked last week about the status of the possible lawsuit, Lockhart smiled and then said the league would likely leave New York Times lawsuits to the Trump campaign. That is a reference to Donald Trump’s own threats to sue the Times for reporting on allegations by women who contend that he groped them.

Lockhart did not rule out an NFL lawsuit. But his words and body language certainly suggested there is no chance of litigation.

■ WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS: While many assume that the Raiders are moving to Las Vegas, after Nevada voted to pass $750 million of stadium subsidies, and that owner Mark Davis has turned his back on Oakland, nothing is set in stone. The league is conducting market studies of the two cities, and if they come back indicating Oakland is a much better market than Las Vegas, which many assume will be the case, that could change the outlook.

Then there is the issue of what casino magnate Sheldon Adelson’s role is. He has committed $650 million to the Vegas stadium, but does he expect equity in the team? No one knows right now. But while the league appears more comfortable being around the edges of legalized gambling, embracing a casino titan as an owner is a different matter. And would the league allow casino sponsorships at a Vegas stadium? If not, that changes the stadium economics. And what will the lease look like for the Raiders?

All unknowns, making the December NFL meeting a potentially big one for getting a feel which way the wind is blowing.

■ A POUND OF FLESH: The Jacksonville Jaguars took in $1 million less than projected from their London game on Oct. 2 because of the decline in the British pound, said Mark Lamping, the team president. The annual London game represents about 15 percent of total team revenue, Lamping said, and despite the currency issue, it made money for the club. The British pound has fallen precipitously because of the Brexit vote approving the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union.

The NHL with its Canadian clubs has long confronted currency fluctuations, so if the NFL were to locate a team to London, managing monetary ups and downs would become an issue too for the league.

■ L.A. UPDATE: The Los Angeles Rams plan a groundbreaking for the new Inglewood stadium in the next 30 to 60 days, said Kevin Demoff, the team’s chief operating officer. That still puts the team on schedule to open the new building in 2019, he said.

Nevertheless, the groundbreaking date keeps getting pushed back from earlier forecasts. Demoff declined to say why, though the project is awaiting approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, which issued a notice of presumed hazard on the project nearly a year ago. The team has told owners it believes it has solutions to that issue.

■ TIDBITS: This was the first meeting for Shad Khan as chairman of the business ventures committee, taking over for San Diego Chargers owner Dean Spanos. … Spanos said the coming stadium referendum in San Diego will be a challenge. … Speaking of Spanos, the day before the meeting he was seen walking and smiling with Rams owner Stan Kroenke. Spanos has an option to move in with the Rams in L.A. That option expires Jan. 12 but could be extended a year. … Owners hosted a reception attended by former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara.