The MFCA Value?

[MplsTom]

You're looking at 6 figures and a ton of red tape on licensing.

The NFL has cracked down a lot to protect "their brand". For most products, there's an up-front cost of usually $75K to $125K plus a pretty steep percentage of sales (usually 25% or more).

If you pass that hurdle, then you need to go through an extensive review process to ensure that your product is unique and also not something already currently in development by the NFL.

Finally, there are some pretty stringent pre-requisites to ensure that vendors are reputible and experienced. For example, if you had something involving printing, you'd have to demonstrate that your company has been around 2 years or more and has service a high volume of corporate orders in a positive fashion.

That's just the NFL license which gets you the use of the team logo, colors, etc.

If you want to start doing anything involving the player likeness (name on jersey, unique poses or facial/body likeness), then you need an NFLPA license. This, I believe, can be negotiated in one of two ways. You can work a deal to do a few specific players, in which case they get more of the revenue or you can negotiate a blanket license (like the video games) in which case you can use all the players but not unduly highlight one or two. Some heavy $ in that as well.

Finally, if you want to do anything with retired players, it depends on the era and what you're doing. The NFLPA can negotiate some "blanket" agreements that would allow for use of mass likenesses (again not unduly highlighting one player) for the recent past. Otherwise, depending on the year and the collective bargaining agreement, you're usually needing to negotiate with the player directly and come up with your own agreement (still needing the NFL license to represent the team jersey, etc).

I would've loved to see EF move more in the licensing direction. It would've taken a significant investment and a whole different marketing strategy that would've been needed to recoup those costs. Honestly, the window of time is closing fast on ever being able to recoup those as we're getting older and the kids game is Madden, etc. There's some kids playing EF, but nothing close to the scale that you'd need to make something like that worthwhile.

[detroitchild]

Licensing!!! Though not impossible I'd say highly improbable. The responsibilities (financial and administrative) are to great for this organization and will be for some time to come. I'd like to see what Kenny, or anyone else, comes up with in researching but I have to say that it seems unrealistic now and in the near future. I see this hobby growing right now but in the form of a "Cottage industry". I think we have the ability to really grow this as a niche for the numbers that are currently while preparing it for further growth. As a project manager I'm always looking a planning. We need a short, mid, and long term goals/plan. What have we got so far? I'm asking because I honestly don't know. Where are we now and where do we want to be? What's the plan on getting there? Who can we align ourselves with to help move our agenda forward, Miggle? Excalibur? Other similar hobbies?

I believe that whatever we decide, whatever path we choose to take some will depart and others will join. That's with ANY organization or movement. Let's just continue discussions to a certain point (date), make some decisions, plan for the outcome of those decisions, and move forward.

Just my 2 cents

[FrustratedFinFan]

I know I will regret this, but here goes.

This board is great. Much better than Miggle's stifling board. I participate in many similar boards and pay nothing to participate in them. A $30 annual fee for this board would be too much to pay for sure. I think the Tweak is neat, but if you don't want it....then you shouldn't have to pay for it. Maybe a $5 annual fee for the board? And....even that is too much. I know that seems unfair, but boards such as this exist all over the place for free. That is just the norm. We could get a Yahoo group free and all post there. It would not be as good, but certainly would fulfill our basic needs to communicate and organize....all for free. I pay plenty of money to support EF already. I buy most everyone's new products. I buy decals and paints and players. I pay to play in tournaments. That isn't good enough? Many boards are supported by advertising. Perhaps that is the way to go here? Looking at America's economic futures right now....I think free or cheap might be the operative word. It seems to be for other hobbies I participate in. I regret that I haven't been able to put as much volunteer effort into increasing this hobby, but wargaming (my first hobby...and one that I have been in for about 32 years) already gets that volunteer effort. I have tied EF in with my wargaming hobby by running EF at a wargaming convention...and I met Rick and Shawn Garrison that way....and that was good. Perhaps I can get some of the L.A. guys to come to one of the wargaming conventions and run games to get exposure....our hobby should be working with the wargaming hobby, model making hobby and other related hobbies to recruit new blood. Cost efficient and logical. I don't want to sound ungrateful...I am not. I don't want to stifle enthusiasm, but wanted to inject some reason to the debate.

[Treks1]

Originally Posted by FrustratedFinFan

I know I will regret this, but here goes.

This board is great. Much better than Miggle's stifling board. I participate in many similar boards and pay nothing to participate in them. A $30 annual fee for this board would be too much to pay for sure. I think the Tweak is neat, but if you don't want it....then you shouldn't have to pay for it. Maybe a $5 annual fee for the board? And....even that is too much. I know that seems unfair, but boards such as this exist all over the place for free. That is just the norm. We could get a Yahoo group free and all post there. It would not be as good, but certainly would fulfill our basic needs to communicate and organize....all for free. I pay plenty of money to support EF already. I buy most everyone's new products. I buy decals and paints and players. I pay to play in tournaments. That isn't good enough? Many boards are supported by advertising. Perhaps that is the way to go here? Looking at America's economic futures right now....I think free or cheap might be the operative word. It seems to be for other hobbies I participate in. I regret that I haven't been able to put as much volunteer effort into increasing this hobby, but wargaming (my first hobby...and one that I have been in for about 32 years) already gets that volunteer effort. I have tied EF in with my wargaming hobby by running EF at a wargaming convention...and I met Rick and Shawn Garrison that way....and that was good. Perhaps I can get some of the L.A. guys to come to one of the wargaming conventions and run games to get exposure....our hobby should be working with the wargaming hobby, model making hobby and other related hobbies to recruit new blood. Cost efficient and logical. I don't want to sound ungrateful...I am not. I don't want to stifle enthusiasm, but wanted to inject some reason to the debate.

I respect your opion. I started a dwarf (Warhammer) army but never finished em....

I for one like what we have started here on this board and I have to pay additional dues to keep it as a forum open to any coach I will be happy to do so. I would vote to have a member section.

Treks 1
Member number 4

[sweetka]

Thanks for the information. Now if I could just find that friggin' silver lining

[detroitchild]

Several coaches have listed some good ideas to raise funds for the MFCA. Perhaps we should give people an option to donate (let's say 5 bucks for sake of discussion) to the association. That donation does not give you full privilege but gives you a bit more access (to be determined) PLUS the Tweak in pdf format.

The idea of an auction is great. There are some talented guys here who may be interested in donating something for the auction. Perhaps we could have 2 of them...one online and a live one at the HOF weekend in Canton.

I also like the idea of selling advertising for the Tweak and on our website. Perhaps there could be a contest between leagues as to who can get the most advertising from their area. This could include getting hobby shops/events involved (I can see the guys from the LAEFL licking their chops already. Man, I love the way you guys operate! )

And last (for now) membership drives where the onus falls on the members and leagues to recruit. Again a contest could be held for individual members and/or leagues to see who can get the most members to join.

Your thoughts?

[jimmie]

Thats good I like that.Selling ads the leagues and fundraisers now you talkiing a series of ebay auctions maybe!!

[WEIRDWOLF]

Yes, this is good. Currently, Ken Allen and Corey Johnson have expressed interest in helping to organize the "MF/EF Garage Sale. Anyone else? As long as we run the donated items through ebay with the MFCA paypal, there are no issues. This is something we should do, probably at the most, twice a year just like schools do with bake sales and car washes, etc.
My only fear is that someone donates and then doesn't follow through with the donation. Any ideas on how to protect ourselves from this and how will shipping of the items be handled? The MFCA could probably reimburse the person who donated the item out of the money from the sale of the item unless they donated that part as well. Other ideas?

I am excited by the enthusiasm that is being displayed and the ideas that are coming forth. This conversation alone has netted some new advertisers and at least 12 new members. I think even through our disagreements we have built a tighter community. My hats off to all who have taken part in this conversation and to those who have emailed me as well.

[jimmie]

Just call him out on the board!! really How will we list so that the money goes to MCFA paypal??

[5-13 Studios]

Originally Posted by WEIRDWOLF

My only fear is that someone donates and then doesn't follow through with the donation. Any ideas on how to protect ourselves from this and how will shipping of the items be handled? The MFCA could probably reimburse the person who donated the item out of the money from the sale of the item unless they donated that part as well. Other ideas?

perhaps a penalty needs to be in place if a promise of donation or whatever is not held up by the donor. no follow through=no posting for x amount of time, or they lose rights to advertise their products (if applicable) on the chatboard for x amount of time.