Labor storm could hurt Super Bowl

May 21, 2008
Back to TopCommentsE-mailPrint
upshawThere’s a dark cloud hovering over Indianapolis’ selection by National Football League owners to host the 2012 Super Bowl.

The roar that raced from Atlanta where the decision was made Tuesday to Indianapolis almost obscured the stormy labor dispute that is brewing between team owners and players.

Sure, it seems like three years is a long way away, but the fact that all 32 team owners voted yesterday to opt out of the current labor agreement with players shows how serious they are. The current labor deal ends after the 2010 season, the season before Indianapolis is to host the big game.

“The current [labor agreement] is just not working,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell following the decision. “This has to work financially for both sides. We tried it for two years, and it’s not working.”

Moments after the decision, NFL Players Association chief Gene Upshaw summoned reporters in Atlanta to a conference call, where the tension could be heard in his voice. Upshaw said communication has broken down between players and owners, and he didn’t like the way the matter was being handled by owners.

By all accounts, it sounded like this could be a protracted fight. Just how long? Who knows?

If they can’t get a deal worked out, Upshaw said there could be a work stoppage. And a work stoppage would certainly jeopardize the 2012 Super Bowl. And if the NFL resorts to using replacement players all the way through the Super Bowl, that would be devastating on the economic impact here.

“You’d think they’d get this worked out by then, but its difficult to say what these guys will do,” said ESPN analyst John Clayton, who was in Atlanta covering the meetings.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay seemed somewhat concerned, but quickly pointed out that a work stoppage has never halted a Super Bowl. Goodell said the effect of a work stopage on the Super Bowl host city is an issue on the minds of all team owners.

“It’s a bit of a dark cloud,” Irsay said. “But I’m hopeful we’ll get something worked out in time.”
ADVERTISEMENT
  • MattMay 22, 2008 6:35 AM
    Boy, if the owners and players can't get this worked out in 3 years, there is some real greed pushing this. Of course, I'd have to agree with Clayton, I think a different set of motivating factors pushes these guys compared to most other folks. It will be a real sad irony for Indy if the two sides don't pull it together.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • StanMay 23, 2008 10:48 AM
    The only thing worse than NE Patriots making it to this Super Bowl and all their fans taking over the city is a bunch of scab players playing the game.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment

Post a comment to this blog

COMMENTS POLICY
We reserve the right to remove any post that we feel is obscene, profane, vulgar, racist, sexually explicit, abusive, or hateful.
 
You are legally responsible for what you post and your anonymity is not guaranteed.
 
Posts that insult, defame, threaten, harass or abuse other readers or people mentioned in IBJ editorial content are also subject to removal. Please respect the privacy of individuals and refrain from posting personal information.
 
No solicitations, spamming or advertisements are allowed. Readers may post links to other informational websites that are relevant to the topic at hand, but please do not link to objectionable material.
 
We may remove messages that are unrelated to the topic, encourage illegal activity, use all capital letters or are unreadable.
 

Messages that are flagged by readers as objectionable will be reviewed and may or may not be removed. Please do not flag a post simply because you disagree with it.

ADVANCED SEARCH
Sponsored by
ADVERTISEMENT

  1. Saw the Indy Men's Chorus "Music of Gilbert & Sullivan" at the Indiana Historical Society on Sunday evening.

  2. Temporary workers are not "tools" they are people and companies that keep large amounts of temp staff are cheating.

  3. I miss having them around. I hope one of their stores is in the general Meridian/86th Street area. I will make good use of it.

  4. The Fringe! Plus, the simple fact that there are so many local faves in such close proximity to each other.

  5. I remenber, watching the toll road, being built, through South Bend, when I was 10 years old. I believe, back then that it was estimated, that the toll road, would be paid for in 20 years and then it would be free. I am now 71, what happened? Since the power is in the people, by that, I mean that, we the people are in total control of everything. I, suggest that no one ever use the toll road again, let it go broke. We the people can control the price of everything, from groceries to gas, if we would just do it. If we don't pay the asking price, the sellers will lower the price and if we wait awhile, they will lower the price to what we accept as reasonable. I would like to know why a highway like interstate 94, is so well maintained, a much better highway, than the toll road, but has no tolls. I would also like to know why, a sitting governor, with a term limit, maximum of eight years, can lease, public property, for 75 years. Even though I have transponders in both of my trucks and will not be affected by the increase, I have been and will contine to avoid using the toll road. I make many trips from northern Indiana to Chicago, every year, and I prefer the better highway, I94!

ADVERTISEMENT