Supported by
Discrepancies In N.F.L. Revenue
Roger Noll, a Stanford University economics professor, testified today in the National Football League antitrust trial that the league's reported $1.3 billion in revenue for 1990 was "substantially understated" because of the way the owners do their books.
He said his research found that the N.F.L. reported 1990 total operating expenses of $411 million. Operating profits were reported as $163 million, but Noll said the profits were shielded from costs such as the $600,000 per team contributed to the World League of American Football and two antitrust lawsuits that are "the costs of defending and maintaining a monopoly."
Noll said his analysis of the N.F.L.'s financial statement showed that Norman Braman, owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, paid himself a salary of $7.5 million for 1990. That salary was recorded as general expenses, when it could have been counted as profit for Braman, Noll told the jury.
Inside the World of Sports
Dive deeper into the people, issues and trends shaping professional, collegiate and amateur athletics.
No More Cinderella Stories?: Expansion of the N.C.A.A. men’s basketball tournament has been a popular topic. But adding more teams could push small schools like Oakland, which upset Kentucky, out of the action.
Caitlin Clark’s Lasting Impact: People have flocked to watch the Iowa basketball star on TV and in person. But will her effect on the popularity and economics of women’s sports linger after her college career ends?
Gambling Poses Risks for Leagues: The situation involving the former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger and pitcher, shows that when it comes to wagering on games, professional leagues have more than just the players to watch.
Unionization Efforts: How is a football team different from a marching band? The National Labor Relations Board is considering this question as it tries to determine whether some college athletes should be deemed employees.
Delayed Gratification: Doping rules, legal challenges and endless appeals have left some Olympic medalists waiting for their golds.
Advertisement