- End of the Bench
- Posts
- NFL Asks Fans to Focus on Lost Revenue in Wake of Player Nearly Dying
NFL Asks Fans to Focus on Lost Revenue in Wake of Player Nearly Dying
Thoughts and Prayers.
By Meg Reid
NEW YORK - The NFL has issued a statement asking that all football fans, no matter which team they support, band together to offer their thoughts and prayers for the money the league lost Monday night, after the Buffalo Bills versus Cincinnati Bengals game was postponed after Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest.
The statement reads, in part:
"Now is not the time to worry about human lives or player safety. It is time to step back and think about what is really important - the money the NFL lost because we suspended a game when a player’s heart literally stopped beating and had to be forcefully resuscitated right there on the field, in front of his teammates, family members in attendance, and 60,000 fans. Our financial loss is the real tragedy.”
As Hamlin was being rushed to the hospital by paramedics, the NFL was put in the unfathomable position of possibly losing advertising and in-stadium revenue by canceling the rest of the game.
"Just think about how investors must have felt while they waited to learn if the game would resume," a fan solemnly remarked. "No billionaire should ever have to go through something like that."
The NFL is also urging fans to be wary about people trying to capitalize on their devastation by doing things like showing support for the injured player through donating to his GoFundMe page, which is raising money for a toy drive and other community services for low-income kids in his hometown.
“Unfortunately, you have to watch out for scams when these things occur,“ a senior NFL executive cautioned. “It’s hard to believe that someone could think about others’ well-being instead of their own money at a time like this, but it happens.”
Even with all the league has gone through in the past few days, some are critical of the league's response, saying that their own revenue, which is ultimately generated by the players, should not have been their focus in the aftermath of Hamlin’s medical emergency.
In response, an NFL spokesperson clarified that “you can’t put a price on human life, but you can put a price on lost revenue, and that’s why we care about it more.”
As the NFL awaits updates on the final revenue for Monday’s game, analysts expect the league to make a full recovery.
If you would like to learn more about Damar Hamlin and his charitable work, click the link below and donate to his foundation.
Reply