Skipper

So it really does seem like this came down to these guys wanting to do a podcast in addition to their show and Cumulus wouldn't budge. Tough to know if Cumulus kind of let them walk without knowing the salary offer. At the end of the day it really doesn't matter. I still think people will listen to the Musers and the Hardline. They will probably have a big drop off but still 'win' 10-3 based on brand recognition. But I also still think that whenever the guys that were on the phone start thinking about retirement that The Ticket will die with them. The reality is the best young talent that could have kept it going (Sirois and Jake) are both gone. Of course, who knows if live radio is still even a thing 10-15 years from now. I'm guessing Dan convinced Jake that would be the case and they are trying to get out in front of it.

Yeah, down the 3rd base line I couldn't see any balls hit to that corner or the Rays 9th inning homerun. You could tell it wasn't going to hook foul but couldn't see shit. That's ridiculous for a bunch of pretty high priced seats. Again, my biggest takeaway sitting down there was that I couldn't fathom buying season tix at that price point for that view and doubt many individuals do. Probably all corporate which matches the overall feel of the stadium.

As someone that went to law school, I can tell you I wouldn't count on a Pennsylvania court case giving you a definitive answer in Texas. I also think it's somewhat worthless to speculate because none of us knows what their employment agreement says. It also sounds like they might have worked a short period outside the terms of their contract to the extent that matters. Again, none of us know the facts and I know enough to know that non-compete enforceability is very fact specific. I'll say this, I would be shocked if they were able to start at The Freak on Monday to the extent that actually was their plan (and it certainly doesn't sound like that is their plan as of now based on their video).

I don't keep up with it as not my practice area but it's pretty settled law. Although I know the FTC proposed a rule earlier this year that would kill it but haven't followed where that went. The concept is obviously extremely pro-employer/anti-worker.

That sounds like a "fan" of the team expecting a hometown discount. It's business. Not to mention it sounds like Dan has already turned down higher offers before and sounds like they have basically fucked Jake over comp wise ever since he was promoted.

Yeah, to the extent Dan and Jake have any success, you wonder if other hosts might consider exiting Cumulus employment and either doing their own thing or linking back up. I'll be surprised if this remotely resembles the "rally the troops" approach to The Freak.

None of us know how their non-compete reads but it almost certainly extends beyond their employment. There is a reason why both Sirois and Danny didn't pop up at The Freak until around 6 months after they were done at The Ticket.

Well that sucks. Wonder if part of the "no hard feelings" talk is hoping for a light touch around the non-compete with Cumulus (i.e, if we continue to say good things and promote the Ticket on the podcast (i.e., not competing with the Ticket), maybe they don't enforce if it's a grey area in the non-compete language). Agreed this seems like a much bigger risk for Jake. Hope it works out for them. Regardless, I still think a short-sighted move by Cumulus, particularly in light of Norm's retirement (so cost savings combined with needing to fill a slot). Cumulus basically just decided to say fuck it outside of Musers/Hardline. Which effectively means The Ticket is done once these guys retire. I'll definitely listen less.

The field level dugout club area seemed kind of cool (walk all the way down to the end towards outfield of the white painted area you are referencing then go downstairs) but we didn't have access to the coolest part (i.e., we could get into the 'lounge' that had limited field view but the section that is open to the stadium with better field level views required some special tickets or access). None of it made sense buying tickets on stubhub. I couldn't tell if certain sections had club access or just certain tickets within the sections. I had thought a Weds afternoon game would be the right time to check some of that out but given 31K people had same idea, the tickets designated as club access were still way too pricy. Especially with a 6 year old and having to drive (so not able to take advantage of unlimited beers).

Definitely wasn't the case when I was a teenager going to games in the 90's. I have good memories of sneaking down to front row seats the last few innings. I have no doubt that changed over time. But hate to tell you it's not any better in the new place. I had to show my ticket (on my phone) probably 5+ times yesterday. 3X before game even started (escalator down to LL, entering LL and a different usher checked about 5 mins after sitting in our seats). Then I had to dig my damn phone out to show it to an usher a couple of times coming back from concessions including once balancing a plate of dollar dogs and a beer. Shit got old.

I loved that place (other than day games in July/August). I was fine with an August night game as long as the beer was cold. I thought the sightlines throughout the old ballpark were better. I've yet to find the sweet spot for viewing at the new place which is why I want to try lower rows in the 100 level. I've sat upper rows in the 100's on first base line a couple of times and still felt too far away/high up for what should be "good" seats. 200 level seemed way too high so I can't fathom how high up the 300 level feels. But games like yesterday are why that place was built. Revenue was probably around 10X what it would have been at the old ballpark.

Took my son to the game yesterday. Good time and good win. Still not a fan of the new ballpark but I'll take it on a day like yesterday. Never thought I would see 31K attend a random Weds 1PM game in July but I guess combo of winning team + AC when 105 outside will make that happen. Also, yesterday was the first time I've set down low in the new stadium (4th row third base line a couple of sections past the dugout). I completely understand the need for the extended netting from a safety/liability standpoint, but it does take away from the viewing experience. Definitely would not pay weekend ticket prices to sit down there. I think lower rows in the 100 level may be best seats. Going to try that the next game that I don't just buy outfield seats (which, for baseball, I'm typically fine with).

I experienced what an absolute Cluster F getting to the strip from the airport was on a random Sunday during the damn rock n roll half marathon. I can't fathom what a cluster F the entire weekend is going to be. You couldn't pay me to go.

I would speculate this is correct as well. Which kind of makes sense from both sides why this is the net result. If there flat out wasn't more cash available at Cumulus (which no doubt was the case) Jake and Dan trying to bridge the gap with separate content makes sense. I still think it was short-sighted of whomever made the ultimate call at Cumulus to nix that and let them walk. This station doesn't exist if/when Gordo moves on and I think they will take a big hit loyalty "P1" hit from this alone. It was worth it to figure out a way to keep them in the stable.

Agreed. Bob, Corby, Craig and George should not be making more than Dan and Jake from a talent/listenability perspective. I don't blame the other hosts for not fighting for their $$ but, in my personal opinion, Jake was #2 talent at the station behind Gordo. Easily top 4. So if his comp offer still paid him #7 then I don't blame him for walking. And like you said, from Dan's perspective, no way Bob should be making more than him (if that is the case). It sounds like those guys tried to bridge the salary gap via separate independent content. IMO really short sighted of the Ticket to not go down that route. I get it would open the door for the other hosts to make the same demand once their contracts come up but I agree we'll look back that this move was the beginning of the end for the Ticket.

I would. Just a matter of taste and overall Dan and Jake have more segments that interest me (I can do without simple George red dirt talk and Craig obscure sports talk). Gordo segments will be there on the app. In reality I would probably be flipping back and forth during the commute a bunch.

I got the tejano bleed over on the way in this morning and switched the station. Ridiculous. I'm definitely a free agent after this move. Unfortunately not aware of any commute time radio that is better. If Jake/Dan moved to morning or afternoon drive time on the freak I would convert.

The Cumulus position seems reasonable on not allowing separate monetization seems reasonable in a vacuum but we obviously don't know the base salary offer and how that compares with the other top hosts. If they were trying to do something on the side to make them whole (relatively compared to their peers) I get it. It's a big risk for them obviously. But I'll probably listen to anything Jake puts out. Huge blow for the big events and frankly just for football season. Jake's college football takes were pretty much the only ones I can even stand to listen to.

Nonevent? Totally disagree with that take. I personally rarely tuned in live given the window due to work but listened to almost all their available segments on sportsday app during morning dog walk daily. I'll still listen on the commute but that probably knocks the app out for me all together. Jake was, for me at least, probably top overall host and certainly from a sports talk perspective. I think it's a huge loss for the station.

That will play!

Agreed. If he got a competing offer that Cumulus didn't match, that seems to indicate Cumulus is going to squeeze all the profit they can over the next 5-10 years without any real succession planning.

If they let Jake walk it's pretty telling. I can take or leave Dan personally (probably a minority opinion here) but Jake is pretty clearly the best talent under 40 and has been for years.

I found the one thing that led me to flip over to the Freak while driving this AM. Junior's Tour De France talk. Unfortunately 97.1 was equally terrible.

We binged this over the past couple of months. Great show. A few thoughts: 1. Glad I wasn't watching this in real time if Chopper's takes throughout the series were as bad as the last few pages. Wow. I didn't think it was possible for anyone to (i) completely misunderstand an episode and (ii) continue to double down on his horrible takes. 2. Tom didn't get any real power as he's clearly an empty suit but from Tom's perspective that's also kind of all he ever really wanted. Just the title and perception of power means he won in his mind even if he's still a clear #2 (or really #3 behind Mattson's other right hand man). Agreed with the poster that said Shiv sealed her own fate when she described Tom to Mattson and it's exactly what he was looking for. Also, as another poster said, the title gives him the stepping stone to a true CEO role somewhere else in the future if that's what he wants. 3. The ending with Shiv and Tom is interesting and don't really know what to make of it. Because in the long run I don't think any chance that marriage will last. Tom clearly mentally moved on from her over the course of this season. Shiv couldn't stand the thought of her brother in that role but over time (probably in the very near term) she'll resent Tom and look at him the same way for being in a position that in her mind should be hers. He's already dealing with Mattson controlling big picture decisions, no way he deals with her backseat driving from home. 4. Kendal committing suicide was the obvious ending so kind of glad they didn't go that route. Probably left the viewer 50/50 whether that's a near term outcome or he just does it indirectly via becoming an addict but odds of him getting past it and becoming successful and stable are virtually zero. 5. Roman, with his moment of clarity that they are all a joke in the end, may be the only one that can take his billion and fuck off and enjoy life.\ 6. Liked the ending with Tom and Greg. Even though it easily could have fucked him, Tom completely respected Greg's power play. 100% what he would have done in that position with that info. He was pissed but proud.

That's fine. Then make that decision initially instead of handing his attorney millions of dollars in leverage by first deciding the appropriate punishment was a 2 week suspension that cost Fitz ~ $100K compared to a termination 48 hours later with presumably the exact same information that cost Fitz $42MM.