I was looking through the OOTP forums today, and I am starting to think that our open teams would quickly fill up once we move to OOTP 9. I was looking at the online leagues forum, and there's one post from a guy that was starting a league, and within one day, all but four of the teams in his league were taken. According to his post, every one of his teams are now taken. I took a look at the other posts of leagues looking for owners, and every request was responded to by someone looking to join within about a day. So, I was wondering if we shouldn't give OOTP 9 a shot before we cut out the open teams. I may be new to the game, but even I know that it would save a lot of trouble with adjusting the settings and everything.

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Capital City Bombers (1993-2004)

I'd certainly be fine with trying to test the waters again and see if the release of OOTP 9 has created enough interest to find some new owners.  I'd imagine we probably have a post on the OOTP boards somewhere already looking for new owners, but it's probably buried because we posted it awhile ago.  I do have one owner who could take over a new team, so we'd only be looking for five more.  He is my brother-in-law, and was originally going to take Texas.  But he drug is feet a bit too much, and another new owner got Texas instead.  So he'd probably take New Glarus now, I'd guess.

We are going to have to decide fairly soon on what to do here though.  If we do contract, it will definitely make the coming off-season longer, so any further delay trying to come up with a decision just makes that worse.  On the other hand, I do like the size of the league now, so it would be nice for contraction to be unnecessary.  We just haven't had much luck in the past filling this many teams...

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Caelon
GM New York Empire

I agree it'd be nice to try and keep all the teams/divisions intact. It could be possible that with OOTP9 the league would get some more nibbles and teams may be filled. I think it's at least worth a shot. Wouldn't hurt to hold-off one more season, start using OOTP9 and then if we get no owners the we can contract afterward. Sounds like a grand idea to me at least. :)

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Vienna Buzz

Thinking more on what Toriq said, it probably is a good idea to wait at least one more season before contraction.  My fear is that with the switch to OOTP9, and all of us (Em included) getting used to the league with the new software, the off-season already may take longer than expected.  It really is no big deal for me to maintain New Glarus another season, especially now that I'm not also temp-running Texas.  (So glad we got a couple new owners during the past season!!)  Doing basic roster stuff for one additional team isn't too big a burden, though I still definitely believe it is bad for the league long term.  I have set a limit on myself in that I will not make trades between the teams I am running, no matter how fair the trade may be, so both teams have one less trading partner in the league.

And, if we begin to find some new owners, my brother-in-law will take over New Glarus, so that's one less owner we need to find.  I don't see the point of him taking the team if we don't find anyone else, because it would be MUCH harder to contract five teams than six, based on the division structure as it is...

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Caelon
GM New York Empire

I'll post another invitation to the OOTP boards in hopes that we can catch a few more fish.

I will say that we'll need  each of the 6 ownerless teams having a temp manager for next season. I'll be happy to be one of those if no one else steps up, but running sims, managing Homer, and managing 6 other ownerless teams is not going to happen.

Right now we've got:

1. Biloxi Hurricanes - no one (Zayx, weren't you managing Biloxi for a while?)
   
2. Bowie Knives - no one
   
3. Honshu Nymphs - RockRocks
   
4. New Glarus Brewmasters - Caelon
   
5. Spalding Aeros - no one
   
6. St. Boni Bashers - No one

I'd have no problem temp managing a team in the other league for a season.

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Vienna Buzz

I did some off and on last season, was just too busy to run both last year.  If we are waiting another season to contract I will do a better job this Biloxi this coming season if time permits.  If someone else has time to run them that's fine by me.

Zayx

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Chessie Ironhorse

I'd be willing to step up and take one for a season if necessary (preferrably mays league for obvious reasons). 

I also don't know if I really agree with holding off on this.  Keeping this many computer/dual owner controlled teams around for yet another season cannot be healthy for the league.  I don't really have any expectation that we will be able to fill any/all of those slots.  Why not just trim the fat and be done with it.

*shrug*

Tempus 

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South Beach Sunburn GM

I dunno. I think that with OOTP9 being available on a place like Steam there could be a nice influx of new online players looking for leagues. We could even post it on the Steam OOTP9 forum also: http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=426

I think it's worth a year wait and then we can contract as needed.

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Vienna Buzz

I disagree.  I complained way too much about how the contraction was to be handled.  All that effort...down the drain! 

I think we can hold off.  I can take over a team, too if need be.

Caelon, why don't you suggest to your borther in law that he try it out for a year?

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Berd
Manager, Latrobe Lightning

Posted to OOTP board, registered for Steam OOTP forum to post there as well.

[update: posted to Steam board, too]

Cool it looks like Biloxi has an interested party.

 

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Chessie Ironhorse