In Slumping Economy, NFL To Cut About 150 Employees

The New York Times reports that the National Football League, which has a total of 1,100 employees at its New York headquarters,
at NFL Films in New Jersey, and at the Los Angeles offices of the NFL
Network
and NFL.com, will cut 150 jobs following the Super Bowl. Although voluntary buyouts are being offered now, the league will not
determine the breakdown of cuts until after the championship game on
Feb. 1.

“These are difficult and painful steps,” Goodell’s memo
said. “But they are necessary in the current economic environment. I
would like to be able to report that we are immune to the troubles
around us, but we are not. Properly managed, I am confident the NFL
will emerge stronger, more efficient, and poised to pursue long-term
growth opportunities.”
This is the latest indication that the
global recession has reached into even the gilded environs of
professional sports. In October, the NBA announced the elimination of about 80 jobs. Honda Motor Co. is withdrawing from Formula One auto racing, NASCAR is aggressively cutting costs, and Major League Baseball’s Internet division has laid off about 20 workers.