NFL Lockout Could Cost DC Area $160 Million

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

“Sorry I’m late,” said sportswriter Dave Zirin, “Dan Snyder had me locked in the trunk of his car.” Zirin -- who assured reporters he was "Just kidding: Snyder’ll probably sue me." -- joined Baltimore Ravens cornerback Chris Carr (l), former Washington Redskin Brian Mitchell (c), concessions worker John Marler (r), NFL Players Association Assistant Executive Director of External Affairs George Atallah and American Rights at Work Executive Direcor Kimberly Freeman Brown at the National Press Club Thursday morning for a panel on the impact an NFL lockout -- which could occur as early as March 1 -- would have on players, workers, business owners, and communities across the country. “A lockout would have a devastating effect on the 30,000 UNITE HERE members who will lose their jobs in stadiums across the country,” said Marler, a concessions worker at Ford Field in Detroit and member of UNITE HERE Local 24. According to American Rights at Work – which co-hosted the panel with the NFLPA – studies show that “each host community will face a reduction in economic activity of approximately $160 million if the NFL owners force a lockout” as well as affecting 150,000 jobs nationwide. Former Redskin Brian Mitchell put it bluntly: “It’s all on the owners. The players want to play. I don’t think anyone ever bought a ticket to see Dan Snyder.” According to Zirin, sports editor for The Nation, the NFL owners’ demands on the players boil down to “We want  you to work more and pay you less and if you don’t agree we’ll lock the door.” Chief among the demands by owners are a billion-dollar giveback by players and an increase to an 18-game season, which both players on the panel warned would lead to increased player injuries. “This dispute isn’t just about football, it’s about jobs,” said Freeman, “We want to make sure that rebuilding our economy isn’t at the expense of players and workers.” - report/photo by Chris Garlock; click here for the latest NFLPA updates