5 Points
13. Expansion Expansion Expansion! The league seems to love talking about it, but it has still not happened. Tell us why it should happen / should not happen soon?
Bigger is better, right? When it comes to simulation leagues I am usually in the camp of expansion is always good but it is a little bit different for the ISFL.
First, let’s start with the reasons for expanding soon. If the league expands that helps to spread the talents around the league. With each expansion powerhouse teams lose pieces and the middling and basement teams can catch up a little. Parity is important in keeping members interested in the league. Next, it gets people hyped. Where is the new team or teams going to be located? Who will the new GM be? Most importantly what is the branding? It creates buzz that goes on for weeks and can help a usually long and dull offseason go by so much faster. Expanding means the site is growing and that growth needs to be nurtured. If the number of members keeps increasing but the roster space stays the same more and more people are going to be left out in the cold and that is the last thing you want to happen in a sim league. Finally in the argument for expansion, expanding brings the ISFL closer to emulating its real life counterpart the NFL. The NFL has 32 teams to the ISFL’s 14. Even adding the 8 DSFL teams means that we are dwarfed by real life. Getting the league up closer to what most are thinking of when they join the league will push people to go even further in their effort on the site.
On the flip side of that coin is the plain fact that football teams are too damn big. NFL teams have a 48 player active roster for game days. That is a lot of people to keep track of for a hobby. But let’s say you get 48 people together, now you have to figure out who plays where. I’m not too knowledgeable on football and all the positions but I am willing to bet not too many people would be pumped to have to play center (no offense if that’s your position) or one of the other non-glorious positions. That means you are going to need bots. Lots and lots of bots. I think bot usage at the moment is fine but it is a fine line that needs to be walked. What is the active to bot ratio that is correct.
All in all, I say expand. The bots will take over eventually anyway.
(412 words)
2.5 Points
22. You’re in charge of entertainment for the Ultimus or Ultimini half-time show. What would you do?
The Ultimus is a spectacle. It is one of, if not the, biggest sporting events of the year. It deserves and needs a halftime show that matches its level of importance. With that in mind for the 29th Ultimus we have to rip out all of the stops and let the halftime show run wild. In order to meet the grandeur of the game we are getting the biggest act in the entire world, all the way from South Korea, BTS, to perform live. Now I know what you are thinking: BTS doesn’t exactly scream ISFL and you are not wrong about that. One of the goals of the halftime show is to also draw more than just football fans in to watch. Think about the new markets we can expand into with BTS. But just having BTS perform is not enough. We need to go bigger. I am talking about enough fireworks to turn the night sky as bright as day. So bright that the sleep patterns of birds will be thrown off for weeks; so loud that dogs will whimper in fear the next state over. Maybe we can get really crazy and have Janet Jackson make a quick appearance just to get the place really jumping.
(209 words)
29. Affliate PT from either SHL/PBE. The Weeks must match with the timeframe of this UW, which would mean SHL's PT #2, SMJHL PT #3, and PBE's PT 26-2.
SHL Affiliate
13. Expansion Expansion Expansion! The league seems to love talking about it, but it has still not happened. Tell us why it should happen / should not happen soon?
Bigger is better, right? When it comes to simulation leagues I am usually in the camp of expansion is always good but it is a little bit different for the ISFL.
First, let’s start with the reasons for expanding soon. If the league expands that helps to spread the talents around the league. With each expansion powerhouse teams lose pieces and the middling and basement teams can catch up a little. Parity is important in keeping members interested in the league. Next, it gets people hyped. Where is the new team or teams going to be located? Who will the new GM be? Most importantly what is the branding? It creates buzz that goes on for weeks and can help a usually long and dull offseason go by so much faster. Expanding means the site is growing and that growth needs to be nurtured. If the number of members keeps increasing but the roster space stays the same more and more people are going to be left out in the cold and that is the last thing you want to happen in a sim league. Finally in the argument for expansion, expanding brings the ISFL closer to emulating its real life counterpart the NFL. The NFL has 32 teams to the ISFL’s 14. Even adding the 8 DSFL teams means that we are dwarfed by real life. Getting the league up closer to what most are thinking of when they join the league will push people to go even further in their effort on the site.
On the flip side of that coin is the plain fact that football teams are too damn big. NFL teams have a 48 player active roster for game days. That is a lot of people to keep track of for a hobby. But let’s say you get 48 people together, now you have to figure out who plays where. I’m not too knowledgeable on football and all the positions but I am willing to bet not too many people would be pumped to have to play center (no offense if that’s your position) or one of the other non-glorious positions. That means you are going to need bots. Lots and lots of bots. I think bot usage at the moment is fine but it is a fine line that needs to be walked. What is the active to bot ratio that is correct.
All in all, I say expand. The bots will take over eventually anyway.
(412 words)
2.5 Points
22. You’re in charge of entertainment for the Ultimus or Ultimini half-time show. What would you do?
The Ultimus is a spectacle. It is one of, if not the, biggest sporting events of the year. It deserves and needs a halftime show that matches its level of importance. With that in mind for the 29th Ultimus we have to rip out all of the stops and let the halftime show run wild. In order to meet the grandeur of the game we are getting the biggest act in the entire world, all the way from South Korea, BTS, to perform live. Now I know what you are thinking: BTS doesn’t exactly scream ISFL and you are not wrong about that. One of the goals of the halftime show is to also draw more than just football fans in to watch. Think about the new markets we can expand into with BTS. But just having BTS perform is not enough. We need to go bigger. I am talking about enough fireworks to turn the night sky as bright as day. So bright that the sleep patterns of birds will be thrown off for weeks; so loud that dogs will whimper in fear the next state over. Maybe we can get really crazy and have Janet Jackson make a quick appearance just to get the place really jumping.
(209 words)
29. Affliate PT from either SHL/PBE. The Weeks must match with the timeframe of this UW, which would mean SHL's PT #2, SMJHL PT #3, and PBE's PT 26-2.
SHL Affiliate
![[Image: DtiH27u.png]](https://i.imgur.com/DtiH27u.png)
