Trump questions tax breaks for NFL: ‘Change tax law’
By Mallory Shelbourne (thehill.com) / Oct 10 2017
President Trump early Tuesday said that tax laws should be altered, arguing the National Football League (NFL) receives “massive tax breaks” while its players disrespect the U.S. flag and national anthem.
“Why is the NFL getting massive tax breaks while at the same time disrespecting our Anthem, Flag and Country? Change tax law!” Trump wrote on Twitter.
Trump’s tweet comes amid his ongoing feud with the NFL, which began last month as a criticism of players who choose to kneel, rather than stand, during the anthem.
Trump has argued players who kneel during “The Star-Spangled Banner” are disrespecting the United States and its flag.
The NFL in 2015 agreed to give up the tax-exempt status for its league office, after lawmakers denounced it as an unconscionable giveaway.
In a memo, Commissioner Roger Goodell insisted that the league’s tax status has “been mischaracterized repeatedly.”
He also noted that the government taxes income from TV rights fees, ticket sales and any other revenue generated by the 32 professional football teams.
He added that abandoning the tax exemption wouldn’t change how the NFL operates.
“The fact is that the business of the NFL has never been tax exempt,” Goodell wrote.
CNN Money reported at the time that the league would still receive some tax breaks.
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/354647-trump-questions-tax-breaks-for-nfl-change-tax-law
PB/TK – The NFL is a corporation, thereby any new tax law is gonna help the NFL. But the NFL is not losing money, people are still going to the games, people are still tuning in.
Yes the NFL ratings have been going down, it’s not an overnight sensation nor because of a protest, the ratings have gone down because many of the games suck, especially on Thursday and Monday nights. It’s oversaturation of the content, get rid of the Thursday games.
People are tuning in, either on TV, the interweb, or radio but ratings in the interweb & radio don’t count.
Why has NASCAR ratings fallen so much the past few years? Simple answer is people are tired of seeing the same 4 drivers win almost ever week, the weekends have been beautiful so people are enjoying the outdoors, and their tv contract has them swapping outlets quarter through the season.
