The commissioner should be asking around roster expansion to find out how many openings he might have.  It's also a good idea to start looking for new owners before you need them.

One of the problems, and it's far from the only one, is the commissioners.   If WifS did anything wrong(and still do) is that they let anybody become a commish.  In the beginning, it was click a button.  Now it's send a ticket.   Being a commish isn't hard but it can be a bit time-consuming.   Some guys just don't have the time or desire.  

Posted by RoyalOkie on 11/4/2011 9:20:00 AM (view original):
I think there are some owners who get frustrated by their team's performance and decide to drop, or they drop because they don't know if their world will fill, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.

. As such, I think it would prove helpful to get owners to renew earlier in the process.  Instead fo the $$ for 4th place and any $10 credit, maybe wifs could give a discount ($5??)if you renew in your world prior to the all-star game.  One, it lets commissioners see early what kind of turnover they might have, and it would improve wifs cashflow.  There also becomes a little peer pressure as you see your division mates renewing.

That is a great idea. Renew early & get a discount.

Scrap the bonus for finishing anything but in the playoffs and do this instead.

Nobody is going to stick with a team/world the don't like for a $4 savings.

Posted by MikeT23 on 11/4/2011 9:18:00 AM (view original):
The worlds that need 1-2 owners will fill soon without shutting down a world.

I'm not against closing down worlds.   Probably because I don't join worlds that need 8-12 owners every couple of seasons.   But, if I spent 8-15 seasons building a team, I'm not going to be very happy if WifS shuts me down.    I paid my $25 and, if I want to sit there until 2078 not playing, I should be allowed to do so.   Unfilled worlds harm no one.   Upsetting a handful of owners because someone "thinks" another handful will join a different world makes no sense. 

Not all worlds needing 1-2 owners fill quickly.  Edmonds only needed 4 owners when it rolled 2 weeks ago and has a history of low turnover/no problems.  It is almost 1 weeks now with needing 2 owners and no movement.

In the last 5 days we have gone from:
10/30/2011pm  32 openings in 4 public worlds - 100 openings in 18 private worlds - 7 more private worlds and 1 public world set to rollover in the next 3 days.
to
11/04/2011pm  29 openings in 5 public worlds - 105 openings in 21 private worlds - 6 private & 0 public world rollover in the next 3 days

Even though a few worlds are filling, the overall picture is not improving.

Edmonds is one post away from being on page 2 of the classifieds.   The initial post lists three openings while the header says 2.

You, and your commish, have to do better.

I guess HBD isn't recession-proof, eh?

Worlds are filling.

Yes, but very slowly.

11/08/2011 pm Update: 22 openings in 4 public worlds - 107 openings in 19 private worlds - 2 private & 0 public world rollover in the next 3 days
------------------
10/30/2011
Currently there are: 32 openings in 4 public worlds - 100 openings in 18 private worlds - 7 more private worlds and 1 public world set to rollover in the next 3 days.

The idle worlds situation has not gotten any better in the last week.  There is an owner in 1 of my worlds who is thinking about dropping HBD all together because it takes so long to fill worlds.  At what point does WIS step in and do something?

What do you suggest they do?

I think they could advertise their product better, but a lot of this is up to us. Not just telling friends about it, but being vigilant about unfair trades, refraining from taking advantage of n00bs, not pitching a fit when our trades get vetoed, making sure our minors aren't a mess, not trashing and dumping teams, etc. Just generally being a good citizen. Those things add up, and they make worlds a lot worse. And new/prospective owners notice this.

Exactly. The best way to help fill worlds is to not need so many replacements each season.

I agree about advertising but not sure exactly what one would do.  If you type "Fox fantasy sports" into a search engine and open the link, there is a drop down menu beneath all the "in-season" games for "Simulation Games".   I wouldn't open that.   But, if I were an ad exec, the only thing I'd do differently is list Gridiron Dynasty with the other in-season games.   Getting traffic to WifS is a start.   And, of course, during baseball season I'd list SLB and HBD with the other fantasy baseball games.

Posted by dyoungquist on 11/9/2011 12:59:00 AM (view original):
11/08/2011 pm Update: 22 openings in 4 public worlds - 107 openings in 19 private worlds - 2 private & 0 public world rollover in the next 3 days
------------------
10/30/2011
Currently there are: 32 openings in 4 public worlds - 100 openings in 18 private worlds - 7 more private worlds and 1 public world set to rollover in the next 3 days.

The idle worlds situation has not gotten any better in the last week.  There is an owner in 1 of my worlds who is thinking about dropping HBD all together because it takes so long to fill worlds.  At what point does WIS step in and do something?

Fewer openings (though essentially the same) and 6 less worlds ready to roll = no better?

Posted by AlCheez on 11/9/2011 9:04:00 AM (view original):

Posted by dyoungquist on 11/9/2011 12:59:00 AM (view original):
11/08/2011 pm Update: 22 openings in 4 public worlds - 107 openings in 19 private worlds - 2 private & 0 public world rollover in the next 3 days
------------------
10/30/2011
Currently there are: 32 openings in 4 public worlds - 100 openings in 18 private worlds - 7 more private worlds and 1 public world set to rollover in the next 3 days.

The idle worlds situation has not gotten any better in the last week.  There is an owner in 1 of my worlds who is thinking about dropping HBD all together because it takes so long to fill worlds.  At what point does WIS step in and do something?

Fewer openings (though essentially the same) and 6 less worlds ready to roll = no better?

I think he means his world, Edmonds, rolled on 10/21 and hasn't filled.

The only problem with that is around 30 worlds have rolled since 10/21.