We have no idea.
That's the correct answer to the question some readers have been kind enough to ask when expressing concern for what happens to this sports journalism operation when there are no sports.
We can't know any more than anyone else where the novel coronavirus COVID-19 will take us as a country, as a city, as a culture and, as such, we can't begin to guess what it'll mean for anyone, including this little business. Even if the virus were magically eradicated in a month -- it most assuredly won't be -- there'll be economic damage, it appears, unlike any we've seen in a decade.
Already, shops and restaurants and the entire travel and hospitality industries have been ravaged. There's more to come. Pittsburgh banned all gatherings of 250 or more people, effective Monday, and there's word that any businesses deemed non-essential will be closed to consumer traffic.
Scary stuff.
But I can state this with certainty: We'll get through this. And we'll get through it three ways:
1. Excellent content
It'll be harder than ever to produce, with no games, no practices and scant access. (Only the Pirates made someone available yesterday to reporters by arranging a Jameson Taillon via conference call, and it was appreciated.) But none of that's an excuse for good stories to dry up. We'll call people ourselves, we'll work sources, we'll find colorful background, and we'll share that with you in what we hope is an entertaining and enlightening way.
And hey, we're available to anyone anywhere, quarantine or not!
Dale Lolley and I had a long talk about this last night. He's determined, in particular, to deliver a quality Friday Insider all through this, which wasn't the direction I'd been thinking at all, so that's cool. His thoughts are just below.
2. Caution
Unlike all our local competitors, we don't operate in the red. We're exactly what you see, not propped up in any way. And an event like this is why. Every move we make is our own, maintained within our own control, and always, always, always with an aim of doing what's best for the company in the long term.
Right now, obviously, that calls for caution.
It helps not having to carry travel costs, which can approach $10,000 a month this time of year. But we've also got to be braced for a return to action at any time, which, in turn, will require ponying up for all that sudden travel all at once. It isn't as much of a break as it might feel, basically.
The only move we're making right off the bat is to place on hiatus all weekly features except Insider and this one, our two original staples. That means Mound Visit, Drive To The Net, Classroom, Stats 'N' At and Cartoon Canon won't be back until sports are. There are several reasons for these, but suffice it to say it still stinks.
The goal is to emerge from this as sound as we are right now, with the added bonus of having the new app/site launching to make us that much stronger. The potential timing of that, along with the excitement of sports being back, could actually become a blessing, if one dares to think optimistically about any of this.
3. You.
We're not new here, and neither are most of you. We've been around five-plus years, and we're proud to have a huge percentage of you having been with us for more than half of that. That's one reason I wrote in that column yesterday that this has long felt more like a family than a subscriber base, particularly since we've come to know so many of you in different ways.
We'll undoubtedly ask your support in various ways -- not monetarily, but more along the lines of sharing, promoting -- once the app launches.
Thank you, as always, for being with us.
THERE IS NEWS
As of now, the NFL is planning on continuing with business as usual for its offseason. That means the NFLPA will finish off its voting at midnight today on the new CBA. It also means that teams have until 11:59:59 a.m. Monday to determine whether or not they will use a franchise or transition tag.
And then, the legal tampering period will begin at noon Monday, with the new league year -- and the free agency period it brings with it -- starting at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
As the only major sports league not currently in season, the NFL doesn't have to concern itself with any large gatherings -- at least not until the draft takes place in late April. After canceling its spring meetings Thursday, the league banned all teams from going to pro days and also hosting 30 college prospects at all team facilities Friday. So there are no games that must be postponed or cancelled.
There has been some talk about the league potentially pushing the start of the new league year back, but hopefully cooler heads prevail. With the other leagues now in limbo, it will be a nice distraction for sports fans to have something to talk about -- or follow.
The country needs a distraction. It needs some normalcy since the games can't go on right now.
We'll be bringing you all of the action as it happens -- and letting you know ahead of time in many cases -- as things take place. It's our job.
It's also our job to stay on top of everything that's happening in the other leagues even if the games aren't taking place. We'll do that, as well, in addition to continuing to bring you content as Dejan described. -- Dale Lolley
NEW APP UPDATE
One good thing did happen this week: I had a two-hour meeting with our new developers for an update on our new app.
They get mad when I tell you too much, but they're the ones who got stuck working with a lifelong reporter, sooooooooo ... I'll just go right ahead and share this week -- sorry, guys! -- yet another new element: When you're following our live files, you'll be able to see whatever our reporters share both up in the main feed, as well as in comments. It'll just interject itself right there. Which means you won't have to toggle up/down to keep up with us and with the Asylum conversation at hand.
Amazing, right?
Can't wait! -- DK
MILITARY DRIVE TO 1,500: 340
Josh DeNinno, our friend at Moon Golf Club, is challenging our subscribers to step up with 1,500 veteran subscription purchases in 2020, commemorating his course's 15th anniversary. And in the six weeks since he's done so, our count is at 340, including 21 bulk purchases.
We've obviously got a very long way to go, but there's been a great early reaction to our having reduced the cost of these to half-price, now $19.99 for an annual, as we've done with other gift subscriptions. On top of that, Moon Golf Club will match 30 each month, beginning with this one.
Let's do this. Here's where.
Or, if you’re interested in making a bulk purchase, please email me directly: DK@DKPittsburghSports.com -- DK
***premium***
BACK TO BUSINESS
• New paid subscribers for 2020 -- not including gifts, military, returning/renewing subscribers -- are at 91.
• Our daily page views, averaged out over the past 30 days, are at 81,939. The goal with this figure is to average 100,000, a number we've achieved regularly only during the two Stanley Cup runs.
• Our most-hit original article of the past week was last week's Friday Insider at 41,569. The Penguins accounted for 177,837 page views, the Steelers 92,416, the Pirates 59,134 and Pitt basketball 13,813.
• We're at 35,925 (+30) followers on Twitter, we're at 32,083 (+47) page likes on Facebook, we're at 13,662 (+67) followers on Instagram. These figures are just for our official company account on each platform, not for us as individuals.
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