Expanding the League:

Chapter 1: A Meeting of Owners

It has been two years since Tidus returned to Spira. In all four years had passed since the beginning of the eternal calm, the final defeat of sin. Spira had enjoyed the peace that the calm brought and all were overjoyed by the liberties that they now had for themselves. Sure Yevon, and the leaders of the religious community held a now slightly diminished foot in the community, but the realm was at a general peace and things of leisure were further growing in popularity among the world. One such liberty was that of Blitzball. The legendary water based sport surged in popularity as people now could further enjoy the matches without fear. This rise in demand had been noticed by the players and captain's of the teams, who now saw themselves as owners and acted as such. They were already responsible for managing the team's funding for travel as well as paying the player's their wages. The captains thus naturally signed on to become the fully fledged owners of the teams as the Spira league sought to become more stable as an entity and have a more structured look. The owners knew of the appeal for the game, and while they loved having a central hub in Luca with the stadium and the staff that operated the arena. They sought to grow larger and have an even greater presence in the realm. The owners appointed a commissioner and general officers to oversee the game and development in the communities around Spira. The league office was naturally stationed in Luca, as the location was a major city and the largest spot of Blitzball's cultural penetration. The commissioner and the owners of the teams of the Spira league met in person in Luca before the start of every season and at the end of the season as well to discuss anything that needed discussing.

Today was the preseason meeting and all seven involved in the meeting arrived at the Spira League headquarters ready to discuss all that needed to be said. The main thing they would speak about would be player salaries and changes to their rosters. Also, they would discuss profits sharing and any changes to the game or anything new the group brought up.

Entering the boardroom was Frey the commissioner, Wakka of the Besaid Aurochs, Vuroja of the Killia Beasts, Bickson of the Luca Goers, Argai Ronso of the Ronso Fangs of Mt. Gagazet, Berrick of the Al-Bhed Psyches, and Nav Guado of the Guado Glories of Guadosalam. The men greeted each other in a friendly fashion, sure, they had tension during the season but as important men of the sport, they would put their rivalries behind them for the sake of the game and for the betterment of each other.

"Come men!" the commissioner spoke in commanding fashion. "Let us start the meeting, we have much to discuss." All took their seats and opened up their books of records, as well as took out their writing utensils for notes throughout the discussion. The commissioner sat at the head of the table with a gavel next to him to assert any choice made by the committee. Away from the table were to scribes recording the conversations of the meeting for record keeping purposes. "Well let's start with player per game salaries." The commissioner continued. "remember that as per our meeting last season all player contracts are solidified by this meeting and at the minimum last the duration of the season. No new signings are permitted during the season unless injury calls for such action." All nodded as they understood and remembered the words of Frey. "Let us go from North to South. Argai begin your presentation."

Agrai Ronso of the Ronso Fangs nodded as he cleared his throat. The Ronso race were massive beasts and mostly loved at Mt. Gagazet. Their team was the furthest North of the teams in the Spira League. "For the season the Fangs have 8 players signed, wages are as follows. Argai, 400gil per match. Basik, 100gil per match. Nuvy, 50gil per match. Gazna, 60gil per match. Irga, 50gil per match. Darga, 70gil per match. Zamzi, 70gil per match. And Zev, 120gil per match. Making the Ronso Fangs total salary 920gil per match, 520gil not including the owner. This concludes my analysis.

Such were monologues of each team owner, from the vastly rich Luca Goers under Bickson, to the awkwardly meek Besaid Aurochs under Wakka. Each team presented their figures for the upcoming season. There were no drastic surprises amongst the rosters, and really only the Aurochs and Goers had total salaries staunchly differing from the other four teams. "Thank you all for presenting your players and contracted for these players." Frey spoke as the final owner finished his words. "Now then on to new business then. The floor is open."

All sat quaintly as they waited for someone to break the ice and speak their mind of what they would like to see done differently or newly. Bickson then took the opportunity to speak his mind. "I propose that we discuss offering buy in bids for expansion of the league." The words caught the attention of the group. The six teams had been the only active squads for quite a long time and really no other team had ever come forward to become a new franchise.

"What reason have you behind such thoughts Bickson?" asked Vuroja. It was not that he did not like the thought of other teams in the league but he was confused by the notion.

"Look as a man from Luca I know of what I speak. Since the calm birthrates have skyrocketed and people have begun moving to new places to better provide for their families. People are living longer due to the lack of Sin's threat. This means we have a larger audience available. Let us allow some of these settlements that have expanded to buy into our league. They will pay us to join and we will gain further influence among the people."

"But what of the league table?" Nav Guado spoke up. "Will that unbalance things?" Nav was speaking in relation to the schedule for the season. Each team played each other club twice.

"Then we'd be able to expand the season Nav!" Bickson countered. "We'd have more games for the fans and thus more revenue for us owners." All smiled each for their own reasons. Most at the table smiled for what more revenue meant for their households while Wakka and Vuroja, who used most of their profits to better their towns were excited by what the extra profits could do for their communities.

"How many teams should we allow Bickson?" Wakka asked the owner of the Goers. "should we cap the amount?" all eyed looked back to Bickson as he seemed the mastermind behind this whole plan.

"We would seek to gain teams that can be stable and popular among the people. So naturally we should only seek well founded bids. We should make the buy in amount be 70,000 gil. 10,000gil for each of the bodies sitting here, as price to join up." All nodded at the words Bickson spoke. They seemed to make sense.

"We need to be sure that if any expansion occurs, then it needs to include a team in Bevelle." Agrai spoke up.

"Yes! We must have a team in Bevelle!" Commissioner Frey confirmed. "Even though New Yevon is not a massive supporter of the game we need a presence in Spira's largest city."

"We could revive the team of old from that city…the Bevelle Bells!" Wakka said to the group. All smiled at the thought of getting a team in Bevelle.

"Wait why do we not already have a team in the capital?" said Berrick. All paused for a moment as the question stumped them. Surely if a team could be in the capital city, the biggest in Spira, would they not already have one? This thought confused many at the table.

"Yevon, the religious strength of the city has been the obstacle in the past." Frey piped up to provide an answer. "However, I have an answer to that problem." All listened closely to hear the answer of the appointed commissioner. "New Yevon has a poor standing with a large portion of the population of Spira. The loss of religious fervor has grown since the Eternal Calm. People no longer feel they need a religious body as their commanding regime. We can use Yevon to get a team there. The result benefitting both our causes."

"How so Frey?" All questioned in succession. They did not see how they could sway the clergy to support blitzball.

"We tell them to build a stadium in Bevelle, so that we have two stadiums in Spira thus allowing more people to be able to go to more games. They'll pay to construct the stadium and we'll get more revenue and less travel between games. Especially for the Ronso Fangs."

"My team and fans would very much appreciate this as we are weary from all the travelling we do to and from the stadium during the season." Agrai of the Ronso said to the group. The plan seemed perfect and many enjoyed the idea, even the Bickson of the Luca Goers liked the thought despite meaning that his team might have to travel for a change here or there rather than having a home game every time they step into the sphere. Even the Nav who was a man who hated any kind of change enjoyed the thoughts of expansion and a new stadium. It seemed the group was unanimously in agreement on the matter.

"Well then, I guess we simply need to vote." The commissioner said as he raised his gavel from the table. "All in favor of expansion being made available for 70,000gil with intent toward gaining at the least a team and stadium in Bevelle. As well as getting the church of New Yevon to pay for stadium through negotiation efforts, say 'AYE'!" All said the approval as Frey banged his gavel giving his verdict. The Spira league as to expand and become a larger body of excitement and entertainment throughout the realm. All cheered at the thought of more teams, games, revenue, and a new stadium for the game of blitzball.