No NHL lockout in 2012
- Thread starter Babypowder
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Baseball has many many fans, hockey has many fans too. Before the 2004 NHL lockout the league's revenues were about 2 billion annually, today even after a lockout that wiped out an entire season, their revenues are about 3 billion, so there's many many more fans, and a lot more money being made by the league.I'm not so convinced its so idle. Your take on all fans coming back, is similar to New Years resolutions every yr - while you are correct that many will come back, just like most New Years resolutions ( smoking/weight) last only weeks, there are those who stick to their guns.
I think baseball lost many fans, and last Hockey lockout, a great deal left. I work with two people who flat out refuse to watch any NHL games since the last lockout. I'm sure another lockout will further hurt an already damaged game. Some cities like Toronto, Boston, Philly, etc will always be ok. But others like NJ, TB, Florida, might really see some thin crowds.
You'd think wiping out an entire season which has never happened in North American sports history would hurt the game, but on the contrary, it's more popular than it's ever been. Even if another season is wiped out it won't hurt the league, they're just going to continue getting stronger and the reason is because fans can't stay away. When fans boycott the league they're only punishing themselves, people watch hockey in the first place because it's entertaining for them, so they'll always come back.
One thing to remember, they did 'fix' the game by clamping down on hooking and holding et al which may have helped.Baseball has many many fans, hockey has many fans too. Before the 2004 NHL lockout the league's revenues were about 2 billion annually, today even after a lockout that wiped out an entire season, their revenues are about 3 billion, so there's many many more fans, and a lot more money being made by the league.
You'd think wiping out an entire season which has never happened in North American sports history would hurt the game, but on the contrary, it's more popular than it's ever been. Even if another season is wiped out it won't hurt the league, they're just going to continue getting stronger and the reason is because fans can't stay away. When fans boycott the league they're only punishing themselves, people watch hockey in the first place because it's entertaining for them, so they'll always come back.
I will be one who will be in front of the TV or down at the ACC or in Buffalo as soon as this lock-out is over.
I remember the 1994 baseball strike which happened in August and wiped out the end of the season including the world series. It was very unfortunate, it was the year after the jays won back to back world series championships, and at that time the Montreal Expos were the best team in the league and looked like they would finally be on their way to a world series win. If the Expos won that year they might have had more supportive fans and may have stayed in Montreal instead of moving to D.C., the strike really changed the course of history. I was pissed, as were a lot of other fans, but I came back the next year, and slowly everyone else came back. It was the most brutal work stoppage in North American sports history, but we still came back.One thing to remember, they did 'fix' the game by clamping down on hooking and holding et al which may have helped.
I will be one who will be in front of the TV or down at the ACC or in Buffalo as soon as this lock-out is over.
The same thing happened with the NBA lockout, and the last NHL lockout, I came back, and so did almost everyone else along with a whole bunch of new fans.
This lock-out will not be resolved until things get much more serious.
No one is up set yet, nor is this even at the serious stage yet because no regular season games have been cancelled yet.
Come October when the regular season games start getting shaved and when the players miss out on the second pay check with no end in sight, then we will have a better idea of how this will go. Until then we have to sit and wait.
No one is up set yet, nor is this even at the serious stage yet because no regular season games have been cancelled yet.
Come October when the regular season games start getting shaved and when the players miss out on the second pay check with no end in sight, then we will have a better idea of how this will go. Until then we have to sit and wait.
Popularity of a sport, overall (meaning revenues), is more than and more important than just attendance and merchandise. The revenues generated by a sport is what covers the ever increasing payrolls and lines the owners pockets as well.Networks are not fans and as such should not reflect them. Networks care only about money, and their money comes from air time of commercials and ads. People like Nike, CCM, Gatorade, etc are for more important to networks then fans are.
Its all those 'Advertisers' though who care about selling their products to fans watching these games with non stop commercials.
If the networks are willing to pay more, that is a direct reflection of the interest of advertisers which is in direct proportion to the interest of the general public.
Attendance could be zero, but if the networks and advertisers are willing to pay more than enough to offset lost revenues elsewhere, that is all that counts because that means there is increased "interest/popularity" of a sport. Attendance is just one part of the equation. Fans have other ways of following their teams. $$$ is always (and has always been) the bottom line.
If revenues increase, even with strikes, it means the striking does not have a severe negative impact on the sport other than possibly the short term. Owners are in it for the long term.
The bottom line is that the NHL lockout this year will not have a negative long-term effect on the league, even if the entire season gets cancelled again. The league won't fold, and in another 8 years when it's time for the next lockout, their revenues will likely be a billion more annually than they are now. The owners will keep getting a larger slice of the pie just because they can, the self-made billionaires will always be able to hold out longer than the salaried millionaire employees, and so they always win in the end. Mike Modano said he lost $7 million during the last lockout when the entire season got canned, and he said in hindsight it just wasn't worth it, that's $7 million that he'll never be able to get back. It's not like we should feel sorry for the guy who still has many many millions left in the bank, but it just illustrates that the players paycut is inevitable no matter how much they fight, and getting the inevitable paycut and losing an entire season of earnings is just not worth it for the players.
Well put James Douglas. My big concern are the two leaders. Could this thing end up being a pissing contest between them while everyone else if forced to look on?The bottom line is that the NHL lockout this year will not have a negative long-term effect on the league, even if the entire season gets cancelled again. The league won't fold, and in another 8 years when it's time for the next lockout, their revenues will likely be a billion more annually than they are now. The owners will keep getting a larger slice of the pie just because they can, the self-made billionaires will always be able to hold out longer than the salaried millionaire employees, and so they always win in the end. Mike Modano said he lost $7 million during the last lockout when the entire season got canned, and he said in hindsight it just wasn't worth it, that's $7 million that he'll never be able to get back. It's not like we should feel sorry for the guy who still has many many millions left in the bank, but it just illustrates that the players paycut is inevitable no matter how much they fight, and getting the inevitable paycut and losing an entire season of earnings is just not worth it for the players.
That would probably be more entertaining than many regular season games.the two leaders. Could this thing end up being a pissing contest between them
Exactly what I said earlier. How many guys who lost a whole year of a career will have a stomach to risk that again?Mike Modano said he lost $7 million during the last lockout when the entire season got canned, and he said in hindsight it just wasn't worth it, that's $7 million that he'll never be able to get back. It's not like we should feel sorry for the guy who still has many many millions left in the bank, but it just illustrates that the players paycut is inevitable no matter how much they fight, and getting the inevitable paycut and losing an entire season of earnings is just not worth it for the players.
Could be hard for Fehr to hold them in line. If the players cave, Fehr loses face (on top of figuring that the NHLPA is a lost cause) and then he quits. The ship will be rudderless once again. Is Eagleson looking for work? Nobody else would be crazy desperate enough to take that job.
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you can also assume the owners have non hockey interest that are generating them income so that they can afford to shut down the entire season.
I was watching CP 24 and this guy said that the American media is devoting coverage to NFL referees and virtually none to the NHL. We will lose a lot of American fans. Isn't Bettman an American?
Right now, becides the wild card spots in MLB, that is all the Americans care about. Even during the season you don't get much coverage of the NHL in the U.S., with basketball, baseball and football, both college and professional. The NHL is hardly reported there.
Seriously, the NHL should contract. I don't even know 1/2 the players now.
P.S. Contract in the U.S. and expand in Europe.
P.S. Contract in the U.S. and expand in Europe.
the NHL costs money in the US until after american thanksgiving. no real incentive to negotiate a deal until then. and this is not anything new... happened in last lockout also. negotiation activity went dead until mid november and then quickly went sour and ended up losing a whole season because of it. who cares? it's business.
I doubt it, not without the main event happening.Are the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs still going to play on New Year's Day when they meet in the Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium? more than 100,000 fans are expected to attend..
I think I can be considered one of the biggest hockey(and Leaf) fans on TERB.
I have a message for all the NHL players, owners and most especially Fehr(a baseball guy) and Bettman(a basketball guy).
GO AWAY !
None of you care.
I am most disgusted by the players. Cash your million dollar checks and play.
Players, stop kidding around. You do not care for anything but $MONEY$ !
I have a message for all the NHL players, owners and most especially Fehr(a baseball guy) and Bettman(a basketball guy).
GO AWAY !
None of you care.
I am most disgusted by the players. Cash your million dollar checks and play.
Players, stop kidding around. You do not care for anything but $MONEY$ !
