Thread: The Lockout Begins

So Bettmen can't get a deal done again with the NHL Players. How long everyone think we will be with out hockey with this lockout.

To be honest i really havent watched to much hockey since the last lock out. But before that i wouldnt miss a game.
I for see the Canadians Buying and selling more shaving supplies in these next few months

Originally Posted by TrilliumLT

To be honest i really havent watched to much hockey since the last lock out. But before that i wouldnt miss a game.
I for see the Canadians Buying and selling more shaving supplies in these next few months

My hunch is that it could be a long one. Maybe not the whole season, but a couple/few months. But that's just a hunch - I have nothing really to base it on other than the fact both sides seem pretty entrenched with a big old gap between their positions.

So rather than going to my two or so games a season (whenever the Jets come to town) I'll probably go to a number of Ottawa 67s games and still be way ahead on ticket prices. To put that in perspective, for the price of five Sens games I could have season tickets for the 67s. I'm actually kind of excited about this. I got into junior hockey by going to Blazers games when I was teaching out in Kamloops, and really enjoyed it.

On a side note, my 'other' team the Habs may have a leg up this season. Apparently Quebec labour law is such that the Canadiens can't legally lock out their players. I can't recall the details, but it has to do with the legal status of the association, mediation not having been offered, and other factors I'm sure I'm forgetting. So it is at least theoretically possible that the Habs could be training and practicing while the rest of the league is locked out.

Originally Posted by Castel33

So Bettmen can't get a deal done again with the NHL Players. How long everyone think we will be with out hockey with this lockout.

Perhaps long enough that the viewers decide not to bother with hockey anymore, at which point the players might regret going on strike because they're not making an extra 10% extra on top of more money per year than what normal people make in their lifetime.

Originally Posted by TrilliumLT

To be honest i really havent watched to much hockey since the last lock out. But before that i wouldnt miss a game.
I for see the Canadians Buying and selling more shaving supplies in these next few months

Radio hosts often comment about the "death" of hockey. While I do not think the sport is anywhere near its demise, what do the SRP hockey fans think will be the outcome of a prolonged lockout? Could the lockout force a combining of the majors with the minor leagues ala Mr. Cangooner's "67s".

It is a sad situation for all hockey fans.
The selfishness and greed shown by both sides at the negotiations proves they really have far less rspect for their fans than the fans actually deserves!

Originally Posted by Birnando

It is a sad situation for all hockey fans.
The selfishness and greed shown by both sides at the negotiations proves they really have far less rspect for their fans than the fans actually deserves!

Ultimately the only long-term solution may come from fans realizing that they have been fleeced for years. The billions that are in dispute ultimately come from hockey fans - whether in the form of ticket sales, merchandising, TV specialty channel subscriptions, etc. If that well dries up, the negotiations would surely take a different tone.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Perhaps long enough that the viewers decide not to bother with hockey anymore, at which point the players might regret going on strike because they're not making an extra 10% extra on top of more money per year than what normal people make in their lifetime.

Only one small point and that is the players will not be on strike but rather the owners have locked them out. End result is the same for the fans though but the stoppage is owner initiated in this case, NOT the players.

I am assuming and maybe I should not, that there would be an alternative such as start the season under the old contract and continue the negotiations until a deal can be struck. Seems that the Owners don't want to do that as they will initiate a Lock Out.

Bob

I don't really care as I live in Toronto and we don't have an actual NHL team. Our fans are getting fleeced for overpriced tickets, concessions and merchandise while constantly being given a crap team. The waiting list for season's tickets is something ridiculous like 7 years. They got enough suckers around the Golden Horseshoe to finance that and then some. My answer: thanks but no thanks.

Well, the fans might have a share in the blame for what is happening now. Without their seemingly slavish devotion to professional sports of all kinds making such businesses so lucrative the true benefactors of all that, owners and players, would not be able to argue over the spoils. If you are really upset, stay home and don't buy tickets or merchandise and watch something else on TV. The tail is wagging the dog.

Bob