NHL will lockout players...

[FightingIsGood]

Originally Posted by ChiefJunior

No sir I don't think marketing etc .. is easy. That was my point

Yes, some teams have turned things around with the right moves, signing a few players, trading well and drafting players that had no business being stars (based on their draft position). However, that is no easy job.

I agree the owners are responsible for the mess they are in, and that is true in almost if not every sport. However I still believe that the players make too much money or shall I say get to big of a slice of the revenue.

I would expect if the players got around 35% of the revenue, families again, would be able to go to hockey games. I believe most if not all the teams would be more viable, and players would & could still earn a very competitive wage.

They just have to learn that hockey will never be the NFL, MLB or NBA.

That would be ideal, but it will never happen. The players will never take that significantly lower percentage of revenues than all of the other major sports leagues. I don't think it would be fair either, because like it or not, the players do make the owners rich, so it's right for them to ask for a decent chunk of it. Ticket prices can still be lowered even if it was just a 50-50 split, but even that isn't guaranteed. There will still be greedy owners who will try to fleece the public for every cent they can get while giving them crap in return. I should know...I am a Pirates fan.

[SyrCrunch11]

So what do you guys think % wise the chance of a lockout is? Im gonna LOSE IT if theres no hockey

[FightingIsGood]

Originally Posted by westgennylax3

So what do you guys think % wise the chance of a lockout is? Im gonna LOSE IT if theres no hockey

It's really a 50-50 shot. Could go either way. Personally, I think there will be a deal done by the deadline, but if there is a lockout, it will be a short one.

[Flyer_Frank]

Originally Posted by ChiefJunior

I would expect if the players got around 35% of the revenue, families again, would be able to go to hockey games. I believe most if not all the teams would be more viable, and players would & could still earn a very competitive wage.

They just have to learn that hockey will never be the NFL, MLB or NBA.

The day that happens is the day teams stop being able to fill the buildings to capacity, then they will need families again. Owners and players don't seem to be agreeing on much, but I'm sure neither has "make the tickets more affordable for families" on their agendas. I think this might be the response . . . .

Evil Laugh - YouTube

[Gage55]

Originally Posted by FightingIsGood

It's really a 50-50 shot. Could go either way. Personally, I think there will be a deal done by the deadline, but if there is a lockout, it will be a short one.

I'd say it's closer to a lockout then it is to having a deal done by the deadline. But only time will tell.

[bruiser11]

Well if it happens they should step up their AHL coverage on the NHL network but they probably won't of course.

[ChiefJunior]

Originally Posted by FightingIsGood

That would be ideal, but it will never happen. The players will never take that significantly lower percentage of revenues than all of the other major sports leagues. I don't think it would be fair either, because like it or not, the players do make the owners rich, so it's right for them to ask for a decent chunk of it. Ticket prices can still be lowered even if it was just a 50-50 split, but even that isn't guaranteed. There will still be greedy owners who will try to fleece the public for every cent they can get while giving them crap in return. I should know...I am a Pirates fan.

1) This is why we will continue to have revenue issues in the NHL and potential lockouts every 4-5 years.

2) The majority of these owners are already rich from other businesses that they are in, so maybe it should be looked at as the owners make these players rich.

3) Some owners may fleece the public still, but the fact is as the players salaries/costs have risen so have tickets. No player in any of the four professional leagues is worth 50% of the revenue.

[ChiefJunior]

Originally Posted by Flyer_Frank

The day that happens is the day teams stop being able to fill the buildings to capacity, then they will need families again. Owners and players don't seem to be agreeing on much, but I'm sure neither has "make the tickets more affordable for families" on their agendas. I think this might be the response . . . .

Evil Laugh - YouTube

The thing is, teams are having problems filling the arenas to capacity. Hence why the revenue issue is so big.

The problem with the players (in all the 4 big sports) is that they have allowed their egos to become so large, that they consider themselves special. (yes they have more talent in said SPORT than most if not all of us). However it still is a SPORT, and if they did not have this sport to rely on, where would they be, what would they be making and where would they be working?

[Flyer_Frank]

Originally Posted by ChiefJunior

The thing is, teams are having problems filling the arenas to capacity. Hence why the revenue issue is so big.

The problem with the players (in all the 4 big sports) is that they have allowed their egos to become so large, that they consider themselves special. (yes they have more talent in said SPORT than most if not all of us). However it still is a SPORT, and if they did not have this sport to rely on, where would they be, what would they be making and where would they be working?

Well, they actually aren't. Only 4 teams didn't top 85+ percent capacity. When you figure the number of home games out of the 41 that are against less than stellar opponents, those numbers are damn good, really damn good. The league has problems but selling tickets isn't one of them. Supply and demand . . . the demand is there, neither side will ever cut ticket prices. Why should they? The goodness of their hearts to help the families out?

Evil Laugh - YouTube

[straka91]

Originally Posted by westgennylax3

So what do you guys think % wise the chance of a lockout is? Im gonna LOSE IT if theres no hockey

I think there is a good chance. 70% The NHL wont lose an entire season like 04 but I can see a season start in November. All signs point to atleast the pre season being gone. Too big a gap between the 2 parties to get a deal done in 1 month.

[ChiefJunior]

Originally Posted by Flyer_Frank

Well, they actually aren't. Only 4 teams didn't top 85+ percent capacity. When you figure the number of home games out of the 41 that are against less than stellar opponents, those numbers are damn good, really damn good. The league has problems but selling tickets isn't one of them. Supply and demand . . . the demand is there, neither side will ever cut ticket prices. Why should they? The goodness of their hearts to help the families out?

Evil Laugh - YouTube

I agree those numbers look very good indeed. I look at it like this though, 9 teams were below 90% capacity for the year. I think that is huge, especially because of the size of the arenas, the amount of revenue they get from concessions etc... I'd also bet that some of these numbers are fudged, and do not include tickets given away/discounted etc..

If we knew that, I think we wouldn't be as impressed.

Will they ever cut prices, probably not. However, if the players took a huge cut, the pressure certainly would be on the owners. Let us remember that alot of these teams have very good discounts, so they already are cutting prices to fill the arena.

[Flyer_Frank]

Originally Posted by ChiefJunior

I agree those numbers look very good indeed. I look at it like this though, 9 teams were below 90% capacity for the year. I think that is huge, especially because of the size of the arenas, the amount of revenue they get from concessions etc... I'd also bet that some of these numbers are fudged, and do not include tickets given away/discounted etc..

If we knew that, I think we wouldn't be as impressed.

Will they ever cut prices, probably not. However, if the players took a huge cut, the pressure certainly would be on the owners. Let us remember that alot of these teams have very good discounts, so they already are cutting prices to fill the arena.

If you shop something hard enough, you can always get a better price. Sometimes folks are getting in free because employers/clients whatever have bought the tickets. I'm not sure cuts in price are really going to bump those capacity percentages up any. 21 of the 30 teams are at 96.2%+. Prices are high, but high demand does that. Is it fair that the regular guy with his family is pretty well priced out of attending a lot of games in a year? Yeah, but when prices were more reasonable, it was often tough to even get tickets for some teams unless you knew somebody.

I think there are three steps that can be taken to level things a bit for everybody. Players taking a smaller cut, owners revenue sharing more and paying a luxury tax. That's two steps for the owners, I'm not optimistic they'll go for that.

[itsJ.Millertime]

Originally Posted by Flyer_Frank

Well, they actually aren't. Only 4 teams didn't top 85+ percent capacity. When you figure the number of home games out of the 41 that are against less than stellar opponents, those numbers are damn good, really damn good. The league has problems but selling tickets isn't one of them. Supply and demand . . . the demand is there, neither side will ever cut ticket prices. Why should they? The goodness of their hearts to help the families out?

Evil Laugh - YouTube

I see we have another bettyman koolaid drinker. Those figures aren't even close to being accurate. The league has admitted time and time again they count "distributed tickets" not tickets sold or even people who show up for their attendance figures. Just because you give a ticket away for free does not mean the people will show up and I would bet money that if acutal fannies in seats were counted as attendance you would have 50% of the teams in the league with an under 75% of capacity to watch this pitiful excuse for a pro sports league. I hope there's not season and you know what, nobody will care!

[Flyer_Frank]

Originally Posted by itsJ.Millertime

I see we have another bettyman koolaid drinker. Those figures aren't even close to being accurate. The league has admitted time and time again they count "distributed tickets" not tickets sold or even people who show up for their attendance figures. Just because you give a ticket away for free does not mean the people will show up and I would bet money that if acutal fannies in seats were counted as attendance you would have 50% of the teams in the league with an under 75% of capacity to watch this pitiful excuse for a pro sports league. I hope there's not season and you know what, nobody will care!

And there are also sold tickets where people don't even show up but their money is just as good. There are some nights in some buildings where the seats look appallingly empty.

I hope they get a deal done. If they don't, life will go on. There are other things to do.

[Tucker_316]

I want a deal done. Life is tough without Hockey on, and I was quite looking forward to those back to back early B's games in October.