No Games, No Problem

In 1994-95 more than 40% of the season was lost to a labor dispute. The fans reacted in 1995-96 by setting a new attendance record. In 2005-06 history repeated itself. An entire season of games was lost and fans reacted by setting a new attendance record.

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If labor and management in professional sports believe that strikes and lockouts do not threaten future attendance, will these events occur with even more frequency?

It’s a gloomy thought for sure. You can give reasons as to why fans came back, but in the end they came back. Twice.

Posted by David M Singer on May 01, 2006 at 02:31 PM
NHL

Comments

As someone within the Hockey Business World, and also a fan of the sport. I shake my head sometimes at the perception of the true hockey fan-the average ticket buyer and the hard working guy/gal just wanting to be close to there favorite player or team. The new NHL has bought into the NFL business plan (Hush, Hush) and geared there new rules around Gambling. In general terms a flag in football can change the outcome of a game(score), and with the new rules penalties can now be called or not called on a whim-changing the momentum and controlling it also. The game has taken on a new phase of control from the head office down. Team growth will now depend on who wants to watch and who wants to make money. Rear ends in each seat have now taken a back seat to business. The NHLPA has spoken often about this subject and was playing there cards correctly until they wavered under Goodenhows direction (example) During the lockout the NHL owners would have loved to say that small market teams would and cannot compete with larger market teams because of lack of revenues! The statement was not raised/surfaced because lets say the “players” & the NHLPA got together and decided it was in there better interest to strategically place the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Calgary Flames and let them go through to the Stanley Cup (both small market franchises). How many people actually believe the two worst teams financially speaking could make it past everybody without some help. The above is just my opinion and can and will not be supported by all parties mentioned and will always be debated as fiction, fact or just an opinion. P.S. Ottawa vs San Jose this year…any bets? Gary- Toronto
Posted by Tor72 on 2006-05-03 22:18:42

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