by Chantal, Managing Editor, AllHabs.net
MONTREAL, QC — There’s no lockout, yet. But I’m already tired of hearing about it. If you lived through the 2004-’05 lockout, you’re not eager to repeat the experience. If this is your first time, a lockout virginity is not exactly the type of virginity you want to lose.
For now, the NHL and NHLPA are negotiating a new CBA. Perhaps you’ve heard about this?
The League made promises to me eight years ago. They told me they needed to restructure their business. They told me they needed to fix the game so it could grow and prosper. They told me ticket prices would go down. Today, they’re telling me that the CBA they crafted no longer works for them. Oh, and ticket prices have gone up more than 30 percent.
So this time around, I’m not inclined to support them. When revenues exceed $ 3B, when Minnesota wins free agency, when sponsorship increases by over $ 400M, and they come out and cry poor, I have the reflex to give them a very rude Italian hand gesture. And I’m not even Italian.
The players collapsed last time. They gave up a lot, we all see it now. They seem better represented this time, and a very united group. They haven’t had to do much to get public opinion on their side. In a recent conversation with my colleague Steve, I told him I was all in with the players. I was insulted by the league’s first proposal. Money issues aside, it’s the almost complete removal of all the players’ contract negotiation rights that got me all cranky.
The NHLPA chose a different approach with their first offer. They disregarded the league’s offer and came up with what they called their “alternative” proposal. Was it perfect? No. But at least it showed good faith.
This is just the beginning of what is shaping up to be a very long process. Bettman has ‘won’ every negotiation he’s been involved with. But so has Fehr. This will be a fight to the death, punctuated with ego outbursts and calm, methodically chosen words to the press.
No matter who I side with, my opinion doesn’t count for anything.
I’m just a fan.
Sure, I pay $250 yearly for NHL Center Ice so I can watch as many games as humanly possible. I buy jerseys. I buy tickets. I pay $12.50 for a beer. I write about the game, I discuss the game, I analyse the game, I love the game. But I’m just a fan. And I feel left out.
When the last lockout hit, there was a big boom of poker programming on the various sports networks. Boy, that was exciting. No offense to poker players, but you’re not exactly elite athletes. Sure, you must get the occasional arse cramp and your posture is probably ruined for life, but still. So I wonder what they have in store for us this time around. Maybe we could all get together on Saturday night to watch Blackjack? Or roulette?
So, Steve, I’ve changed my mind. I’m siding with the fans. The ones who paint their faces and decorate their childhood bedrooms with their team colors. The ones who plan their vacation so they can attend a game. The ones who budget a game ticket. The passionate. The dedicated. The silent partners. The true purveyors of this league, who stand to lose the most: The Fans.
Stick tap to Matthew Cauz ( @mcauz56 ) for inspiring this post.
Great post and I have to agree. I side with the players this time around, and also the Fans. Enough is enough it’s time for that little pipsqueak midget takes a hike off a big cliff with no safety net or bungee cord.
Tell us how you REALLY feel Serge.. ? :)
Thank you. Hope this gets resolved sooner rather than later.
You know how I feel about him, that is about the nicest thing I can say about him. ;)
I’m predicting there will be a lockout of at least a couple of months…I’m expecting the first game to be played by December or late December.
Just keep in mind that although Bettman always becomes the face of these CBA negotiations, he simply represents the owners at the bargaining table, the same way Fehr represents the players. Both represent a party and not themselves.
I haven’t sided with anyone and I don’t think I will. I will say this though, the more I read into the old CBA, the new proposals, the state of the game, etc, for now, can’t say I don’t understand the owners for wanting a bigger piece of the pie, but it’s more complex than just siding with one body. A conversation for another day…
Great read!
Pretty sure we’ve had this discussion Stevo.. :P
Thanks!
I fear for this season considering the way Bettman and Co. are treating the negotiations.
That seems to be the consensus.
Thanks Matty.
Great read Chantal, it will always be the Fan who pays the price, always on the short end of the stick, unless ofcourse one day, we all lose interest in the NHL . I for 1 am growing weary of this nonsense. It Would be quite interesting to see a new league being formed and right about know the timing would be perfect!
Haha! That’s not a bad idea. If it happens, we’ll make sure to cover it!
Thanks for the comment Patrick, much appreciated.
Excellent post. It pretty much sums up my views.
But in all honesty, I don’t think my dedication will survive another lockout. I started boycotting the NHL after the 04/05 lockout. And if it wasn’t for Halak’s amazing fairytale run following the glow of Canada’s men’s Olympic gold, I doubt that I would be back today. I will still love my Habs and keep track of how they’re doing, but there will be no more watching of NHL games or buying of swag. Multi-million/billionaires that can’t settle this without a lockout/strike don’t deserve even 1 second of my attention or 1 cent of my money. !EndRant
Dayes, you’re the perfect example of the casual fan the league takes for granted. Good on you for not allowing them to screw you over.
I would like to say that I wish more people were like you so that a lockout would ACTUALLY be a last resort. But, and I’m part of the group, it’s hard to ask a fan to abandon a passion.
So whenever they resolve this, I’ll be here. In the meantime, I’ll try to take care of the fans.
Thanks for reading!
I still mad-love my Habs, but the last lockout broke me. I don’t know that I can sit through that again. The fact that I came back at all is pretty amazing in itself. ;-)
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