Re: NHL Lockout
It would take an incredible amount of effort on both sides to do that. Seeing how it took them 3 months to talk again, I don't hold much hope for the season to happen at all.
Re: Lockout
The longer this goes, the more it does hurt the smaller markets and those with a marginal fan base.
And this brings up an interesting point - perhaps the NHL is looking for this sport to return to its Northern roots? A long strike or no season at all might be just the thing to end franchises in "Southern Places" (Florida, Dallas, Carolina) and send franchises back up North. Certainly a possibility.
mikey10 Registered User
Posts: 309
(12/5/04 11:11 am) Reply
Re: Lockout
I think that this season will be a total bust or that they might make some deal that will carry them until the next time there will be a lockout/strike.
I agree with the fact that some of the teams may move back north. I don't think the folks in the south are as astute hockey fans nor as loyal. But from some of the stuff that I heard in the past, Carolina should be able to stick around here for awhile.
I'm somewhat optimisitc that a 42-48 game season will happen somehow. Both sides are assbags for severely hurting their sport on a major level. I wouldn't be surprised if the minor league hockey teams will be more profitable this year.
mikey10 Registered User
Posts: 310
(12/5/04 12:33 pm) Reply
Re: NHL Lockout
Quote:How I wish for the good old days from 1974-1989 or so.
You know, I'll give you that. Seems like since the 90's, greed has become too big of a component in sports: 1) It has created an competitive unbalance in some sports leagues; 2) It has caused constant conflict between owners and players; 3) fans are the ones that are having to ante up with the high ticket prices and taxes that pay for new stadiums with luxury boxes. There are more issues that have been created by greed that should be on a separate thread all together. But I think the NHL see the fans keep coming back after every strike/lockout in this sport and the others so why should this be any different.
AND AN UDDER TING
The great NHL dynasties ended in 1989-90 when Edmonton beat the bejeezus out of the Bruins.
I know what folks say about league expansion, but christ, look what it's done to the NHL as far as dilution of talent. This is why we'll never see a team like the great Canadiens of 76-79 again. If they played in the current league, Steve Shutt would be in Columbus making millions but never even getting a whiff of the cup.
doublee Registered User
Posts: 161
(12/5/04 1:34 pm) Reply
Biggest Downfall
The NHL's biggest downfall more than anyhting else is lack of proper marketing of the sport. Back in the late 80s and into the early to mid 90s when popularity in the sport was peaking the NHL did a great job at marketing itself. Growing up we all knew who Gretzky, Messier, Lindros, and Mario were. They were household names. Those guys had endorsements, some even did SNL, and they did the talk show circuits. Nobody stands out as the face of the NHL these days. It is almost as though the NHL decided it had gotten all the fans it was ever going to get and stopped marketing itself.
Look at the sports that have passed the NHL by or stayed ahead of the NHL and a lot of it has to do with the marketing of the product. NASCAR is a perfect example. NASCAR has gone out of its way to get drivers on TV and sports talk radio and has tried to market it as a fun family friendly sporting event.
I don't know that the NHL will suddenly shift back North as the main reason they started moving South was due to teams failing in the North. The Whalers moved here because they were failing in Hartford. The Jets moved to Phoenix because they could not compete in the Winnipeg market. The Nordiques moved to Denver because they were failing in Quebec.
In the Whalers case, they were sandwiched inbetween the New York and Boston markets. New York has two teams (three if you want to count the New Jersey Devils for their close proximity to New York) so the market share was pretty small for the team. Has it improved since the team is now the Carolina Hurricanes? I have no idea. Maybe, maybe not. The Nordiques and the Jets moved probably becuase it might have had something to do with the exchange rate as well. I could be wrong. If I am, then so be it.
jeff000 Registered User
Posts: 578
(12/6/04 9:53 am) Reply
..
At this point the 04-05 season has only a puncher's chance at getting in even a reduced schedule. The two sides are so far removed from each other's positions that this new round of negotiating stands very little chance of salvaging a season ... like about 5%.
pparks76 Registered User
Posts: 161
(12/6/04 9:58 am) Reply
Re: Biggest Downfall
I hope hockey doesn't Come back at all almost. It's a 3rd tier sport and they are demanding NFL or MLB money. I cant believe some 2nd - 3rd line loser thinks he should be paid 2 or 3 million a year because he saw Juan Howard's, or Jake Delhomme's bloated and way over priced contract and thought his sport was as popular. The NFL and NBA Make a lot of dollars with merchandise and TV contracts so its a lot easier for them to cover that kind of $$$. These guys need to wake up and realize their place in the sport Hierarchy
and drink a big cup of STFU. But Im really sure its a lot harder to feed the kids and take care of the wife on 500K a year that it is with 2 mill right?
pardeekid Registered User
Posts: 591
(9/7/05 5:30 pm) Reply
2005-06
Since the messbored is near the end... we'll bring back some older topics.
Julius Hodge wore a Canes jersey at his ceremony.
Who else is psyched about the Cane's return?
P-Out
pardeekid Registered User
Posts: 592
(9/7/05 5:34 pm) Reply
canes
Since the mess bored is going down... we'll bring back nastalgia.
Julius Hodge wore a Cane's jersey at his ceremony.
Who else is psyched to se the NHL back?
P-Out
pparks76 Registered User
Posts: 254
(9/9/05 1:49 pm) Reply
Re: canes
Who ares if its back .. screw those guys ... I for one am not going again in the near future especially to see the canes "small market" themselves into oblivion by signing nobodies and not really offering to lower prices all that much. TAKE A STAND PEOPLE!!!
whiskee b Registered User
Posts: 314
(9/13/05 12:34 pm) Reply
Re: canes
sorry parks. i'm a rabid hockey fan. nothing will keep me away.
i'm glad it's back. it's better than the nba!
Edited by: whiskee b at: 6/28/06 12:02 pm
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