It's fucking disgusting
Bettman takes over in 94, and this will be his 3rd lockout in 18 years, and just 7 years after the last lockout, which ended up wiping out the entire season
Revenue has almost doubled since the last lockout, the NHL gets a semi-regular contract with NBC sports. L.A. (a market the NHL wants desperately) just won the cup, the Pantehrs made the playoffs for the first time in forever. Winnipeg just got a team back, Minnesota just made the two biggest signings of the off season, and that city fucking loves hockey.
The NHL is at one of it's highest points in terms of revenue and popularity ever, and the are actually going to lock the game out?? I understand that up in Canada, they can lock out the game and the fans will be foaming at the mouth waiting for it to start again. But that isn't necessarily going to be the case with all the American markets, specifically the non traditional ones that may have gotten a few more fairweather fans as of late. Those are the kinds of fans that might once again forget the NHL exists if they go into a long work stoppage
^ I am also in agreement with the post above about Bettman's reluctance to see that hockey isn't going to work in certain markets. If they set up a team in Quebec City, and another one in Ontario to go along with Winnipeg, that would be 9 Canadian teams. WHich equals 9 healthy strong revenue generating markets pumping money into the league. Combine those with the strong American markets like Boston, New York, Minny, Pit, Philly, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, and all of a sudden, over 2/3rds of the league is in a strong position
I am just absolutely disgusted at the thought of not being able to watch hockey this year. And so soon after the last lockout, it makes the league look like a joke
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