ESPN reported on this today. I didn't catch the whole story (I was trying to concentrate on work...silly me!), but the basic gist of the report was that they would declare bankruptcy to prevent their players from all becoming free agents. They will shortly have some financing solutions to their current problem -- which is something like $200 million debt on the arena -- and things will be just fine.
The team is apparently very well operated. The owner just doesn't have deep pockets and was caught in a tight spot over the arena debt. Embarrassing, but my sense is that it is not really serious.
The team is apparently very well operated. The owner just doesn't have deep pockets and was caught in a tight spot over the arena debt. Embarrassing, but my sense is that it is not really serious.
I think this league is in some serious trouble. the arenas are never full in most places. the ticket prices are ridiculous. and salaries dont translate into the poor ratings the game draws.
you now have 2 teams (buffalo n ottawa) who are bankrupt..here in NJ they draw 11,000 a game (lamoriello deserves this but thats another story)
after next season they will look to lock out the players and shut down the league. they dont get ratings or fans as it is, could you imagine how little people other than hardcore hockey fans would care about the league then?
and since this is a handicapping forum
i like the rangers tonight - 1/2
you now have 2 teams (buffalo n ottawa) who are bankrupt..here in NJ they draw 11,000 a game (lamoriello deserves this but thats another story)
after next season they will look to lock out the players and shut down the league. they dont get ratings or fans as it is, could you imagine how little people other than hardcore hockey fans would care about the league then?
and since this is a handicapping forum
i like the rangers tonight - 1/2
let them shut the NHL down. i could use the time off. anyone thinking bettman hasnt set the league back 20 years didnt watch hockey when it was played with skill...
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Went to 1 game at Air Canada Centre.
Friend won 2 seats in a nice box.
I enjoy fine seating, but they want ~$350 an ass for rails. **** dat'.
NHL Centre Ice is great. They added a couple hundred more games this year. Strained my relationship with the girlfriend slightly.
Friend won 2 seats in a nice box.
I enjoy fine seating, but they want ~$350 an ass for rails. **** dat'.
NHL Centre Ice is great. They added a couple hundred more games this year. Strained my relationship with the girlfriend slightly.
Good comments --
I was a big hockey fan years ago. Went to a college where the main sport was Div I hockey. Everyone on campus played intramural hockey (bigger than b-ball!!!).
I began to lose interest in following hockey during the mid-late 80s. I couldn't even tell you who won stanley cups from '86 until the most recent few years.
Last year when I finally cable, I started watching games on ESPN some, and I thought the games were more interesting than my recollections of 1988 NHL hockey. I guess I remember 1988 circa NHL being an endless run of 7-4 games, while I like the tension of low scoring games.
This year, I've really been immersing myself into the NHL. Trying to play the games offshore has been the push for me to learn and pay attention and so on. While the quality of play doesn't match what I recall from the late60s through the 1970s and even into the 80s, it doesn't bore me.
Maybe my standards have been lowered over the years. Maybe I'll find the games less interesting after a year of NHL under my belt.
Fundamentals are a lost skill in most professional sports. Baserunning and bunting are lost arts in baseball (and even such basics as throwing ahead of the runner!!). Tackling, especially open-field, is weak in the NFL.
$300 ticket prices for a hockey game are obscene, but probably dictated a bit since there just isn't the mega-bucks of multiple network TV contracts. Hmmm...hockey may indeed be headed down the shitter in the short run. All that will mean is my renewed interest in the game won't have deep roots, and I'll go on to other things.
Like maybe getting back to work??
I was a big hockey fan years ago. Went to a college where the main sport was Div I hockey. Everyone on campus played intramural hockey (bigger than b-ball!!!).
I began to lose interest in following hockey during the mid-late 80s. I couldn't even tell you who won stanley cups from '86 until the most recent few years.
Last year when I finally cable, I started watching games on ESPN some, and I thought the games were more interesting than my recollections of 1988 NHL hockey. I guess I remember 1988 circa NHL being an endless run of 7-4 games, while I like the tension of low scoring games.
This year, I've really been immersing myself into the NHL. Trying to play the games offshore has been the push for me to learn and pay attention and so on. While the quality of play doesn't match what I recall from the late60s through the 1970s and even into the 80s, it doesn't bore me.
Maybe my standards have been lowered over the years. Maybe I'll find the games less interesting after a year of NHL under my belt.
Fundamentals are a lost skill in most professional sports. Baserunning and bunting are lost arts in baseball (and even such basics as throwing ahead of the runner!!). Tackling, especially open-field, is weak in the NFL.
$300 ticket prices for a hockey game are obscene, but probably dictated a bit since there just isn't the mega-bucks of multiple network TV contracts. Hmmm...hockey may indeed be headed down the shitter in the short run. All that will mean is my renewed interest in the game won't have deep roots, and I'll go on to other things.
Like maybe getting back to work??
at our last hockey party here (xmas day) we showed 71 rangers/toronto gm 6 and was truly a delight. when players could keep the puck in play, actually convert CONSECUTIVE passes, no glow puck, no endless graphics distorting picture, announcers who knew what they were watching, and best of all some checking...
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