People are noting that attendance is down across the league. The Lightning’s 58-game sellout streak at the St. Pete Times Forum is over.
Meanwhile, TV ratings are stagnant at best in both countries. David over at the Ice Block ponders what it will take to get the league’s attention they have a problem?
What will happen when Canadian attendance drops? The answer to that one is easy, of course: move the team to a “stronger, larger” US market.
This is where the bile directed towards Gary Bettman should be pointed in full. The paradox of selling out Canada for a game that has failed to catch on in the US is routine that seems accepted by Gary and his “friends” in control of the league. The league is quick to move into new markets but fails at marketing to the masses.
last updated December 1, 2006 at 1:39 pm
The product is over priced, the TV deal is a joke what else could you expect but decline. Not to mention there was a strike and it takes a few years to recover from work stoppages. Sure the first year back was good numbers in some markets but those are fewer than the more than half empty arenas around the league. Bettman is a fool the salary cap was a mistake and players are the sheep who got sent to the market and shaved, should have never striked only showed how foolish and misguided the union was. If you want to “fix” the league. Prices should be lowered and allow teams to exceed the cap, such as a “larry bird” clause so team’s can be kept together, possibly a luxury tax system, could work for bigger market teams. Did I mention the shoot out sucks, and losing physical play also cheapens the games. The speed of the game has been a small improvement but, for the lose of some of the phyciscal stuff. Still is the best speactor sport in the world, just have to get people out to games and the rest will take care of itself.
SportNet panel discussed this situation and debated the fact that the Super Stars have to be marketed better if people are going to be enticed to games. Seeing Crosby once every three years isn’t going to cut it.
Hate to see the salary cap rising again. Totally agree that they haven’t solved this problem of high end guys handicapping teams. Tampa unable to develop young guys because they can’t afford to bring them up for a couple of games and mentor them.
Roy is back!
This can only mean good thing, and checking!
Hey. This is Pete, one of the founders of Yardbarker (www.yardbarker.com). I couldn’t find your email address, but I’d like to speak to you about the linking program that we’re doing with a bunch of sports bloggers. It’s basically a way for you to get a lot more sports fans reading your best posts. Would you mind contacting me at pete@yardbarker.com so I can email you with more info? Thanks.
Pete