The NHL is facing its second lockout in ten years. This is going to be absolutely detrimental for the sport. Yes, people will still like hockey, but this is really going to destroy the momentum that has been built up. What frustrates me more than the fact that there is going to be a lockout (anyone who says otherwise is delusional) is the reaction of the owners, the players, and the fans in this situation.
I understand that owners want to retain the majority of their profits. Why should players be able to get 57% of profits? This number is astronomical! When you see some of the deals that were made when players were traded (10-year deals to Minnesota, anyone?) you can see that there needs to be a stop to this. What company allows their employees to have more than 50% of the companies profits? This is just greed from the players. I understand that the players are the ones out there on the ice game after game, but the owners are the ones that fund the teams, create publicity, make players the face of a team. The owners are the ones that put in all the work behind the scenes. There needs to be serious concessions from the players.
Another thing that is really bothering me about the negotiations is the fact that owners cannot, by law, talk about what is happening. But you know who isn't? Players. And oh are they ever so vocal right now. Some players have even made statements that they don't think owners are as well informed. No, maybe you've taken a few too many hits... They aren't allowed to talk about what is happening so the public doesn't get each person's opinion. The fact that players are now extremely vocal about everything means that fans everywhere are losing sight of the fact that this could have all been avoided months ago when the realignment and new CBA was proposed months ago (before playoffs even started). The NHLPA shut it down and it is due to them that we're looking at another lockout.
And, really, fans? How you be so blind? Just because you love the sport doesn't mean you need to back the players 100% or the owners 100%. Both sides are being ridiculous and need to really sit down and come up with a deal. Maybe its time for a lock-in, lock-in everyone in a room and don't let anyone out for any reason until they come to a compromise. And for the love of all that is hockey stop calling for boycotts. This is just insane. If there is a lockout, yes, I'll be pissed because everyone involved is too big-headed and greedy to back down a little but I'm not going to stop watching hockey. I've made a promise to myself I wont be buying hockey tickets for the next year, but that is my own personal protest (and I just bought a house so that cuts into my hockey budget). I'm still going to watch as many games as I can. If I'm given tickets I'll gladly go, but I'm not buying tickets. If you love hockey, a lockout isn't going to get you to stop watching it. It might make you reevaluate how much money you're willing to give them for a while.
Lastly, I really wish sports in general would think about other people involved. Last year when the NBA was locked out, I know that there were several bars right by the AAC that really struggled due to the loss of revenue from people going down for the games. Sports teams everywhere need to take into account that a lockout and a strike is going to affect the people that work in restaurants and bars surrounding the stadium, the people that work in the stadium, the cops that work those events, the list goes on! When I think about the fact that franchises are willing to jeopardize these people's lives just to save themselves a few million dollars, that probably pisses me off more than anything. Not everyone affected by lockouts is a millionaire. There are more everyday people affected than there are millionaires.
I want fans and players and owners to realize that the approach they're taking now is obviously not working and it is leading everyone to be furious over the situation. They're screwing over each other and themselves. No one wins in a lockout and the fans and employees in the arena and surrounding bars are the ones that really suffer.
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