"Now the game is back in its more exciting form, and in Canada, where fans always were going to give it a second chance, it's more popular than ever.
But in the United States, where Bettman killed the market, the fans are not coming back.
They found something else to do last year -- the Dark Year that didn't need to happen had Bettman simply instituted the on-ice changes when hockey people were urging him to do so."
Really?
03-04 Attendance
05-06 Attendance
12 of the 24 American markets have higher attendance in 05-06 than in 03-04. 3 have essentially the same attendance as 03-04 (NYR @ 99.3% Capacity, Colorado @ 100% capacity, and Buffalo). 2 teams have had modest decreases (LA @ 95.8% capacity has 131 fewer people per game and Dallas @ 94.5% Capacity has 844 fewer people per game). 17 of 24
Columbus had a decrease in attendance but has still had 91.7% capacity which, to me, is impressive after a lockout and considering the injuries and misery that team has faced this season.
That's 12 teams with increased, 3 the same, 2 modest decreases with 95% capacity and one with 92% capacity despite the 29th worst team. it could certainly be better, but that's 75% of the US teams that, in my book, had their fans come back and then some. I don't know about everyone else, but about 9-10 months ago I would have thought those numbers would be impossible to attain in the US.
The other 6 teams that had decreases? Phoenix (22nd in pts), St. Louis (30th in pts/ownership turmoil), New Jersey (17th in pts), Anaheim (18th in pts/rumored firesale), NY Islanders (24th in pts/antiquated arena), and Washington (27 in pts). Imo, the attendance would be better in most of these cities were their teams better. I guess you could say the lockout made teams like STL worse because of their contracts, but I don't think the fans aren't going to the games in STL because they are disillusioned by the lockout. That's a proven hockey city.
Also, here's an article for everyone's reading pleasure/displeasure that makes a lot of similar points, but in a more middle ground kind of way...
Still Work In Progress, New NHL On Track
"The new rules and enforcement standards, plus the salary cap and the realigned financial order, have created an NHL that in the first few months is a significant improvement over the pre-lockout product.
Those who won't admit that are entitled to their opinions, but are most likely either: (a) against anything the perceived bogeyman, Gary Bettman, supports; (b) wildly unrealistic; or, (c) fans of the University of Calgary Dinosaurs, because the mascot represents their philosophies."
"
No other sport gets knocked so much by its own constituency. If the term is stretched to include media specializing or at least those seriously interested in the sport, members of hockey's press corps aren't nearly as sycophantic as those who cover the other major sports. Plus, there is a wide array of opinions -- from the press box, the arena seats or in front of the television at any given moment -- about what's right and what's wrong with the game.
That's a nice way of saying that virtually regardless of what the NHL does, somebody who makes a living covering it or working within it is going to rip it.
Loudly.
Some of the criticism has to do with the continuing resentment of a "New York lawyer," Bettman, serving as commissioner."
