Coolburn said:
I don't think you want to use the airline business to make your case. The employees in that industry often offer salary rollbacks to their employers to make it work. Hmm, sounds like the players framework is the same as the airline industry...are you sure you're supporting the right side in this dispute??
So what your saying salary rollbacks are fine in other industries but not in hockey. You see, I don't really have a side. I want what's best for hockey and the NHL. NHL ticket prices are already too high when compared to other hockey leagues and when you add the fact they don't get much if any TV revenue it only makes sense that they get their financial house in order.
I don't need the Leavitt or Forbes reports to figure out that hockey is in trouble. I've been saying it for years now that the league is broken and in need of major repair both on and off the ice. Not the 24% bandaid solution that Goodewow knew would be rejected but a meaningful longterm plan that will be win win for everyone including the fans on a moving forward basis.
To figure out if the 30 teams have a level playing field or at least a reasonable starting point you only need to look at the ticket prices that each team charges. Calculate ticket sales in each team's market which isn't that hard to do and you pretty much have the lions share of each teams revenue. It wouldn't be hard to come up with an agreeable formula to determine gross revenue but it takes 2 willing partners.
I want an NHL where scouting, development and coaching are the main determining factors for the success or lack there of for any franchise. Free Agency might have been good for the players, agents, lawyers and accountants but it has been bad for sports and it's fans. Buying a championship like the Yankees or Red Sox have done means very little to me. It's like the big bully on the street having his way.