The 2012-2013 National Hockey League Lockout is the
second season in just eight years that there will be no NHL games. The 2004-2005 season was cancelled due to a
labour disagreement between the NHL Player’s Association and team owners. The collective bargaining agreement expired,
and no new agreement has yet been made despite offers from both sides.
Well over 300 games have been cancelled thus
far. This means that players have had to
sign with European teams or gone down to the AHL if they want to play
professional hockey this season. With the
lockout in place, I think of everyone who is affected by it, and not just the
players, team’s owners, or fans, but the people who are out of work because of
it. All the people that work at the game
venues; security, concessions, ticket sales, referees, athletic trainers,
zamboni drivers. Then on top of that,
you have the media; reporters/analysts/broadcasters, camera crew. The NHL is losing fans, and what for? Without support, there won’t be revenue to
argue about. What kind of value are we
placing on sport? Is it merely all about
the profit, or can it go back to the love of the game?
Sarah Valenti
KIN 577
I know exactly how you feel. This is a situation where not only are the players, but the owners coming off as greedy. It is mostly a situation of the owners and how they want their teams and money processed. I don't necessarily think the NHL community is losing fans, I think it may be making a stronger bond between fans actually. I have seen the community come together to try and fight for the season back. In addition I see the lower leagues, such as the Ontario Reign gaining a lot more support. Maybe in the end, when this is all solved, both the NHL and the minor leagues will have support and begin profiting for the better.
ReplyDelete-Jen