NHL Season will start on...

[MDE3 0]

Not only that....but they are profitable at what expense to the fans....the fan salaries in Canada were not simply equal to US$ translated into Canadian funds... meaning that a job that paid $30,000 USD down here did not automatically become $48,000 CDN in Canada when the exchange was at .66 for years.

The same job in Canada might have paid $35,000 CDN...maybe.... However player salaries were normally negotioated in US funds, even in Canada, and certainly to a degree ticket pricing reflects this.

Thus Canadian fans had to pay a premium relative to their mean income levels, to watch the game they consider their own, or someone did somewhere.. either the owners or the government or the fans had to subsidize the difference. So Canadian fans had to pay a pretty serious premium either in higher ticket pricing, or lower payrolls and theoretically lower talent levels..and that's why all the comments were so adamant about fixing the salary problems...plus fans from Quebec and Winnipeg who lost their franchises...in their opinion due to player salary inflation. They would accept something of a premium, but a lot of fans up there or at least those who post are fed up with having to take out a second mortgage to take their kids to an NHL game.

[Jackal3688 0]

Please God, Please God, Please God let this happen.

But then again, I kinda liked getting to go to AHL games for cheaper than usual NHL hockey games. It was nice to get like box suites and club seats for cheaper than even some upper level NHL tickets. That was kinda cool. Hopefully, they'll get together and discuss the inflated ticket prices this week too ;)

[Chadd 916]

Not only that....but they are profitable at what expense to the fans....the fan salaries in Canada were not simply equal to US$ translated into Canadian funds... meaning that a job that paid $30,000 USD down here did not automatically become $48,000 CDN in Canada when the exchange was at .66 for years.

The same job in Canada might have paid $35,000 CDN...maybe.... However player salaries were normally negotioated in US funds, even in Canada, and certainly to a degree ticket pricing reflects this.

Thus Canadian fans had to pay a premium relative to their mean income levels, to watch the game they consider their own, or someone did somewhere.. either the owners or the government or the fans had to subsidize the difference. So Canadian fans had to pay a pretty serious premium either in higher ticket pricing, or lower payrolls and theoretically lower talent levels..and that's why all the comments were so adamant about fixing the salary problems...plus fans from Quebec and Winnipeg who lost their franchises...in their opinion due to player salary inflation. They would accept something of a premium, but a lot of fans up there or at least those who post are fed up with having to take out a second mortgage to take their kids to an NHL game.

Ticket prices will not go down because of the lockout in virtually every market. Prices will be as high as the market will bear, regardless of the currency of the fan. If the team is at 80-85% capacity or more, ticket prices will stay where they are. To think otherwise is wishful thinking. There may be reduced prices for the remainder of the 2004-2005 season if it ever happens but they will not stay low.

[Eman24dx 0]

I know in fact if we start up again this year tickets here in Buffalo will be about 30% less, but this was decided after the end of last year.

[Chadd 916]

I know in fact if we start up again this year tickets here in Buffalo will be about 30% less, but this was decided after the end of last year.

They had attendance problems last year, they need to lower ticket prices.

[Eman24dx 0]

Thanks Captain~

Lets hope this gets done tomorrow.

[this guy 0]

So if the season does starts agian this year, do you guys think Bertuzzi will be back?

[Accord 0]

So if the season does starts agian this year, do you guys think Bertuzzi will be back?

Correct me if i'm wrong, but wasn't the only punishment he received from the NHL a suspension for the rest of the season + playoffs and a massive fine? If so, he should be playing this season if there is a season.

[Eazy_b97 1]

They are going to look at it before a season starts and decide then.

[Chadd 916]

So if the season does starts agian this year, do you guys think Bertuzzi will be back?

Correct me if i'm wrong, but wasn't the only punishment he received from the NHL a suspension for the rest of the season + playoffs and a massive fine? If so, he should be playing this season if there is a season.

he was fined $1000 the maximum permitted by the old CBA. At this point I would not be surprised to see him suspended for the entire 2004-2005 season if there is one. Nor would I be surprised if he were reinstated right away in an effort to bring some fans back to the game. He is suspended until he is told otherwise.

[Hooah4 12]

Just heard from a reliable source that Flyers employees who were temporarily without jobs are to be ready to resume their jobs on quick notice. More as I hear it.

[Eman24dx 0]

I just tried to call a few people who still have their jobs here and everyone is in meetings. Sounds good but I cant get my hopes up.

[chippa13 1844]

The longer we don't hear anything, the more it looks like they are doing some real negotiating and stopped the stare down contest. I would say that team personnel are probably in meetings today to discuss "what if" scenarios, just in case something real comes from today and tomorrow.

[Chadd 916]

Just make the tax threshold linked to revenues and all of a sudden you have a done deal. Both sides can claim victory and I get to watch hockey.

[Chadd 916]

Complements of a poster at another site:

I am listening to Fan590 out of Calgary and so far I have heard the following

1. Players have offered a 24% rollback on all salaries as long as there is no link to revenues or hard cap.

The example they used with the rollback was Mats Sundin, who would lose 5.675mil on his contract

2. The delay in the press conference is because the NHL is in a conference call with the owners and the NHLPA is doing the same with the players

3. They are scheduled to meet next Tuesday.

I have a feeling this can be worked out....Just wish they didn't waste so much time btw meetings.

I do have some questions though...The 24% rollback..It is only a time time thing or what? I can't see how they could do that every year.

rollback is a one time event.

[Chadd 916]

20 cent tax on payroll over 45 million dollars. The tax rises to 50 cents on the dollar over $50 million and 60 cents on the dollar over $60 million

They need to stiffen up the tax a bit. Once you roll back the salaries 24% almost no team pays a meaningful amount in taxes.

[Jim Bob 0]

At 233 pages, it's going to take me a while to get through it.

But it is a very serious offer that should be a jumping off point for a deal that can work for both sides if they are both willing to give some more up that they want.

[Jim Bob 0]

Here is my breakdown of the offer:

http://jimbobrambles.blogspot.com/2004/12/...a-proposal.html

[Jim Bob 0]

The 233 pages was quick to get through as I skipped most of the filler charts that broke a lot of stuff out on a team by team basis.

But thanks for the feedback.

[Jim Bob 0]

Twas two weeks before Christmas and all through hockey land

there were no games to be played, both sides had taken a stand

There was silence in the arenas, the stadiums, the rinks.

While the owners passed the time out on the links...

The players were in Sweden, Finland or the U.K.

While others sat idly by in Canada or the U.S.A

Bettman and Goodenow spent many hours squawking,

but never found the time to sit down and start talking

Now, from the North Pole came a jolly ole man.

He wanted hockey back and he had a plan

He summoned the two to meet him in Toronto-

before the meetings, "Be there pronto."

"Or there will be no presents for you or your kin.

Don't be late, I'll be at the Westin."

When Santa arrived he placed his sack near his lap,

while Bettman and Goodenow argued about the salary cap

Santa said, "Sit down, I'm tired of your rap.

You've chased off more fans than the neutral zone trap."

Santa pulled out a letter from a young boy in need,

whose father was unemployed because of their greed.

He had lost his vendor job when the rinks had shut down.

He then lost his home and had to leave town.

"Please help us Santa, we are out in the snow.

We have nothing to eat and nowhere to go."

He kept reading as he reached into his sack.

"I promise to be good, Santa. Please bring hockey back."

Santa read more letters and as the night went by,

they became very sad and started to cry.

"You who make millions, you should be ashamed,

these people are hurting and you are to blame."

"The meaning of Christmas is to do others good,

not take away their only livelihood."

And what happened next?

Well, in Puckville they say-

Both men's ego's shrunk 10 sizes that day.

They forgot about the players, the owners and their tans.

They remembered the attendants, the ushers, the fans.

Goodenow spoke first, "Oh, a cap is OK.

Most of the players make enough anyway.

The cap is inevitable and, as I have learned---

It works in the U.S., ask Tagliabue and Stern."

Then Bettman said, "We'll make a team floor and a ceiling.

Competition will be better, I have a feeling."

The two men shook hands and said "I've been rude.

We'll start on the 15th, where is the food?"

And before Santa left he said, "One more thing.

Lose that red line and you'll make more bling bling."

The lockout had ended, the NHL was alive.

Hockey finally returned in 2005.

[Eman24dx 0]

Wow, That was great. Not sure who came up with that but they are good.