Ty Anderson: The Lockout Blog Everyone's writing about the lockout so hey, here's my take on it.

1st

I don't know about the lock out but I know I would like to be locked in with the hat trick of hotties on your blog photo

Well that sucks

It's all about money! Once they straighten it out, it'll be just like the old days. Can't wait for all the hand shakes and hugs! Oh, and increased pricing in every Rink! Just sit back and watch the show of greed, er business negotiations!

Absolutely correct. The fans mean nothing to both the league and the players since the KNOW we will return as soon as the games begin. Best guess is a 60-70 game season starting around the end of November, the NHL has no problem missing games in October and early November, but they would probably not want to lose the Winter Classic, since its the ONLY time they get any real major media coverage.

What's really sad is that anyone with half a brain already knows how this will turn out. Salaries will be cut around 15%, ELC's will increase to 4 years, free agency will now start at 28 or 29, contracts will be limited to 7 or 8 years, with no one years compensation to be less than 50% or so of the highest year, the revenue split will end up right around 50/50 and there will be a very small increase in revenue sharing.

Its the posturing, and related b.s. that angers myself and other fans, since there is absolutely NO reason this deal is not already done.

Well somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed and ate their Grumpy Flakes. As a reader, I really don't care if you think a petition is a silly idea or not, but don't tell us or anyone else "to put your revolutionary ideas away" I do think, and I'm sure many more people that visit this site think that their voice will carry weight, especially if we all unite and speak as one through a cause like @stopthelockout2012. The problem is people like you, the neh sayers of the world are what the league and players depend on for survival. Any real fan of the NHL would want the season to proceed as scheduled, and would want the league and players to act responsibly to get a deal worked out. Both sides want to hear the fans say nevermind, we will pick up the torch again after you boys work out the differences. That just gives them license to take their time and try to wait each other out rather then push through negotiations and try to work it out. They only have a CBA deadline to work with, but they should have a fan deadline too.

Well somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed and ate their Grumpy Flakes. As a reader, I really don't care if you think a petition is a silly idea or not, but don't tell us or anyone else "to put your revolutionary ideas away" I do think, and I'm sure many more people that visit this site think that their voice will carry weight, especially if we all unite and speak as one through a cause like @stopthelockout2012. The problem is people like you, the neh sayers of the world are what the league and players depend on for survival. Any real fan of the NHL would want the season to proceed as scheduled, and would want the league and players to act responsibly to get a deal worked out. Both sides want to hear the fans say nevermind, we will pick up the torch again after you boys work out the differences. That just gives them license to take their time and try to wait each other out rather then push through negotiations and try to work it out. They only have a CBA deadline to work with, but they should have a fan deadline too.
- gstrandberg

Sorry but the sad truth is that even if the entire season was cancelled, within 2 seasons over 90% of fans would be back. If you don't believe me, just look at where the game is today after having missed the entire 04-05 season. Heck look at baseball, even after cancelling the stretch run and world series in 1994 and all the steroid scandals, the game is stronger than its been in years. Fans are very much like drug addicts, they talk a good game, but the behavior rarely changes.

Sorry but the sad truth is that even if the entire season was cancelled, within 2 seasons over 90% of fans would be back. If you don't believe me, just look at where the game is today after having missed the entire 04-05 season. Heck look at baseball, even after cancelling the stretch run and world series in 1994 and all the steroid scandals, the game is stronger than its been in years. Fans are very much like drug addicts, they talk a good game, but the behavior rarely changes.
- BiggE

Personally I haven't watched more then a couple innings of baseball since the baseball strike.
It's not that it isn't the truth about most people, yes, but I'm saying don't tell me not to try.

Ty, for the love of all that is still good in this world (and there's not much, I grant you), you know nothing about how economics work and how the fans actually have all the power, if they choose to wield it. You say the NHL fans will come back regardless, yet you contradict yourself immediately by saying that if a lockout persists, the NHL and its players would find it very difficult to survive the media fallout. Complete and utter hyperbolic and unsubstantiated bullpoop! You're doing nothing more than rehasing the same bad arguments that have led to the current situation we're in: no one cares about fans, we are pawns in this battle with no say, etc. etc. etc.

Here's an interesting option to consider once hockey does come back: freeride to the extreme. The power that fans have in this battle is directly proportional to how much money they are willing to spend on their team and the league every year. The tickets we buy, the Centre Ice subscripions we purchase, the jerseys we give as gifts, etc. Fans can influence the outcomes by saying "hey, wait, maybe if I stop being a little consumer whore for the NHL, they may actually be a little more proactive and willing to give me what I want, because in the end, no matter the outcome, they're losing MONEY."

My proposal would be to try and use social media, print media (e.g. letter writing campaigns, petitions), and the sales offices of NHL teams to try and send a warning to teams and players once the lockout ends: refuse to purchase tickets, attend games, and freeride by just watching the games on TV through your local cable provider/internet stream. Sure, the NHL will get broadcast revenue from selling the games rights, but that will not satisfy the owners who want full rinks or the players who want fans cheering them as they play. Plus, the total revenue would barely be able to keep the league sustainable on its own. It really depends on how willing fans are to go along this route. The eventual response would be to have teams and the NHL call for focus groups and consultations with fans to determine what is wrong, and then they will be more willing to listen. Nothing makes an entrenched person's viewpoint bottom out more than an impact on their bottom line.

So, really, stop writing this drivel and start to propose ways that fans can have more impact on the labour negotiations such as flash mobs at the neogotiating venues, mass cancellations of season ticket subscriptions and media advocacy campaigns. The problem with the modern era is we've forgotten how to act when confronted with a problem, we only know how to react. Or we can be good little sheeple and continue to take it on the chin with our emotions and ripped off at the box office. Your choice.

Personally I haven't watched more then a couple innings of baseball since the baseball strike.
It's not that it isn't the truth about most people, yes, but I'm saying don't tell me not to try.
- gstrandberg

do you really miss watching baseball though? if they never had the strike in 95 would have the baseball cable package watching every game? doubt it.

Personally I haven't watched more then a couple innings of baseball since the baseball strike.
It's not that it isn't the truth about most people, yes, but I'm saying don't tell me not to try.
- gstrandberg

Fair enough

Ty, for the love of all that is still good in this world (and there's not much, I grant you), you know nothing about how economics work and how the fans actually have all the power, if they choose to wield it. You say the NHL fans will come back regardless, yet you contradict yourself immediately by saying that if a lockout persists, the NHL and its players would find it very difficult to survive the media fallout. Complete and utter hyperbolic and unsubstantiated bullpoop! You're doing nothing more than rehasing the same bad arguments that have led to the current situation we're in: no one cares about fans, we are pawns in this battle with no say, etc. etc. etc.

Here's an interesting option to consider once hockey does come back: freeride to the extreme. The power that fans have in this battle is directly proportional to how much money they are willing to spend on their team and the league every year. The tickets we buy, the Centre Ice subscripions we purchase, the jerseys we give as gifts, etc. Fans can influence the outcomes by saying "hey, wait, maybe if I stop being a little consumer whore for the NHL, they may actually be a little more proactive and willing to give me what I want, because in the end, no matter the outcome, they're losing MONEY."

My proposal would be to try and use social media, print media (e.g. letter writing campaigns, petitions), and the sales offices of NHL teams to try and send a warning to teams and players once the lockout ends: refuse to purchase tickets, attend games, and freeride by just watching the games on TV through your local cable provider/internet stream. Sure, the NHL will get broadcast revenue from selling the games rights, but that will not satisfy the owners who want full rinks or the players who want fans cheering them as they play. Plus, the total revenue would barely be able to keep the league sustainable on its own. It really depends on how willing fans are to go along this route. The eventual response would be to have teams and the NHL call for focus groups and consultations with fans to determine what is wrong, and then they will be more willing to listen. Nothing makes an entrenched person's viewpoint bottom out more than an impact on their bottom line.

So, really, stop writing this drivel and start to propose ways that fans can have more impact on the labour negotiations such as flash mobs at the neogotiating venues, mass cancellations of season ticket subscriptions and media advocacy campaigns. The problem with the modern era is we've forgotten how to act when confronted with a problem, we only know how to react. Or we can be good little sheeple and continue to take it on the chin with our emotions and ripped off at the box office. Your choice.
- ahjnkn

give me a break. you really think the NHL fans of the world are going to rally together as one and stop going to games, stop buying jerseys and caps, stop watching on tv?

No. this is the real world and this is sports entertainment. once they figure it out we will be back. end of story. to suggest that we have a flash mob at the toronto offices or all burn our tickets at midnight to show the league we mean business is ridiculous.

save the rally the people bullpoop for meaningful political or social causes as that matters.

i'm watching hockey whenever it happens to start.

Fair enough
- BiggE

apples and oranges. lots of people use the baseball strike as an example.

strike or no strike it's easy to not watch baseball on TV. even for people like me that love baseball, sitting and watching 9 innings can be painful.

hockey? if you're a die hard you watch.

do you really miss watching baseball though? if they never had the strike in 95 would have the baseball cable package watching every game? doubt it.
- Fountain-San

Not sure, at the time I lived close to Toronto, went to a few games a year, and followed everything Blue Jays, and don't forget they were the league champions at the time. What got me most about that strike was the millionaire players pettiness about wanting revenues from baseball cards as well. It completely soured me on baseball, and that remains to this day.

Not sure, at the time I lived close to Toronto, went to a few games a year, and followed everything Blue Jays, and don't forget they were the league champions at the time. What got me most about that strike was the millionaire players pettiness about wanting revenues from baseball cards as well. It completely soured me on baseball, and that remains to this day.
- gstrandberg

i would counter that to completely give up a sport means you didn't "love" it all that much. and i say that respectfully.

would you as, i assume, a leafs fan or at least a canadian hockey fan really turn your back on hockey?

Not sure, at the time I lived close to Toronto, went to a few games a year, and followed everything Blue Jays, and don't forget they were the league champions at the time. What got me most about that strike was the millionaire players pettiness about wanting revenues from baseball cards as well. It completely soured me on baseball, and that remains to this day.
- gstrandberg

and to be fair if you were all about the Jays you're not following baseball anymore coincides very closely to the Jays downturn since the championship, joe carter days.

and to be fair if you were all about the Jays you're not following baseball anymore coincides very closely to the Jays downturn since the championship, joe carter days.
- Fountain-San

Like I said, I'm not sure....... maybe I would have been a big fans still if there had been no strike, maybe not.
And yes, I am a (somewhat discontent) Leafs fan, and have maintained my loyalty and support for the game through the dark days they are experiencing. However, my loyalty is slipping due to all the mis-management in Toronto. It seems like were back to the Ballard days, only profit matters, not building a team that can win. They fill the seats, no need to win right?

C'mon Ty! What if our forefathers sat at home doing nothing whilst the British taxed us without representation???!!! We would all be pronouncing 'r' at the end of every word, that's where we would be!

We need petitions! We need to be heard! We need restitution! We need......Ok I'm done. I will be on the couch waiting for the season to start. With a Sam Adams of course.

C'mon Ty! What if our forefathers sat at home doing nothing whilst the British taxed us without representation???!!! We would all be pronouncing 'r' at the end of every word, that's where we would be!

We need petitions! We need to be heard! We need restitution! We need......Ok I'm done. I will be on the couch waiting for the season to start. With a Sam Adams of course.
- GSDIV

I hope that is a bottle of Sam Adams.... lol

Well somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed and ate their Grumpy Flakes. As a reader, I really don't care if you think a petition is a silly idea or not, but don't tell us or anyone else "to put your revolutionary ideas away" I do think, and I'm sure many more people that visit this site think that their voice will carry weight, especially if we all unite and speak as one through a cause like @stopthelockout2012. The problem is people like you, the neh sayers of the world are what the league and players depend on for survival. Any real fan of the NHL would want the season to proceed as scheduled, and would want the league and players to act responsibly to get a deal worked out. Both sides want to hear the fans say nevermind, we will pick up the torch again after you boys work out the differences. That just gives them license to take their time and try to wait each other out rather then push through negotiations and try to work it out. They only have a CBA deadline to work with, but they should have a fan deadline too.
- gstrandberg

I completely agree, people don't realize how much power they hold as a whole. If the fans came together and set a time limit as to when the CBA should be finished I'd bet the NHL and NHLPA would listen. The problem is people like this blogger and anyone who thinks they can't make a difference. Its not about if were going to stop watching hockey forever because that's not a reality, however if for once we stood up for ourselves and set a date. If its not met and the lockout cuts off 2 months of hockey that's when we gotta stand up and say enough is enough. We lockout the NHL even for a week or 2 by not attending games or watching them on tv then the owners would hear us loud and clear. Even after a simple week lockout I doubt the next time CBA negotiations come up the Owners will take their sweet time and have another lockout. All they care about is money, you don't attend games or watch on tv you hit them where it hurts their pocket and that they will never forget!

I hope that is a bottle of Sam Adams.... lol
- gstrandberg

Haha Well played.

Haha Well played.
- GSDIV

I just figured a bottle of Sam Adams might just be..... mmmm shall we say, a little fresher... lol

I completely agree, people don't realize how much power they hold as a whole. If the fans came together and set a time limit as to when the CBA should be finished I'd bet the NHL and NHLPA would listen. The problem is people like this blogger and anyone who thinks they can't make a difference. Its not about if were going to stop watching hockey forever because that's not a reality, however if for once we stood up for ourselves and set a date. If its not met and the lockout cuts off 2 months of hockey that's when we gotta stand up and say enough is enough. We lockout the NHL even for a week or 2 by not attending games or watching them on tv then the owners would hear us loud and clear. Even after a simple week lockout I doubt the next time CBA negotiations come up the Owners will take their sweet time and have another lockout. All they care about is money, you don't attend games or watch on tv you hit them where it hurts their pocket and that they will never forget!
- Habsforever101

I hope you are following @stopthelockout2012 on twitter, or liking them on facebook then.... the more voices we have the better.