I think they would. If the sport increased in its popularity and more people on average attended, owners win. If it's a better TV product, owners win. More merchandise, more parking, more rapid exchange of cash. If the building in question is frequently below capacity in ticket sales, what's the point of having more empty seats?
- Johnny Wrath

It would knock at LEAST the first three rows out. The ones that cost the most.. x that by 82 and you have a poop load of money lost. Maybe in 10 years like jmatchett said you could regain something. How pissed would owners with new arenas be? Very.

That's because this fan base has seen how overvaluing "experience" works out.
- jfkst1

I don't think that Paul Martin's "experience" is the same as Craig Adams/Rob Scuderi that the last regime looked at. I think Paul Martin is just a god damn good hockey player.

That's a lot of short-term revenue loss that you hope you can recoup in 10+ years.

Edit: I really hope that, at some point, the NHL and its owners will realize that hockey is not going to rival the other big-3 and stop trying to make it football/basketball. I love the sport, but there will never be the casual NHL fan.
- jmatchett383

NHL > Basketball

just not in money... but its closer than I thought.

NHL > Basketball

just not in money... but its closer than I thought.
- Guile

As far as I am concerned, I agree. As far as money is concerned, not so much.

I think they would. If the sport increased in its popularity and more people on average attended, owners win. If it's a better TV product, owners win. More merchandise, more parking, more rapid exchange of cash. If the building in question is frequently below capacity in ticket sales, what's the point of having more empty seats?
- Johnny Wrath

There are 16 teams at 99% capacity and I don't think they will want to give up seats. And amongst those 16 teams are some of the most influential owners.

There are 16 teams at 99% capacity and I don't think they will want to give up seats. And amongst those 16 teams are some of the most influential owners.
- willi

Plus, those season ticket holders who would be required to move from the lower level to the upper level (not to mention the people with front-row upper level who will be moved to row 4/5) are not going to be very overjoyed at the move.

I don't think that Paul Martin's "experience" is the same as Craig Adams/Rob Scuderi that the last regime looked at. I think Paul Martin is just a god damn good hockey player.
- j.boyd919

He's an excellent player and very capable of top pairing duties on any team. But I still doubt he will not get a much more favorable offer from another team. And I don't want the Pens matching his cost and term when I believe they might have viable alternatives already on the roster and the money can be used elsewhere. I'd rather they took the risk with the young cost effective guys than got locked into an expensive long term deal with a veteran.

That's a lot of short-term revenue loss that you hope you can recoup in 10+ years.

Edit: I really hope that, at some point, the NHL and its owners will realize that hockey is not going to rival the other big-3 and stop trying to make it football/basketball. I love the sport, but there will never be the casual NHL fan.
- jmatchett383

I don't think it'll happen even though it's probably the viable business strategy. They ousted the Verizon CEO for trying to plan a twelve-year investment payoff by covering San Francisco in fiber optic cable once the shareholders saw the up-front overhead. People are fickle.

If it was up to me I would broadcast 100% of NHL games online for free with limited stoppage for ads. The gate revenue system in place is fine and remains the primary source of income. I think there are too many teams, that there is not talent parity equal to points in the standings, and that the salary cap is now high enough that there doesn't need to be a salary cap. All the salary cap really does is ruin the trade deadline for die-hards.

He's an excellent player and very capable of top pairing duties on any team. But I still doubt he will not get a much more favorable offer from another team. And I don't want the Pens matching his cost and term when I believe they might have viable alternatives already on the roster and the money can be used elsewhere. I'd rather they took the risk with the young cost effective guys than got locked into an expensive long term deal with a veteran.
- jfkst1

If he wants 5 years at $6.5M, then let him walk. I don't think anyone's saying retain him at all costs. I just think that his age coupled with the strong UFA defenseman class (compared to other years) will make him a more manageable resign.

I've never understood the obsession with high scoring. It has nothing to with the quality of a game. That game last night was quality.

I guess when you look at the sports the majority of Americans like, such as Football, Basketball and baseball, it's easy to see why they want more scoring in hockey and don't really like soccer (the real football) much at all.

I've never understood the obsession with high scoring. It has nothing to with the quality of a game. That game last night was quality.

I guess when you look at the sports the majority of Americans like, such as Football, Basketball and baseball, it's easy to see why they want more scoring in hockey and don't really like soccer (the real football) much at all.
- MattStrat

Soccer, to a lot of Americans (including me) is boring because nothing happens for 95% of the game. It's 2 teams kicking a ball back and forth that come close to putting the ball near the goal once in a while. With hockey, the action is much quicker, you are actually allowed to make contact, and there are upwards of 25+ shots per team per game.

NHL > Basketball

just not in money... but its closer than I thought.
- Guile

It's easier and cheaper to get a basketball and head to the nearest hoop (anywhere) than get all the gear needed for hockey and ice time.

It's easier and cheaper to get a basketball and head to the nearest hoop (anywhere) than get all the gear needed for hockey and ice time.
- znagle

Not true. To be really good at basketball, you need a $250 pair of Nike's, some ridiculously expensive gold chain dangling around your neck, and a lifetime supply of sweat bands.

Hmmm... apparently I am blocked from that diehard pittsburgh penguins fan group on facebook.... possibly for pointing out that people cannot count, add, assess hockey, and are completely "retarded (frank)s who know nothing about the game past a team's wins and losses".


Oh well

Hmmm... apparently I am blocked from that diehard pittsburgh penguins fan group on facebook.... possibly for pointing out that people cannot count, add, assess hockey, and are completely "retarded (frank)s who know nothing about the game past a team's wins and losses".


Oh well
- Guile

I have a look at the comments over there every so often for a laugh. Usually after we've lost a few games in a row.

Hmmm... apparently I am blocked from that diehard pittsburgh penguins fan group on facebook.... possibly for pointing out that people cannot count, add, assess hockey, and are completely "retarded (frank)s who know nothing about the game past a team's wins and losses".


Oh well
- Guile

This is a tie-in to my point about the so-called "casual hockey fan" the NHL believes exists. The "casual hockey fan" is an uninformed football meat-head who understands nothing about hockey more than what fanatical sports talk radio presents.

I've never understood the obsession with high scoring. It has nothing to with the quality of a game. That game last night was quality.

I guess when you look at the sports the majority of Americans like, such as Football, Basketball and baseball, it's easy to see why they want more scoring in hockey and don't really like soccer (the real football) much at all.
- MattStrat

I don't understand baseball at all. The game seems to be this see-saw that it's better when everyone is doping but that they shouldn't be doping. Because the Babe was a big fat guy an his records seem less important if Sosa can repair muscle tissue faster than the Babe could finish a bottle of Wild Turkey on the train from Cincinnati to Philadelphia.

Hockey is and I think will be a niche sport, strongly regional, and won't ever have a 'casual fan' format. NFL and now EPL soccer can have that casual, weekend audience without the tedium of following the league, looking at a weeknight schedule, or knowing the rules. You can just put the football on and vaguely know which color neoprene pants the home team wears and go with it.

Not true. To be really good at basketball, you need a $250 pair of Nike's, some ridiculously expensive gold chain dangling around your neck, and a lifetime supply of sweat bands.
- jmatchett383

RACIST

RACIST


- znagle

I know you are but what am I?

I know you are but what am I?
- jmatchett383

RACIST

This is a tie-in to my point about the so-called "casual hockey fan" the NHL believes exists. The "casual hockey fan" is an uninformed football meat-head who understands nothing about hockey more than what fanatical sports talk radio presents.
- jmatchett383

Well, I first had to explain how the Penguins were not 7-0-1 in their last 8 games.... yeah.

Then I had to explain why LA was not a bad team, Columbus and Florida were not good teams, and Colorado was not a defensive powerhouse.

Then I just was like (frank) this, I can't deal with this level of stupidity on my breaks.

RACIST


- znagle

I'm rubber, you're glue...etc.

Well, I first had to explain how the Penguins were not 7-0-1 in their last 8 games.... yeah.

Then I had to explain why LA was not a bad team, Columbus and Florida were not good teams, and Colorado was not a defensive powerhouse.

Then I just was like (frank) this, I can't deal with this level of stupidity on my breaks.
- Guile

Like I said, there's your "casual hockey fan."

Not true. To be really good at basketball, you need a $250 pair of Nike's, some ridiculously expensive gold chain dangling around your neck, and a lifetime supply of sweat bands.
- jmatchett383

Not true. To be really good at basketball, you need a $250 pair of Nike's, some ridiculously expensive gold chain dangling around your neck, and a lifetime supply of sweat bands.
- jmatchett383

Is that why the Kostitsyn brothers didn't fit in with the NHL?