Possible Hockey Lockout

[Thorin]

Just treatin' this as The Hockey Thread now...

This sums up my thoughts on the idea of building a new arena with public money: http://reason.com/archives/2007/05/23/lets-all-give-money-to-the-ric.  It's a bit of a long read, but right on the button.

[Thorin]

Hmm...  Beat the Lockout Blues by watching the BHL?  Bikini Hockey League, that is: http://www.torontosun.com/2012/09/24/bikini-hockey-league-could-cure-nhl-lockout-blues?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=recommend-button&utm_campaign=Bikini+Hockey+League+could+cure+NHL+lockout+blues

[Mr. Analog]

lol

[Thorin]

Gawd I hope they can actually complete a pass, otherwise that'd be a boring hockey game to watch.  And apparently some of them have never played the game before but are just athletic young ladies that expect they can pick up the game in an afternoon.

[Mr. Analog]

Gawd I hope they can actually complete a pass, otherwise that'd be a boring hockey game to watch.  And apparently some of them have never played the game before but are just athletic young ladies that expect they can pick up the game in an afternoon.

...and I'm okay with that...

[Melbosa]

Well I watched all the stuff on the BHL, which lead me to the SportsCentre Top 10s, which lead me to this gem: http://youtu.be/WdaYBZJ0hwE

[Mr. Analog]

Well I watched all the stuff on the BHL, which lead me to the SportsCentre Top 10s, which lead me to this gem: http://youtu.be/WdaYBZJ0hwE

Man!!! These are so good...

...but it makes me want to watch some hockey :C

[Melbosa]

And then there is: http://youtu.be/zLMPbvHXsa4

[Mr. Analog]

And then there is: http://youtu.be/zLMPbvHXsa4

LOL! Already watching hahaha

I saw the link on the sidebar and had to check it out

[Thorin]

Before you miss hockey too much, though, remember game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals, with the Pittsburgh Penguins playing against the Philadelphia Flyers: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=627990

It took an hour to get through the first period, with 72 penalty minutes in 20 playing minutes.

It had 158 penalty minutes given out in 60 playing minutes.

It caused two separate player meetings with the Department of Player Safety (one of which was an auto-suspension until the Department had decided on extra punishment!).

It had hair-pulling and Crosby vs Giroux and three fights.  At one point in the third period, this 13 minute video was shot (not a single second of the game was played during this 13 minutes): http://youtu.be/zcvzqBdCqH0

Some hockey can be good, other hockey can be a horrendous waste of my waking life.  For instance: http://youtu.be/3lpMxc4fZNU

[Thorin]

Bill Daly says, "Missing pre-season cost NHL $100 million in revenue", source: http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/calgary-flames/players+association+resume+secondary+talks/7332255/story.html.

At the same time, Bill Daly and his boss Gary Bettman are the ones causing the missed pre-season.  So...  he's complaining that he caused the problem and now he has a problem?

[Mr. Analog]

BOO HOO

so sad

[Thorin]

That was pretty much my reaction, too.  If it'd been the players refusing to play and it costing the NHL money, then I could understand the NHL complaining about it.  But it's the NHL refusing to allow the games and the complaining that the lack of games is costing them money.

That's about as stupid as the upcoming American presidential debate (see what I did there?)

[Mr. Analog]

Agreed!

and yes

[Thorin]

By the way, Katz has now said that he had too much Messier and not enough Gretzky in his message to city council (that message being his visit to Seattle and the implied threat that the team might be moved).  One of the bloggers corrected that and said it was too much Pocklington and not enough (Cal) Nichols.

Some math (I like math):

41 games x 16,839 seats/game x $100/seat = $69,039,900
From capgeek.com, Edmonton's payroll: $52,937,500

Oh yeah, I see how they're just bleeding money.  Especially what with having such a small media market; I mean they probably only make another $50 million on broadcasting rights...

Some more math:

Northlands Coliseum (aka Edmonton Coliseum, aka Skyreach Center, aka Rexall Place) construction costs 1972-1974: $17,300,000
Same cost in today's dollars: $79,100,000
Estimated cost for new arena: $475,000,000

And you know what the real complaint is about the Coliseum?  Not enough room for people to mill about and buy (damn expensive) food and beer.  That's right, we need to build a bigger arena for nearly six times what the old one cost (after converting to today's dollars!), because it needs to be easier for people to get fleeced at the concessions.  Which will then undercut all those businesses outside the arena that are supposed to spring up and get taxed to support the arena.