Possible Hockey Lockout

[Thorin]

Okay, so with NHL hockey having been put out to pasture, the news shows need to show some hockey, right?  So I saw some WHL highlights on CTV News, and then I saw the highlights from Grande Prairie Storm at Sherwood Park Crusaders.  That's AJHL (Alberta Junior Hockey League), Junior A hockey.  See?  There's still hockey!  It just doesn't cost nearly as much to watch.

[Mr. Analog]

Hawk Eee? What is this Hawk E you talk of??

[Thorin]

It's the fifth prototype of the wings that Condorman used.  Luckily he had Soviet stooges to test all his prototypes; it wasn't until he switched to the Condor mk III before he finally helped a Soviet spy escape to the West rather than plummet to their death.

He switched from letter designations ("A", "B", "C", "D", "E") to Roman numerals ("I", "II", "III") because he was worried about running out of alphabet before having a successful flight.

[Mr. Analog]

I think he should team up with Hudson Hawk

[Mr. Analog]

Well, games are now locked out through November with no talks in sight.

On the plus side if you are a UEFA Champions League fan (as I am) you will be happy to know they've been showing all the qualifiers!

Manchester United pulled off an unbelievable turnabout victory against Portugal the other day, it was fantastic. At the end of the first half Man U was down 2 - 0 and managed to come back and actually beat SC Braga.

Good stuff...

[Thorin]

Hey, so, did you actually get my Condorman reference?  It was a movie, I figured you'd know it.

NHL games are getting cancelled, Edmonton's arena deal is getting kicked in the balls (I for one am happy about that because to me its all about a rich guy wanting to get richer), KHL (Russian top league), AHL, WHL, OHL, ECHL are all getting lots of coverage.  Meanwhile people are getting to watch all kinds of other sports.  Bettman's even implied that the early season games don't matter because of the overlap with summer / fall sports and thus he doesn't care if games are cancelled into December.

Oh, and Katz's claim that Edmonton is one of the smallest markets has been pretty thoroughly debunked: http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2012/10/25/the-final-horse-trading-that-should-lead-to-an-arena-deal-for-downtown-edmonton/  Oh fact-checking, how wonderful an activity thou art!  Oh, and Katz claimed to have been funding the team's operating losses but this independent body called Forbes says they've been profitable 12 of the last 14 seasons (well, last season is still unknown but I'm betting it's profitable too), and has been profitable ever since he bought the team.

[Mr. Analog]

Yeah, at this point pretty much anything Katz says is BS, like many Edmontonians I'm sick of all the cloak and dagger crap as well. Closed doors deals don't fly when it's our tax dollars they're throwing around, especially after a major recession and ESPECIALLY after all the fluctuation in property tax.

I'd rather see the council put that money to use revitalizing parks and rec projects all over the city.

Additionally if they want to make more money with the club they should, oh I don't know, try making it so the club doesn't suck. I mean if the Oilers are making money as a bottom of the barrel organization imagine what they'd make if they were in the top 3?

[Thorin]

For 400 million they could build 4 more rec centers like Millennium Place AND put away 50 million per to cover expected costs for the next 20 years!  Rec centers like Millennium Place, Servus Place, Tri Leisure Center, and Terwillegar Center all cost around $50 million in today's dollars.  I think they cost about 6 million a year to run, which is then mostly paid for by user fees.  Even if they're short 2.5 million per year, that's 20 years covered for 50 million per facility!

[Mr. Analog]

Exactly, and if there's one thing we can certainly use more of is rec centres!!

I feel like the few we have don't serve enough people, so they aren't worth going to if you don't have to be there for league.

I can't even remember the last time i was at a public skate.

[Thorin]

Well, and they shut down the Clareview twin rinks (closest arena to your place, I think) for renovations.  So there's not even something close.

[Tom]

Well, and they shut down the Clareview twin rinks (closest arena to your place, I think) for renovations.  So there's not even something close.

They are making pretty good progress on the expansion. It's getting a library, indoor soccer (I think? maybe? though that doesn't make sense, since theres a large soccer building just down the road), a pool, and some other stuff.

It's going to be pretty cool. I'll probably find excuses to go swimming and maybe to the fitness facilities (if they have one, I assume they will).

[Mr. Analog]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure they will have a gym, progress seems a bit slow at the moment though, which is somewhat worrying I guess.

I just wish it was closer to transit.

[Tom]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure they will have a gym, progress seems a bit slow at the moment though, which is somewhat worrying I guess.

I just wish it was closer to transit.

The non peak bus from here goes right by it. well ok, not RIGHT by it. but its only like a minute or two of a walk. There is a bus that goes RIGHT by it. 183 or something.

[Mr. Analog]

That's the problem with Edmonton Transit and public buildings, everything's "near" and nothing's "at" outside of downtown or major hubs like malls.

[Mr. Analog]

No Winter Classic this year:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=644824&print=true