Tick tock, tick tock all of us have heard the deafing noise
of the CBA expiration clock. UGH. As
most of the fans roll their eyes, most of the band wagoners have already packed
their bags and left.
The NHL after last season is in a position it has never been
in before to progress to a phenomenal state of fandom. It has finally reached out so far that it is
surpassing other past favorite American sports.
If and when this awful event [the lockout] occurs it will do terrible
damage and who is to know if the sport will be able to recover.
Donald Fehr (NHLPA) and Gary Bettman (NHL) have made many
different statements over the past few days, some extremely vague and other
stubborn to a fault. Some of the many
things said for a fact about all of this arguing from the owners side is that
it’s NOT about revenue sharing it’s about what the players can be paid. A quote that was rather interesting in
reference to both sides is that ‘the players need to take a haircut and the
owners need to ante up with some revenue sharing.”
In a rare moment as well with all of these interviews and
talks Gary Bettman admitted that he made mistakes with the last CBA. Knowing at the time that 57% is too much and
never would be re-agreed upon 7 years later.
Many commentators were taken back by the admission for sure and quick to
report on it, which now make them all wonder in another 8 years what will he
admit to then? But after leaving the
recent board of governors meeting on Thursday he stated that the “Owners
unanimously agree to lockout without a new CBA”. As an immediate response Donald Fehr said the
players want to keep negotiating until an agreement is made and that they want
to avoid a lockout. But as of this morning
[Friday] no additional meeting have been made.
The owners have asked players to cut their share of
hockey-related revenue during a six-year proposal. The current industry revenue is pegged at
$3.3 billion annually (yeah, we said BILLION).
The owners sough to drop the percentage given to players to 43% from the
current 57%. They have since amended
that six-year proposal that starts at 49% and drops to 47%. However, the NHLPA countered by offering a
package that starts at 54.3% and ends at 52.7%.
Fehr says the players have made a responsible proposal
offering what he calls “shared sacrifice”.
Under the league offer, the players’ share would be reduced “only 17.5
percent” said Fehr. That equals to $330
million per year.
“What would your reaction be in similar circumstances?” Fehr
asked of everyone as he ended his statement.
In less than 2 hours this will be the new NHL Logo thanks to THAT man!
