The NHL is not so popular as to cause widespread economic hardships and fan disgust when shut down like the NBA, MLB and NFL would.
I feel for the constantly screwed hockey fans.
I used to go to NHL games when tickets were much cheaper; we had a new team near us (NJ Devils) and it was a lot of fun. That being said, it is a sport that is difficult to watch on TV; the puck is simply too small to follow (to the point where they tried having some “aura” around it on TV to make it easier to follow). They would black out games in our area because they didn’t sell enough tickets (not exactly a way to attract fans); they still had a problem selling tickets after winning a few Stanley Cups (after which they would parade around their arena parking lot).
As a live sport it has no match; it just has no broad appeal. Too much of the country never even sees ice in the winter, and they moved the Devils to Newark (not exactly a hotbed of hockey fans).
“The NHL is not so popular as to cause widespread economic hardships and fan disgust when shut down like the NBA, MLB and NFL would.”
Tell that to the 17,000 fans that will not be at MSG tonight watching a Ranger game, drinking 9 dollar beers, eating 8 dollar hot dogs and purchasing 200 dollar jerseys.
Or tell that to the owners and vendors who will not make a dime with a dark building.
I am a die hard. Been for 40 years. This year I quit coaching hockey and now go to Dallas every weekend to watch my kid play. Best hockey in the world, beer is 2.50 a bottle and the snack bar food is tolerable.