Posted on 05/13/2008 8:10:41 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
It's the economy, stupid.
Political strategist James Carville made that statement the focal point of Bill Clinton's successful run for the U.S. Presidency in 1992, but those words could also be directed at Hockey Night in Canada's guru of misinformation, Donald S. Cherry.
In rants on HNIC and ESPN, Cherry talked about the empty seats at Joe Louis Arena for Game 1 of the Dallas Stars-Detroit Red Wings series and blamed the decline in attendance on the Red Wings' style of play.
"The people hate the way the game is being played," Cherry said. "It's a redneck town, they love the banging and smashing. Don't say it's the economy because the Lions are selling out, the Pistons are selling out and the Tigers set a record in baseball, so it's not that. They like rock 'em, sock 'em hockey and they're not getting it."
Well Don, anyone who knows anything about what's happening in Detroit knows that it is the economy and the next time you go on a rant, you should check your facts.
For starters, Cherry's wrong when he talks about the relative success of the Red Wings and the other teams in Detroit.
It's true that, after years of playing to sellout-plus crowds during the regular season, the Red Wings' average attendance fell to 18,912 fans a game this season. But it still ranked seventh in total attendance in the NHL and played to 94.2 per cent of capacity.
By comparison, the NFL Lions last season sold 94.3 per cent of their available tickets and the baseball Tigers are running at 90.3 per cent of capacity this season with considerably cheaper tickets. The Pistons are doing better. They have sold out every game for nearly six consecutive seasons. But they don't play in Detroit. Their arena is located in a more affluent suburb.
The Detroit area has lost tens of thousands of jobs in the auto industry during the past decade. It had the highest unemployment rate in the U.S. for the past three years and the highest rate of home foreclosures each year since 2005.
Cherry would like people to think that he's one of the common folk but, when you're making twice as much money as the prime minister of Canada, you forget there are a lot of people in Detroit who can't plop down $2,000 for hockey tickets like his affluent friends in London.
Note from a music lover: Quebec nationalist publisher Michel Brûlé and I may not be on the same wavelength politically, but I agree with his complaint that there's too much English music being played during hockey games at the Bell Centre.
If you go to most arenas across North America, you hear the same music. It's occasionally racist, sexist or in bad taste, but the one common denominator is that it's loud.
But there are some exceptions. Go to Halifax or St. John's and you hear folk music that reflects the local heritage. Ditto for Nashville, which draws on its country heritage. It's ironic that, while George Gillett has expanded the range of shows at the Bell Centre and other venues to include more French acts, the breaks in the hockey games continue to be dominated by a playlist drawn up in New York.
Canadiens sign White: Ryan White, a 6-foot, 213-pound forward from the Calgary Hitmen, has signed a standard, three-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens. A third-round draft choice in 2006, the Canadiens had to sign him before June 1 or he would have gone back in the draft.
Ugghhhh... I think your nightmarish assessment is too close to reality.
Don’t worry, even with a D in the White House and a D controllled legislature, it will still be Bushchimpyhitler’s fault!
I’m not sure of the situation in Detroit. Do they bump-up the prices to season ticket holders for playoff tickets? If so, what is the premium that they get per ticket?
Just a general comment. Philadelphia used to be a rabid hockey town back before the new arena got build. Now the ticket prices are so high that you attract the more sedate, late-arriving, corporate crowd. That’s pretty much the case in any NHL/NBA town.
I was just being sarcastic.
Ain't that the truth. Whereas the standing-room ticket holders arrive more than a hour early to claim their spots.
No place for that in sport, anymore, so the arenas have to pump in crowd noise over the loudspeaker system.
That never gets old.
Let me get this right ...
The Pistons ARE selling out their arena; and the Lions, Tigers & Wings are all at 90% plus. Yet somehow the article is attempting to make the case that the economy is killing ticket sales???
How may restaurants fill 90% of their tables every night? How many grocery stores have 90% of their lines open? How many airlines fly with planes 90% full? These business can’t do it in a great economy. Imagine doing this in Detroit, Michigan, where the unions and leftist politicians have KILLED an economy.
Puh-leeze!
(oh yeah, and “Grapes” is right ... hockey fans everywhere prefer “rock-em, sock-em” to the Ice Capades ... not just in Detroit.)
Evidenced by where they stand in the play-offs!
Watch lately?
Ditto Para!
the 1 or 2 that show up for games at least
No I don’t watch. I was just poking my nose in a thread were it does not belong.
If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.
JMO, but Wings tickets ahve always been too expensive. We only go if we get freebies from someone.
“Economy kept Wings’ seats empty..........It’s not because they suck?”
Are you talking about the Detroit Red Wings? THEY suck?
are you kidding?
are you kidding?
Yes
Here are Stars’ attendance figures for the playoff games in Dallas:
In the series against the Ducks:
Game 3: 18,532 (100.0% full)
Game 4: 18,532 (100.0% full)
Game 6: 18,532 (100.0% full)
In the series against the Sharks:
Game 3: 18,532 (100.0% full)
Game 4: 18,584 (100.3% full)
Game 6: 18,532 (100.0% full)
In the conference finals against Red Wings:
Game 3: 18,532 (100.0% full)
Attendance is DEFINITELY not down in Dallas.
And while I didn’t check the Wings attendance figures for the first two rounds, attendance for games 1 and 2 of the conference finals: 20,066 (100.0% full)
Beeeee careful, that’s my team and they can skate:)!!
Go Wings!
wings fans....
almost as annoying as packers fans
I LMHO 1rudeboy.
Thanks.
My understanding ‘bout all that pertaines to where “engineering” is was custimarily performed in days gone by.
From what I understand “engineering” was done exclusively “back of the envelope” in titty bars, blowing-alleys, and sports arenas.
It was my exquisite pleasure to attend a Red Wings game in the Siemens box. I’m not going to elaborate what a guesxt of a DCX engineer enjoyed, but the following exchange stuck in my mind:
“Thank you for coming.”
“Yeah it was a great time.”
“We’d appreciate your business.”
“Yeah, well, when yuo guys can come up with a plastic that can withstand the environmental conditions of the interior of an exhaust manifold, give me a call.”
I was stunned.
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