A Big Bronx Cheer for the National Hockey League

When billionaire owners and millionaire players get to fighting with each other, the real casualties are the little people underneath their big feet.  The little people being the hot dog vendor, the beer vendor, the shop owners, and other small enterprises that depend upon an active professional sports league to operate as they say they will.  The small businesses and vendors are lost behind the blaze of headlines, “Parties abruptly break off talks” or “impasse continues”.

And so it goes with the National Hockey League—four work stoppages in the past twelve years.  Four different episodes of stomping on small businesses and loyal fans.

Even though I am a borderline rabid Detroit Red Wings fan, I have had it with the selfish pigs that make up the National Hockey League.  As a long time economic development practitioner, I am appalled by the damage being done to the people who have livelihoods that depend upon the billionaires and millionaires doing their jobs.

I would think that hockey fans are sick and tired of being taken for granted or that we would not notice what they are doing to small businesses and working people.  As the most recent work stoppage began, the head honchos proclaimed their fans were the most loyal of all sports fans and that no matter what happened, the fans “would come back.”

This is the same blatant arrogance that demands public dollars to build stadiums and arena or else.  The “or else” means the franchise will be relocated to another city full of suckers.  Imagine Glendale, Arizona—hardly a hotbed of hockey fans, but nonetheless, the home of the Phoenix Coyotes.  The taxpayers are ultimately on the hook for this magnificent new arena.  Since promises of ticket sales and concessions would produce the revenue necessary to service the debt on the arena, a work stoppage means that this revenue will not be available.  It seems like it is more than time for fans to vote with their feet.

If you are a starved hockey fan in Michigan, I have a recommendation for you.  In addition to several minor league franchises, our state is home to some of the best college hockey in the nation.  The University of Michigan was a pre-season favorite to win the NCAA national championship.  Little Ferris State University is not so little in college hockey circles as it played Boston College in the national championship game in April of this year.  My own Western Michigan University Hockey Broncos are nationally ranked.  And, as Michigan State University fans know, their hockey program is on the rise.

This is good quality sports entertainment.  Although the students can be a bit rambunctious, the games are still exciting and up close.  With these options in hand, who needs the National Hockey League and their blatant disregard and disrespect for their fans and their vendors?  It already costs an arm and a leg to attend a National Hockey League game. As much as I love Mike Ilitch and what he has done for downtown Detroit, the Tigers, and the Red Wings, enough is enough.  And I am truly sorry about that.

Respect commands itself, but there is no respect.  It is time to tell these people to take a hike.  Go Broncos!