Unfollow NHL September 15

Another voice of frustration- @Michael_Traikos of the National Post:

Wake me when it’s over.

That’s how most fans probably feel about the latest squabble between the NHL and the players’ union. They’re fed up.

Don’t talk to them about revenue sharing or salary rollbacks. Don’t tell them one side is being greedy and the other unreasonable. They don’t want to hear it. Not after what happened last time.

In 2004-05, a full season of a hockey was wiped out because of an unwillingness to introduce the salary cap. Eight years later, the existence of the salary cap is not even an issue anymore. Instead, a debate over relative shares of hockey-related revenues could threaten the season from starting. It could be about midi-chlorian counts and magic beans, for all fans care.

All that matters is that it appears we are going to lose more games. How many? It’s hard to say yet, but the doomsday preppers are already planning for the worst.

Joe Thornton and Rick Nash, who spent the previous lockout in Switzerland, are reportedly making arrangements to head back for a second tour.

Teemu Selanne is in talks to return to his old team in Finland. And the once-ignored American Hockey League, which releases its now highly anticipated schedule on Friday, is about to become the hottest ticket in town.

All because Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr would rather come up with inventive ways to say “far apart” than lock themselves in a room and actually work on bridging the so-called gap that exists between the two sides.

Who knows? Maybe this is all just posturing. Maybe a deal will be worked out just in time for the season opener on Oct. 13. Maybe we just need to sit back, relax and let the negotiation process work itself out.

But with the current collective bargaining agreement due to expire on Sept. 15, it seems likely that the season will not start on time and that a month or more will be lost, which is sad and depressing and really kind of stupid.

Remember the last time that the doors locked on the NHL? NBC was forced to show The Purina Incredible Dog Challenge. Instead of hockey, people sat around and watched puppies jumping through hoops. The drama!

That cannot happen. Not again.

And yet, someone is going to have to compromise. That “monetary gulf,” as described by Fehr, has to be bridged by both sides.

We are talking billions of dollars and big egos, so it will not be easy. The owners want the players to take a smaller piece of the pie, by cutting player salaries by 24% and decreasing their share of league revenue to 43% from 57%.

The players are willing to keep what they have but give up a claim on additional revenues earned for the next three years. But they also want the league’s wealthier owners to be responsible for propping up the have-nots of the league.

Which side is right? Neither, if another lockout occurs.

And yet, we appear to be heading that way. Bettman has already stated that if the CBA expires on Sept. 15 without a new one in place, hockey will not be played. Fehr has warned union members to be prepared for that.

It could just be a bluff. Then again, what if it is not? Canadian hockey fans are a loyal bunch. But how many fringe fans were lost from the previous lockout? How many more are at risk this time around?

How many players will hang up the skates if a month or more is lost? How many franchises can survive when the only tenants in their arenas are rock bands and ice capades? How can the NHL, which signed a US$200-million agreement with NBC in 2011, go back to blackouts?

How could a sport that is still considered a distant fourth among North American team sports, risk losing more popularity?

I don’t want to think about it. So, I am going to close my eyes. And when I open them up again, I just want handshakes and for hockey to start on time.

By Kevin Allen at USA Today:

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and his negotiating team are huddled Tuesday afternoon to discuss an NHL Players’ Association proposal that would reduce players’ share of revenue by as much as $465 million while preserving the salary cap system.

“It’s clear to me that they didn’t put it together in an hour or two,” Bettman told reporters as he left the negotiating session where the NHLPA proposal was presented. “As a result, we’re going to need a little time to evaluate it, understand it and we told them that we’d go back to our offices and do that and that we would be prepared to meet again (Wednesday).”

NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr provided the $465 million figure and said the proposal calls for expanded revenue sharing to help financially distressed teams. He said the players’ proposal could “stabilize the industry.”

The Canadian Press is reporting that there is a luxury tax included in the proposal that would allow some teams to go above the cap, and some to stay below.

The NHLPA proposal would call for a three years of players accepting a lower percentage of the revenue and then players have the option to revert back to their current share (57%) in the fourth year.

A large contingent of players, including Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, were present for the presentation of the NHLPA proposal.

The two sides are scheduled to meet four days this week in an effort to avoid the lockout of players on Sept. 15. Bettman has already informed the players they will be locked out if the old agreement expires without any resolution.

“I’m not going to characterize (the NHLPA proposal),” Bettman said. “I’m not going to tell you what it means because we need time to evaluate it and make sure we fully understand it.”

The NHLPA proposal was characterized by Fehr as an “alternative view” to a league proposal that called for player givebacks, plus some changes in revenue sharing. Owners want to reduce players’ share of revenue from 57% to 46% (the NHLPA says the figure is 43%), plus they would eliminate salary arbitration, limit contract lengths and keep players longer in entry-level deals and restricted free agency.

From @JenConnic at Ranger Nation: 

Dear NHL owners and players,

Hope your summer has been going well. It’s been a pretty exciting offseason so far with a great draft and lots of big-name player moves. And the Los Angeles Kings winning the Stanley Cup was a lot of fun. Here in New York we’re still basking in the glow of one of the most successful seasons the Rangers have played since 1994 and hopeful for next season to be just as exciting.

But here’s the thing: We’re worried that there might not be a season this fall. This whole collective bargaining agreement negotiations thing seems to not be going well. You players have dragged out counter offering the owners. And you owners, especially your leader, are throwing the word “lockout” around again. We don’t like that word.

See, here’s the thing, we all remember the last lockout. It was pretty awful. We had football to watch, but then when the season was over we had to watch things like basketball. Yuck. And AHL hockey? It’s just not the same.

I know you both want to get as much money as you can in this new deal. We know you want to have something that you both deem “fair” (though none of us fans will think any of it is fair since we will never see the kind of money you guys earn). But you do realize the repercussions of what will happen if there’s another lockout, right?

IT MEANS LESS MONEY.

Not only will you owners not be generating revenue in ticket sales, you players won’t be earning anything because you won’t be playing. And, oh, you’re going to piss off a lot of fans, especially at a time when the league has become quite popular again. I can guarantee a lot of people won’t be rushing back to buy tickets and merchandise when you get your act together and actually have games again.

Remember how you guys had to rebuild the league in 1995 and again in 2005? You’re going to have to do that all over again. All the momentum and goodwill you’ve built in the years since thelast lockout will be gone. Any sort of work stoppage is going to be a public relations nightmare for both of you.

I keep asking myself: ARE THESE GUYS REALLY THIS DUMB?!

Seriously, are you guys this dumb? Can’t you stop being selfish for a month or two and think of us fans to get this thing done? We know it’s not easy, but we just landed a rover on Mars. Hammering out a new CBA is nothing in comparison.

Hoping to see camp open in September,

Jen

On September 15^th, 2012, we are organizing a social media protest and merchandise boycott of the National Hockey League, secondary to the inability of the NHL and the NHL Players Union to develop a Collective Bargaining Agreement.  Gary Bettman has set his deadline day for September 15^th; now we have set ours.

• #UnfollowNHLSept15 is taking a neutral position on the CBA negotiations.  Neither side is desperate for money in their pockets, and ultimately, their inability to compromise results in hurting the fans more than anyone else.
• #UnfollowNHLSept15 does not have the delusion that by unfollowing the NHL and NHL players on Twitter and unliking them on Facebook, we can prevent a 2012 NHL lockout. Rather, this is one way for fans to show unity and to send a message to the NHL, its franchises and its players that we are unhappy their inability to compromise.
• #UnfollowNHLSept15 needs people- and a lot of people. This will only make an impact if we get enough people on board. We are also looking for people to actively help promote and expand the movement. Suggestions and ideas are always welcome. 

SUGGESTION LIST FOR TAKING PART IN #UNFOLLOWNHLSEPT15

• Spread the movement. Hashtag #UnfollowNHLSept15 on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, and all other social media sites. Make it your Facebook status, blog about it, talk to other hockey fans about it. This is a grassroots movement that needs your help.
• Stop purchasing official NHL merchandise, effective immediately. I know you want to show off a new Parise or Nash jersey, but it can wait. The hardest place to hit the NHL is in its wallet. 
• Avoid NHL.com and the franchise sites to reduce website traffic.  However, we strongly encourage you to keep supporting your local media outlets and beat writers for hockey news!
• If you are a season ticket holder, consider withholding your payments until a CBA agreement is worked out.
• If there is still no CBA as of September 15^th, 2012, we are calling on all hockey fans to stage a social media protest by “unfollowing” and “unliking” official NHL-related Twitter accounts and players. On that day, we want to see the numbers drastically drop to show a unified statement that we do not support their inability to compromise, and we want our hockey back.

Please find us throughout the internet:

Twitter: @UnfollowNHLSept15 (and remember to hashtag #UnfollowNHLSept15)

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UnfollowNHLSeptember15

Tumblr: http://unfollownhlsept15.tumblr.com/

Or contact us via email at UnfollowNHLSept15@yahoo.com.

Welcome to the Tumblr for #UnfollowNHLSept15!

Let the NHL know how we, the fans, are ANGRY! We are disgruntled with how they are currently handling the CBA proceedings and are attempting to send a message.

Our plan is simple; unfollow the NHL, all NHL organizations and players on Twitter on September 15th if there is no updated CBA. Unlike them on Facebook and any other social networking sites as well.

Don’t visit NHL.com or contribute to how much traffic their sites, including franchise sites, receive until there is an updated CBA. Find your information elsewhere- possibly here, if we can organize this well enough.

And until there is an updated CBA, don’t buy any NHL merchandise or even visit the NHL shop. Spread the word hockey fans! Let the NHL know how upset we are with how they’re handling our beloved sport! We will not quietly follow them into ANOTHER lockout!

Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/UnfollowNHLSeptember15.

Find us on Twitter using the hashtag #UnfollowNHLSept15.

Updates will follow.