Don't Be a Sucker
Rick Carpiniello at the Rangers Report has one message to NHL fans, don't be a sucker if/when the season starts...
"As I said last night in the comments, after this is settled, this year or next, anybody who spends a dime on anything other than a ticket or a center ice package is a sucker. I mean, anybody who buys a jersey, a hat, a t-shirt, a keychain, an arena prime rib sandwich, a pretzel … anybody who goes to the NHL store, anybody who goes into the merchandise store at the arena, anybody who logs on to NHL.com, is a complete sucker and a sap and exactly the kind of fan the owners are counting on. This is what the owners know. They have your hearts no matter what they do to you. So they can get away with crap like this. And you’ll be back emptying your pockets and filling their pockets."
...i couldn't agree with this sentiment more. I find it unrealistic that anyone of us is actually going to stop watching or going to Rangers games. We love this team and sport too much to actually disown it outright. So I implore you to follow the above directions from Carp. We can't live without our Rangers, but we sure as hell can go without the merchandise. Hit the owners and players where it hurts folks, in the wallet.
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this post should be put on the front page of every newspaper, NOW, WHEN THE SEASON STARTS AND DURING THE SEASON, just to remind us how stupid we'd all be to put cash in the pockets of all these greedy bastards. i fully believe that a push could be put on by enough sports writers etc to change the owners and the players thinking towards the fans.i fully believe most of us really aren't as stupid as we act.
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I would love to see the fans organize a boycott of the first NHL home game for each team to show that we do matter. How awesome would it be if every arena was empty on their opening nights? Be it this year or next - that would be poetic justice...
I believe that the NHL is the only league that still gets a significant portion of revenue from tickets sales. If you boycott merchandise (depending on the type), you may be boycotting a small business that paid a licensing fee to try to make a few bucks.
Boycott the games! The players still get paid, the concession workers still get paid (except the ones who work the seats), and the OWNERS lose money. Stay home or go to a local bar and watch and eat, the food and drink there is probably better and cheaper!
I'm with you, Mike. Whenever this gets settled I'm not stepping foot into MSG until Bettman and Fehr are kicked to the curb. I'll support the Rangers to my last dying breath and I'll proudly wear the jerseys I already own, but I'm gonna support my boys while supporting the local bars. It's the fans and the small businesses that are suffering the most out of this whole mess.
Disagree. Wanna send a real message? Don't go to the games. Don't watch the games. Don't spend a dime on anything NHL-related. No Center Ice. No jerseys. No prime ribs sandwich. Nothing. As a matter of fact - wanna take it 1 step further? Inform their advertisers that you will use their competitors. Tell Molson and Coors that you will buy Bud/Miller. Need to rent a car? Go with Avis instead of Enterprise. Tell Pepsi you'll drink Coke, McDonalds you'll eat at Burger King, etc. That's how you hit them where it hurts.
Buying Center Ice is against the rules. I hate to say it. But arenas need to be half empty. Joe makes a good point about our team. They want to play. Makes me proud to root for this team.
the rangers wanna play and there owners wanna play so i will buy anything at msg i hope msg have all the cancelled nyr date booked and that they make double $$$$$ what a nyr game brings in FUCK BETTMAN!
@TheNYRBlog one good idea, if you want NYR stuff get it from @WeBleedBlueNYC they are fellow Ranger Fans
@TheNYRBlog I walked passed the NHL store 2 weeks back - slammed with shoppers, people will always want Crosby jerseys. :-/
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I packed away all my merchandise once the lockout started because I didn't want to see it or wear it. I'll break out my jerseys to wear if I go to a game. If there's no season then it might stay packed away much longer.
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A one game boycott of all games throughout the league is the only way to send a message; players and owners come and go, but fans are the only constant, and the one irreplaceable component of the whole enterprise whom, without which the rest is meaningless. #thingsthatwillneverhappen.
@AnnoyingJoe Won't do anything, most of the tickets are already purchased so the loss will be minimal.
Agree 100%. I posted it above before reading down. Would love opening night to be played to empty arenas. I am locking myself out of going to games for a while that's for sure.
This is stupid actually, b/c is the merch really the bread & butter? No. It's the ticket sales. If fans want to REALLY send a message - don't buy tickets and don't show up. But NO ONE will really stay away, so the owners win no matter what.
One problem that I know is that some people would buy merchandise not knowing it's more harmful, but they are doing it with good intentions. Example: my sisters always get me some Rangers paraphernalia for christmas and I have to sit and explain to them why they better not
Absolutely! While I will purchase the Center Ice Package, I will not spend a dime on merchandise.
I'll be doing my sweater shopping from flea markets, ebay, and chinese sweatshop websites.
@TheNYRBlog one caveat Kevin, after they win the cup I have to go to Modells and get a Stanley Cup hat!
@TheNYRBlog no doubt kevin...love the game to much to give up my seats but apparel and food @MSGnyc say byebye...
@TheNYRBlog right! And if there is a season, my NHL Center Ice package better be FREE! He'll, if there's no season it better be FREE next yr
@TheNYRBlog That's easier to say when you've been a serious fan for a while and have merch already. I'm recently returned, my bff is new.
@TheNYRBlog am #nyr visiting from UK. Should have been seeing four rangers' games. Normally stock up on hockey stuff. Won't spend a dime.
