Now that the NHL is Back, Are You?
During this four month process, I heard on a number of occasions that fans were done with the NHL. No more watching games on television, no more tickets, no more merchandise, nothing.
Now that the season has been saved, it seems as though a lot of you are reneging on those threats.
And hey, I don't blame you. We all love this game and our Rangers. There's no passive hockey fans. If you're not 100% committed to puck, you're nothing but a basketball fan.
Having said that, a lot of you still want to send a message to the NHL and NHLPA that you're not ok with three lockouts in less than 10 years. So what can you do?
I refuse to tell anyone to stop watching the games on television or in person. At the end of the day, hockey is entertainment, so why would I promote making yourself miserable. There's too much to be depressed about these days and we all need an escape.
What's left is hitting them where it hurts...in the wallet. That's right, no more jerseys, hats and t-shirts. I'm pretty sure we all have our fill of NHL merchandise, so there's really no need to stock up. But if you must purchase Rangers gear definitely do it through the guys over at We Bleed Blue.
Also instead of buying concessions at the game, how about supporting the local businesses who suffered so badly during the lockout by having dinner at a restaurant near MSG before the game.
Yeah, I know it'll be tough not to purchase an in-game adult beverage (not sure I'll be able to resist no matter how expensive), but if you must get your drink on, how about smuggling in a flask full of Jack Daniels instead.
Even if fans decide not to send a message, I'm really hoping the NHL is serious about mending fences by at the very least offering NHL Center Ice free of charge for the remainder of the season. Not holding my breath though.
Would love to hear your thoughts on possible protests throughout the season you may have in mind.
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Going back, but because I have so much money already sunk in. I'm sure I'll have a harder time selling tix
They haven't won over any new fans, that's for sure.
If you have team, then you're probably already a lifer, but if you were curious and thought you might get into hockey, I think a good percentage of those folks won't be getting on board.
I hope the league takes a little bit of a hit anyway. I never really buy anything anyway. Almost all the games I've been to have been on somebody's extra ticket. If I do go I have to buy beer, but I can get started at one of the neighboring establishments. For the most part I'm hoping to rely on the live streams and occasionally I'll go to a Brooklyn bar to watch.
It's an exciting time to be a Rangers fan. You can't miss this season.
chances of getting any break on center ice will probably be none. the greedy owners now need to get people in their seats. though i think it was kevin that said that dolan wanted to get the season started much earlier.
I'll try and get to a few games but I will only get tickets on the secondary market like stub hub, not from the NYR site directly. Nor will I purchase any concessions while at the games. Extra drinks on the train will have to suffice. I'm just too happy hockey will be back on the ice and not in the board room to even think about not attending a few games.
While I would love for NHL Center Ice to be free of charge this year the possibility of that is virtually 0%. As someone pointed out to me earlier, the NHL isn't the one calling the shots on the service. A company called iN DEMAND manages the Center Ice package for the NHL and other pro sports and they would need the support of virually every tv provider to make the service free or discounted, so don't hold your breath on that one. However, NHL GameCenter Live is under the NHL's control, so while I don't think they would just offer it for free, I think a heavily discounted price would be a good gesture.
I'm just thrilled hockey is back! This can get me in trouble but if you really want that Nash jersey and really want revenge, buy counterfeit goods!
I understand the lockout has caused angst among a lot of fans; however real fans don't dessert their colors. There have been many affiliations besides hockey that have had lockouts or whatever they may have been called. The sports of course are all about money. Their bodies are on the line and they will hurt for the rest of their lives while we sit and say remember that time when Rupper beat the shit out of (enter any one of the great fights he has had). They have lives, wives and kids outside of hockey, and that is their paycheck. IF it was yours you would fight for more too. Let's be real. We are all human, and when it comes to money we are all greedy. We all want more, better and bigger. I won't stop watching or rooting. I cannot go to games as I am in FL, but I will go to Tampa if I can make it there. I will purchase the package to watch the Rangers. I will bleed blue for my entire life and I will be that crazy 80 year old lady who still yells score for as long as the game survives. With that said... LET'S GO RANGERS and Bring that cup home!!!
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Yeah man, we haven't even been playing NHL on the PS3 we've been so pissed off, I'm ready to kiss and make up!
I never left but I will not be buying anything the NHL sells. Knockoffs all the way for me right now. Ill be watching on MSG and if I want to watch another team there are plenty of streaming sites online that stream the center ice feeds for free so why pay them? Lol NOW LETS PLAY SOME DAMN HOCKEY ALREADY!!!! LETS GO RANGERS!!!
you're right, as pi**ed as we all got it's impossible not to watch the rangers but we can try to hurt the players and the league in their pocketbooks. stay away from buying the high ticket jerseys, hats,shirts, beer, etc. (like kevin suggested). the only thing is that to make it sting you'll have to do it for a couple of years. but you have to try and not hurt the little guy who is out just trying to make ends meet.
I can bleed blue from my living room couch with MSG......NO tix, NO merchandise, NO nhl.com, NO center ice, unless its offered free for the suffering.
I will not be buying any new merchandise for a while, but there is no way that i'm abandoning the sport and team that i love so much. While i think it'd be really cool if no one went to the first few games just to show them how serious the fans are i dont think it'll happen, i know i'll be at atleast one or two games this year.
We, the fans, were the only losers in the lockout. Both sides of the CBA fight will still have fat wallets, now that it's settled. I am a diehard fan & will always root for my team. But this greedy lockout business still stings a lot. I don't think we'll be doing anything other than watching from the comfort of home.
I would love the NHL Center Ice package fo free because I'm a huge Rangers fan living in the Philadelphia area but I hear it is next to impossible for the NHL to authorize that as the package is supposedly controlled by a company call "InDemand". The cable companies want their money and can't imagine they would go for this.
@carrlax11 Was there a reduction in your cable bill over the last 4 months while there wasn't any hockey?
Definitley not, but I'm just saying that if the NHL had full power over the package they probably would give it away for free to do right by fans. However, they would need the approval of literally every cable and satellite company that runs the package -- everyone from Directv to Comcast -- to make it happen, as InDemand and the cable companies all want a piece of those pricey subscriber fees.
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Reluctantly I will watch the games. But only on television. Fortunately, I DO NOT have Cabelvision.
I refuse to pay such exorbitant amounts of money to see the games in person. That's one way to protest. Also, I did not wear any of my NHL shirts, hats or jerseys during the lockout.
It'll be hard to get back into it after being kicked in the nuts........again. But considering the choices this time of year; the NBA, Sex in the City reruns or NHL hockey, I think that the choice is clear.
Lets go Rangers!
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Life's too short to hold a grudge on professional sports. I didn't lose any money because of the lockout. If anything, I saved a TON not buying beer every other night, going to games, etc. Pissed off? I was, but meh, I'm over it.
Easiest solution? DON'T BUY MERCH. I honestly don't see how people can just abandon the sport and their teams over this, and I sure as hell will be watching every game I can once the season starts, but I won't give the NHL one cent in merchandising royalties.
I also will not be attending any games in person, but thats honestly more because I can't afford it than because I want to send a message to the NHL... just happens to be a bonus I guess. I do think it'd be pretty damn powerful if stadiums were only half-full for the rest of the season, but I can't help but wonder how that'd affect the folks who work in said stadiums.
@erichan -- I'm pretty much in 100% agreement here.
It's definitely an exciting time to be a Rangers fan, so you can't tune 'em out. Also, I never go to games or buy merch anyway, because everything is already so expensive. I don't even get cable. I'm hoping to rely on those live streams again and occasionally I'll hit one of my local bars to watch.
I'll watch on MSG but why should I go to games? Not to mention it doesn't matter in NY if fans boycott, but in Flordia or Phoenix it could destroy the franchise.
gyro II across MSG next to McDonald's is my favorite restaurant in the world. Stop there before the games, get a gyro platter and a brooklyn lager and you won't miss the concession stands for a second.
No merch will be bought, no tickets bought for games either. The only money the NHL will get from me is a half price, half season Center Ice Package. I'm sticking by my guns.
I never felt that I would stop watching hockey or rooting for my Rangers but the rabid enthusiasm and excitement has been ripped out of me. Will it come back? Maybe? Probably? But for now, it's lost.
As a group, the fans, should "protest"...yes, on a personal level, nothing out of my wallet is going to be spent on games and merchandise....I'll just watch the games from the comfort of my couch...my one give-in will be if I get hooked up with "free" tickets from friends or whatever...I'll go to those games, but my hard earned money is staying in my pocket when it comes to the NHL. As far as protest, if the majority of the fans "lock out" the league by not filling the seats and not buying merchandise for just 3-5 games ( I believe this was something that MLB fans did after their lockout way back when)...it will send a pretty clear message to the NHL and NHLPA that we aren't just going to come running back after what they did to us.
Yeah I definitely won't be purchasing any licensed merch anytime soon. Probably this season and next (save Stanley Cup champions gear). Also I'll be wearing cargo pants to games with a flask in each pocket. Although it'll be Jamison (sorry Kev) I agree that they better AT LEAST offer center ice free for the ENTIRE season.
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As a season ticket holder I am invested in the tickets but I will not give money towards concessions or merchandise. Like was mentioned above I will be patronizing the likes of 'Irish Times', 'Brother Jimmy's', the 'Molly Wee' etc...
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@KevinDeLury Not to me. To you. I have checked this blog for the past 116 days and when I first heard the lockout was over, this was the place I came. Thank you to you and your guys for helping us get through this.
@1HockeyNut @climbdenali12 @KevinDeLury And to think Kevin was going to pull the plug on his blog. Though, Kevin, you could have gone on hiatus from Oct - Jan. Hehehe.
@climbdenali12 @KevinDeLury I haven't missed a day of checking this blog...only reliable source there is or ever was
