April 15, 1999
For Immediate Release
(OTTAWA) — When representatives of the National Hockey League Fans' Association (NHLFA) meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman next Wednesday, they will ask him to implement a team/player salary cap now and not wait until 2004 when the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement expires. In combination with a salary cap, the NHLFA is also seeking a freeze on ticket prices.
Jim Boone and Jim Spendlove, co-founders of the NHLFA, will sit down with the Commissioner exactly one year after the launch of the Association. They will travel to New York for the meeting and intend to limit their discussion to two or three key issues that NHLFA members identified as being of immediate concern.
The NHLFA will also be addressing the same issues with Bob Goodenow, Executive Director of the National Hockey League Players' Association at a face-to-face meeting this summer.
"If the players and owners don't want to cap salaries and ticket prices, then we will ask that they provide some realistic alternatives," says Jim Boone. "The game belongs to the fans, we're not happy with the business side of NHL hockey and we deserve better."
"We don't believe it's just up to the players either – if they were to accept some type of salary cap, the owners should give something too – like a freeze on ticket prices," says Jim Spendlove.
The Jims also intend to raise the subject of the disparity in value of the Canadian dollar versus its U.S. counterpart which makes it difficult for teams north of the border to compete for top quality talent.
The Jims plan to bring to the attention of Mr. Bettman the fact that Open Ice, a conference being held in August on the state of Canadian hockey, has no fan participation. The NHL and its owners; NHL players (past and present); the Hockey Hall of Fame; the Canadian Hockey Association; the Canadian Hockey League; and Canadian Women's Hockey are all represented at this summit, but hockey fans are not included.
The NHLFA launched its Web site (www.nhlfa.com) in April 1998 to give NHL fans across North America and around the world a way to express their views on the game and to influence it for the better. There is no charge for membership and to date more than 5,300 hockey fans are registered members. Membership is available via the Association's Web site.
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