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September 25, 2004
CBC News Online
Ottawa---Fans should have a seat at the table in negotiations aimed at
ending the NHL lockout, the head of a fans' organization says.
Hockey fans had a chance to question NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and
players' representative Bob Goodenow on CBC's The National this week.
INDEPTH: Faceoff 2004
But the interviews only contributed to the fans' growing anger, according to Jim Boone, founder and president of the Ottawa-based NHL Fans' Association.
"We didn't really learn anything new," he told CBC Newsworld Saturday.
"All we did was hear that both sides are firmly so entrenched in their
positions that it's going to be a long lockout.
"It was informative, yet it was quite depressing, and I think this
horrible dark cloud is hanging over all fans in the game of hockey
right now."
Boone said his group, which has 25,000 members, wants to give fans a
collective voice, but "even with a quarter of a million fans," it would
be difficult to get a seat at the negotiating table.
"They both have to realize that we're the paying customers, and in most
businesses, the customers come first."
FROM SEPT. 15, 2004: Businesses to take hit from NHL lockout
The lockout began Sept. 16. Boone said it's difficult to judge whether fans will take their money elsewhere after play resumes.
"But we're hearing more and more, from the e-mails coming into our site,
from members and non-members, who say 'that's it, take me off your list-
I can't put my money toward a sport like this anymore when both sides are
really acting so childish.'"
Boone said the two sides are fighting over a lot of money, which they
wouldn't have without fan support.
"The players are making [on average] $1.8 million US a year," he said.
"Management has said $1.3 million is what they deserve."
He added the NHL Players' Association doesn't want to hear about the
salary cap, while the owners only want to talk about the cap and
nothing else.
Copyright (C) 2004 CBC. All rights reserved.
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