paledin
New Member
80 kilometer rule not reasonable in GTA
The 80 kilometer rule in Toronto is pretty cruel. This is a really condensed hockey market and for one franchise to monopolize it is a shame. The Leafs do not have to perform for fans. They have a huge audience every night they play here. At the same time, a real tragedy is taking place. Very few children have the money to go to see a game. It's too expensive. The corporate fan base is fine but another hockey club in town would make the price of admission more reasonable and most of all would allow kids to see major league hockey live and up close. Bettman probably has to cow tow to the Leafs because they have so much money. But the league is missing the point by sticking to the 80 km rule. Instead, the rule should be based on what a particular market can handle. The current Leafs management will not like that arrangement but they have an interest that does not include Toronto/Hamilton fans. It also does not include the interest of the NHL. And as much as people can argue that the Leafs have tried to perform better as indicated by their spending, I can promise you that if they had to compete for fans in town, their performance really would change. Their intown monopoly does hold them back.
The 80 kilometer rule in Toronto is pretty cruel. This is a really condensed hockey market and for one franchise to monopolize it is a shame. The Leafs do not have to perform for fans. They have a huge audience every night they play here. At the same time, a real tragedy is taking place. Very few children have the money to go to see a game. It's too expensive. The corporate fan base is fine but another hockey club in town would make the price of admission more reasonable and most of all would allow kids to see major league hockey live and up close. Bettman probably has to cow tow to the Leafs because they have so much money. But the league is missing the point by sticking to the 80 km rule. Instead, the rule should be based on what a particular market can handle. The current Leafs management will not like that arrangement but they have an interest that does not include Toronto/Hamilton fans. It also does not include the interest of the NHL. And as much as people can argue that the Leafs have tried to perform better as indicated by their spending, I can promise you that if they had to compete for fans in town, their performance really would change. Their intown monopoly does hold them back.