4 replies to this topic

[Ducked Up]

Reacting to fan backlash, Trevor Linden offered this response to criticism of being an over-paid spoiled athlete.

"The fact we're compensated well is something I'm not going to apologize for," the veteran Vancouver Canuck said calmly. "I believe we're part of generating over $2 billion in revenues."

Linden also denied any connection between ticket prices and players' salaries.

"I believe ticket prices are a result of what people are willing to pay," he said. "Radio stations sell their 30-second (commercials) for what people are willing to pay. That's just the way it is. There is no guarantee that ticket prices will go down if they get a cap, which they won't."

Link to the entire TSN article:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=98940&hubName=nhl

What? How did Trevor become President of the NHLPA? Ticket prices and player salaries have no connection. Please. And the last time I checked the price of airtime was based on ratings, the measurement of viewing or listening audience at a particular time, not on what people are willing to pay.

Trevor is right. There is no guarantee that ticket prices will go down. But, with the commissioner already talking about lowering ticket prices to bring fans back to the rinks after the lockout, I’d say it is a pretty safe bet some ticket prices will be made more attractive. This way the owners could generate some good will towards the fans and make the NHL more affordable to bring families back to the rink.

[swagdaddy]

He likes to shoot his mouth off too much.

But the words are flying fast and furious at the moment. Tim Leiweke was on Kevin and Bean/KROQ here in LA this morning and he didn't have very nice things to say about Linden and Goodenow. In short he called both of them delusional.

[MrsBevo]

Connection between ticket prices and salaries - well, Trevor, there IS a connection. In order to cover costs of running the business, including salaries, ticket prices are one area that can be adjusted upward. Yes, ticket prices are " what people are willing to pay" to a degree. However, speaking for me personally, ticket prices also determine how many games I go to see. The more expensive they are, the less games I will go see. I have no choice but to pay the amount. They are the only provider of that service. But I have a budget and I will keep to that budget.

And Trevor - my budget is WAAAAAAAYYYYYY less than your salary. Guaranteed.

[ahtikullervo]

And Trevor - my budget is WAAAAAAAYYYYYY less than your salary.  Guaranteed.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[hockeymom]

Trevor Linden is an example of why the powers that be in Canadian hockey are now putting more emphasis on education with their superstar 13 year olds and older.

Used to be they just let them play hockey knowing that they would make the jump to juniors and most likely the NHL or at the very least sign a contract and spend some years in the minors. These boys/young men who didn't make it would then come home at age 25 not only with shattered dreams, but a lousy education. The only thing they did from the time they were 13 was play hockey and go to school and get barely passing grades. Yes Paul Kariya is the exception but his parents were educators.

About 5 years ago, Canadian hockey realized that their young hockey players were all about hockey and very little about education. They set about fixing that. They now have standards for them as they go through the ranks and make them keep a minimum GPA or else they are supposedly taken off teams and sent back home until the grades come back up.

Too bad for Trevor that this all started too late for him to benefit.