Watching Chi at Det NHL game. Hockeytown is fulla empty seats. THAT'S the Detroit economy today.

[Bozita]

I read the papers. I watch the network newscasts. I keep an eye on the cable news channels.

The MSM is telling us everything's fine. The economy is humming. Unemployment is at 4.5%. Merchants are anticipating an uptick in holiday sales.

Those empty seats are more telling than the media. This is Hockeytown, Detroit. Two original six teams. Rivals forever. And it looks like 20% of the seats in the lower bowl are unoccupied.

This is much worse than I had thought.

[Love Bug]

1. That is telling

The Wings are a popular team. Detroiters love their Wings, so this is disturbing.

[Joey Liberal]

2. The NHL caused this

Sure - the economy does have something to do with it. But the NHL changed some rules a few years back that have made the game boring. Also, the NHL now has too many teams. It's just not as much fun as it was back in the 70's and early 80's. I was a big hockey fan back then. Now, it's really boring.

[Bozita]

3. Detroit cops were busting scalpers at games last year.

No more.

BTW, fighting is now common. I've seen about a dozen fights this year, and the season is only a month old.

[Captain Hilts]

6. The neutral zone grabbing the Wings specialized in is now not possible. But...

it still makes me sad to have this happening in Hockeytown.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

4. "how are things in Detroit?" asked Letterman.

Grim, said the truck driver, from Van Wert, Ohio. The man, who drives a semi to Detroit, was doing a stunt on Letterman's show the other night. (repeat show)

[mzteris]

5. nah - the Wings just

suck.


:rofl:

[Forkboy]

7. Nah, it's because the Wings have lost 4 straight to the Hawks.

:hide:

Seriously though, it is pretty amazing.

[KharmaTrain]

8. Maybe Cause The Hawks Usually Suck???

I grew up with Bobby Hull, Stan Makita and Lloyd Petit's "shot and a goal"...hockey owned Chicago at the time...more than the Bears. even more than the Cubbies. It started with letting Bobby Hull get away and the slide of the franchise has continued ever since. One big reason was the ownership of the late Dollar Bill Wirtz...refused to televise home games and had a crappy TV package for many years...what remained of the fans, he pissed off with high prices and losing teams. He just passed away and his sons have taken over...first move was to televise a home game...so who knows.

I ran past the game for a few and saw all the fans dressed up as red seats. I thought maybe someone had let loose with the squid early.

[Bozita]

9. Saw the same empty seats on opening night.

That's what's got me worried.

Methinks the Detroit hockey fans have been recent victims of Bushenomics. I don't think it has anything to do with the game or the team.

[KharmaTrain]

11. Sports Has Gotten Expensive

I haven't been to a hockey game since the 80's...but do go to my share of baseball. I remember being able to go to the ballpark...ticket, scorecard, hot dog and a beverage or two for under $20 (I'd really show my age by saying I used to do it under $10)...now that same combination is a minimum of $100 and most times more when you figure in parking and other expenses...not counting the cost in gas and all the hassles it is to get in and out of sports venues these days. Kinda makes ya think twice about going to a game.

No doubt economics has a lot to do with people not being able to spend "entertainment" dollars like they had. I suspect we'll see that in lower retail earnings this xmas.

[mvccd1000]

10. Lotsa reasons.

I find it hard to be as interested as I was when Yzerman was playing. Kinda like NASCAR; I've tried to retain some interest since Dale, Sr. died in 2001, but it's just not there for me.

I wouldn't pay the same price for a home game Wings ticket this year as I did when Stevie Y was playing, because it's no longer worth as much to me to watch the game.

I'm sure Michigan's economy is a large factor, too, for some former ticket holders. Maybe Mike can go back to giving away cars at the games. :)