Hockey revenue remains main focus of latest 90 minute League, Players' Association meeting -NHL Update
The National Hockey League (NHL) and NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) were back in the boardroom and talking over a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in order to avoid a possible lockout for the upcoming regular season.
Hockey-related revenue is reported to be the main focus by both sides as the labour union obviously wants a larger share of the revenue, while the league is intending to cut it less than it already is at the moment.
For nearly two hours, the two sides had intense discussions on why each other’s plans were so different and irrelevant to the current situation being faced by both clubs.
"Whether or not we're talking about these contract or system issues, or if we're talking about revenue sharing, it's clear that we're at a point that it's going to be very difficult to move this process along until we deal with the fundamental economic issues,"
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "Certainly as it relates to the fundamental economic issue we are far apart both in terms of magnitude and structure. That is something we're trying to get a handle on."
One of the biggest statements that executive director of the NHLPA, Donald Fehr, made was that he does not believe that having this part of the agreement fully done in mutual consent will affect the regular season, but other factors, on which there is currently
believed to be a deadlock, could have the undesired affect.
While the players might think they need a bigger share of the revenue pie, terming it to be because of their performance, the NHL commissioner does not understand why that is.
"I know there is a lot of finger pointing to revenue sharing, which I don't understand," Commissioner Bettman added.
The league has not showed any intentions of budging from their stance at the moment but there is a clear cut motive and that is the NHL is not willing to compromise on their hefty demands without a fight. It may just seem reasonable to them but in the long
run, could have a bad affect on the players who will come into the league later on.
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