Jewish World Review April 18, 2006 / 20 Nissan, 5766

Why the major leagues succeed

By Evan Weiner

http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | About a year ago, many sports pundits predicted that the National Hockey League was finished as a major sport in the United States.

The lockout would take its toll and that people would not find their way back to arenas. The pundits were wrong as they don't know how sports operates.

The NHL is finishing up the 2005-2006 season and the league seems to be in good financial shape. A good many teams sold 90 percent or more of their available tickets and there is a reason for that.

Major league sports franchises, whether its in baseball, football or basketball pre-sell the majority of their seats to businesses. Sports no longer depend on day of the game sale walk ups. Teams sell a game as an event.

The NHL was able to reconnect with the corporate community throughout North America and the 2004-05 lockout which shut down the season became a distant memory.

People continue to buy tickets no matter what is thrown at them, whether its a lockout, strike, the threat of a team moving, or alleged use of banned performance enhancing substances, people want sports.