[Curtman]

They were the 6th worst team in 2010/11.. Edmonton was last. What's their excuse?

[Thanos]

They're Edmonton.

[Regina]

[Lemmy]

Thanos Thanos:

1990s economics were terrible in Canada for the NHL teams, and were also vastly different from the way things are today. That's the main reason why the move southwards looked like such a good idea at the time.

Good points. The fact that many American teams are heavily subsidized was also an important economic factor. Subsidization allowed them (St. Louis being the worst offender) to overpay for free agents, driving up salaries league-wide. This subsidy-driven salaray inflation, combined with a sub-70 cent dollar absolutely destroyed the Canadian franchises' profitabilities. If the US dollar hadn't depreciated, it wouldn't have been just the Jets and Nordiques heading south. Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa were also in dire financial straits. The logical course of action SHOULD have been a NAFTA challenge of American franchises' subsidization, but I suspect Buttman employed some bribery or thuggery to prevent that challenge.

[Unsound]

Curtman Curtman:

They were the 6th worst team in 2010/11.. Edmonton was last. What's their excuse?

Rebuilding, and doing it the right way. Patiently.

[Curtman]

Drive to 13,000 Drive to 13,000:

4,170 total season ticket deposits as of 4:30 today. 5 of 8 presale groups activated.

Not bad for day 2..

I wish there was a charity I could donate to that would buy tickets for CFS kids, or inner city at-risk kids.

Does such a thing exist anywhere?

[Thanos]

Usually the team itself sets aside blocks of seats for community and charity functions where they try to get a fair rotation going for as many groups as possible. Both of these types of civic commitments are examples are where professional sports teams in all leagues really shine and show their true colours.

[Curtman]

I'd just like to support the team somehow, though I would never attend a game even if it was free. I had the idea today, and I was just curious if it existed anywhere else. I think a lot of people would contribute, especially if they got a tax receipt for it.

Anything we can do to get these kids excited about something positive will be good for our community.