Canes owner Peter Karmanos has sent out a letter to Canes fans who are season-ticket holders. Take a look:
To our loyal fans:
Following the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the National Hockey League and the NHL Players’ Association, Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed that there would be a work stoppage, and that the opening of training camp would be delayed. As a member of the NHL’s Board of Governors, I stand behind Commissioner Bettman, as he continues to work for a solution that is in the best interest of our fans and the sport of hockey.
We were all looking forward to an exciting season, and I understand the tremendous amount of frustration that you feel. I share your excitement and your frustration, but I also know that this process is vital for the long-term health of hockey, and that we must try to be patient as the league and the players’ union work for the right agreement. We are in the process of developing the options that our season ticket holders will have should the regular season be affected, and you should receive that information from our staff within the next week.
As a season ticket holder, you are part of our most important group of fans, and it is our goal to continue to keep you as up-to-date as possible throughout the negotiations. We believe the Hurricanes will emerge even stronger as a result of this process, and are eager to have the right solution reached so we can all get back to PNC Arena and watch this team compete for the Stanley Cup.
Thank you for your continued loyalty.
Peter Karmanos, Jr.
Owner
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
No Appreciation
Fri, 09/21/2012 - 19:53 — caneskidMr. Karmanos, I patronized a local business tonight. Like me, this business has supported the Canes in good times & bad. Every game night fans see it spend it's advertising & promotional dollars with your business. While talking to the manager tonight I jokingly said, well at least you'll save money in the lockout on advertsing. The response was, "No, I'm actually dreading it. I'm afraid it's going to hurt us really bad." Mr. Karmanos, is this how you treat long time supporters, not just season ticket holders, but local businesses that have supported you for years? EVERYONE in MY community, in one way or another, helped YOUR community of Detroit several years ago by helping its local businesses through the taxpayer funded auto industry bailout. This is how you show your appreciation? In order to keep money in your pocket you keep local small businesses from putting money in theirs even though they have no dog in this fight & have been loyal to you for years? This lockout's damage goes far beyond upset season ticket holders. Glad to know Detroit's economy was saved. You're. Welcome.
Hey Chip
Fri, 09/21/2012 - 14:58 — squeaky83ya mind forwarding all this to the org (PK)????????
Dear PK
Fri, 09/21/2012 - 14:55 — squeaky83No, I do not think you do understand my frustration. Because quite frankly if you did you would get together with about 19 other owners and form a more united front against the top money drawing owners who put your team in this predicament again and start working on an acceptable compromise between what your negotiator and the PA's negotiator have put out so far.
I'm frustrated that your owners' overall position doesn't adequately fix the issues, and it seems to me you in particular would be more interested in revenue sharing--the meaningful kind the players proposed--and then you have some ground for coompromise. Get it?? COMPROMISE. You and the other owners will not steamroll the union this time, and you will not "win" and get all Bettman has asked for (to help the big money teams more than you...).
But neither will the players win, as they have more to lose--finite careers and limited years to bank NHL salaries. But they got taken to the cleaners last time and do not want to be railroaded again--but that's what your negotiator is trying for.
So I'm frustrated, and like the majority of pundits in the press and around chat rooms the world over, everyone sees an easy compromise where both sides get something, the GAME wins, and the NHL wins... A near 50/50 split of HRR (as currently defined), got to over a brief time period not at once, no roll back of current salaries (YOU and your brethren went out and made the silly offers, you shouldn't be trying to back out now--THAT'S FRUSTRATING), and a more meaningful revenue sharing plan--somewhere between what Bettman put forward and what the players offered. SIMPLE. It's frustrating that your side wants to dictate everything and back out of the position you put yourselves in. It's frustrating that it's more important for you to win this fight--which will cost you more if you stick to your guns by losing a year or more of hockey while damaging the near term future and growth of the sport--than to accept a compromise which will still benefit you and the other owners while making things work.
And it's frustrating that with a team you've finally put together that has a chance for a deep run, we might not get to see it. And Staal and Ward and Ruutu get another year older... Maybe Semin doesn't sign here again or stays in the KHL... You lose a year of seeing what Muller and crew can do. And if you lose this season you lose a lot of momentum and excitement for this team that I haven't seen in these parts in a long while--that may not get back for quite a while.
That's what's frustrating--this is all avoidable...
You understand our frustration?
Fri, 09/21/2012 - 11:54 — Caniac5I don't think you, or any other owner, understand anything except how to kill a business at this point. If you understood our frustrations then you would KNOW, we as fans, are fed up with your lies and your money hungry appetites. All the owners, and players, have done is kill the sport that made you all rich. You all just jumped back the 70's when people were asking, "What is hockey?", because people are turning to other avenues for entertainment now.
Understand our frustrations now?
The pony tail is tied too tight!!!
Fri, 09/21/2012 - 11:50 — mokimanoLoosen up the pony tail Pete, put down the Gary Bettman kool-aid your drinking and wake up and realize that many fans have had enough! Your self appointed Commish assures you that "your greatest fans in the world" will be back in droves once you unlock the doors...your old boys club of Governors fully expect all NHL fans to understand the billionaires and millionaires fighting over a larger piece of the pie for the 'good of the game". You cannot continue to trample on the hands that feed you and expect everything to be ok. Your $100 tickets, $13 watered-down beers and $5 hot dogs are not all that special when you pull this kind of locked doors thing yet again. The letter you really need to be sending out to the fans is the one that gives a strong directive to your Fearless Leader to lock himself in a room with the NHLPA and not come out of that room until the problems are solved and the game is being played. That's the only letter most hockey fans want to read!
IF you truly did...
Fri, 09/21/2012 - 11:31 — tbrundage"I understand the tremendous amount of frustration that you feel." No Mr. Karmanos - there is no possible way that you could. You are a business owner - not a fan. You rarely see this team play in person, rarely make your presence known at the PNC Arena. This team is how you make money - THAT is the only reason YOU are frustrated. You DON'T know how it feels to invest thousands of dollars in this ridiculous economy to support a franchise year after year after year - and then be told the support means nothing. That's what YOU and every other owner did when you allowed Gary Bettman to once again pull the only move he knows - a lockout to keep the teams from playing and once again telling the fans - in essence - that you can do whatever you want and what we think or want means nothing. One has to wonder why you finally decided to spend money this year on players and whether or not it was because you knew the NHL would be asking for rollbacks and take-backs and you wouldn't have to spend as much money as it appeared. If I were you, I'd be concerned about ALL of the fans of the Hurricanes. Though I'm a season ticket holder and have been for many years, a similar letter should be posted on the team's website to ALL fans. In addition - you'd better pray long and hard that the faithful return to the sport - I for one will not be returning in person. When the NHL can prove that they'll stop yanking the rug out from under the fans that make YOU money and pay the players, I might reconsider. As long as Bettman is in charge - it won't be happening soon.
Let's be reasonable.
Sat, 09/22/2012 - 05:02 — ctillLet's be reasonable. Karmanos makes little money on this team, year over year. He is too smart for that because he doesn't want to recognize a lot of current income that he would have to pay taxes on. The payoff for these owners comes when they sell -- and then they pay capital gains taxes. But that's a long-term proposition. Karmanos has had the team for about 15 years now. Would you be willing to make a profitless investment for 15 years on the gamble that you could sell it for a lot more than you paid for it? Probably not.
Someone can be an owner and a fan. They're not mutually exclusive. But that doesn't mean that Karmanos turns off his brain when his attention turns to hockey.
Folks who turn in their season tickets just make it easier for the rest of us who are more patient to improve our seats.
Confused
Fri, 09/21/2012 - 11:22 — rmmeliCan someone explain how what has gone on so far (or rather the lack of it) be in the best interest of the fans?
Bottom LIne
Fri, 09/21/2012 - 11:38 — mediawatcherThe owners want the players to give all the concessions - pay cut even on existing contracts, extend restricted free agency, contract limits. Not sure if there's anything else. Heck they probably want the players to work the concession stands during intermissions. Blatant money grab.
I've lost my patience and I'm very tempted to cancel my season tickets although this would be our 7th year as a Full STH.
I've been a STH for 10 years
Fri, 09/21/2012 - 12:06 — tbrundageAnd I'm calling today to ask for my refund and cancellation. This is my 2nd lockout here - I'm done.
Lockout
Fri, 09/21/2012 - 11:22 — caneskidI WAS a STH but canceled my fully paid tickets several days ago before purchasing Charlotte Checkers flex plans as an alternative. I don't see any reference in the letter to the issue of revenue sharing between the small markets and large markets. When I canceled my tickets, my rep pointed out how the floor had increased for this small market to stay competitive with the larger markets. That's as much the fault of the disparity between the large/small owners as it is with the percentage due the NHLPA. If the NHL owners want the percentage to be in line with the NBA/NFL as far as the players, then where is the similar component that those leagues also have for revenue sharing? Until that is addressed, the Canes will have the same issues in this market and the league at the end of the next CBA as well. The proposal of the NHLPA addressed that issue. The owners have not, though they have insisted on a rollback on salaries in EXISTING contracts that they KNOWINGLY entered into. Isn't that an issue of negotiating in good faith on any contract entered into this summer? I'm fed up with these tactics. As I told my rep, I don't want to be a STH any more, though I did state that I will consider returning if and when the Canes begin to show that they actually appreciate their core base that has stuck with them through an economic downturn and a playoff drought. As of now, I don't feel appreciated at all as a fan or a STH
Meh...this kind of line
Fri, 09/21/2012 - 11:20 — DeadboltMeh...this kind of line worked fine in 2005, but in 2012, 7 years after they supposedly fixed all this? Fool me once...
You're Kidding!!
Fri, 09/21/2012 - 10:50 — spookyalfHe understands and shares our frustrations! Please the only thing that man understands is he isn't getting as much money as he wants. The other thing he understands is that he doesn't want to hold true to the contracts for the players.
There is no way in this world that this man can begin to understand our frustrations as fans. Nice to see you crawl out of your little owner shelter only to slap us in the face again.
For the past couple of years you did nothing but bargain basement shop to put a team together, and now you allowed JR to spend money and you don't want to hold true to the contracts. Shame on you and the rest of the owners.
If the STHs are so important, give them 10% on their money you are keeping and earning interest on instead of only 3%. Oh wait, that means you won't get your big fat hockey check.
Seriously, I just checked the team website for this letter and it wasn't there. Sounds like this letter only went to STHs. So pretty much this tells the rest of the fans who cannot afford to purchase season tickets, probably because the economy dictates that other things are more important than buying tickets, i.e. food, that we are not as important as STHs. This man really needs to understand that ALL fans, whether they are STHs or not, are equally important.
If I was a STH, I would pull my money out. He deserves nothing from us, not now, not ever!
He Did Not Have to Say Anything
Fri, 09/21/2012 - 11:28 — oldpoliticalsBut he did. As negative as you seem, I guess it really did not really matter what he said you were going to blast him anyway. He said what he needed to say to ones that have already bought into the franchise as STH. As a paid season ticket holder I don't want 10%, I want them playing hockey. If they offer an opportunity to roll payment for games not played this year into next year that would be fine with me.
Upset
Fri, 09/21/2012 - 12:02 — spookyalfI am upset and if I sound negative so be it. Keeping your ticket(s) is exactly why they are having another lockout. We came back in droves and they are expecting that again, hence Bettman's greatest fans in the world statement.
The only way to prevent a lockout after every CBA expiration is to take money away by asking for a refund. That is the only thing these owners understnd. Until fans are ready to do that, then expect a lockout with the end of the next CBA because they know we will come back no matter what.
Not correct.....asking for a
Fri, 09/21/2012 - 13:17 — oldpoliticalsNot correct.....asking for a refund will not prevent a lockout. First of all Canadians will never do that (long waiting list) and there are a number of fans, me included, who worked hard for 10 years to improve my seats locations. The pure economics are 57% of your season ticket dollars go to players and 43% go to owners who then pay all the bills. 18 teams losing dollars in 2010 and many of those chronically losing money every year since the last CBA. System is broke because the floor number has increased beyond the ability of the majority of teams to cope. Has to be fixed because the NHL is better with those teams than without them and the NHLPA is also better with those jobs on those teams than without them. As far as PK, he is under a gag rule as are all owners. He said all he could say.
I understand why you are upset but direct it at both owners and players because neither side has progressed very far yet.