In this morning's BOSTON GLOBE, Kevin Paul Dupont offers his
proposal to end the lockout: the players would receive profit-
sharing based on league-wide total attendance and average ticket
costs on top of the salary levels the owners are presently
guaranteeing, while the owners would gain the cost containment
they are seeking through salary restraints. Assuming league
attendance of 17,545,699 and an average ticket price of $40,
ticket revenue (not including luxury boxes) would be
$701,828,100. Profit-sharing of 15% would yield the NHLPA
$105,274,200. At 46,240 man-games, each player would receive
$2,276 extra per game -- a bonus of approximately 40% for the
average NHLPA member. "Under the scenario offered above, the
union ostensibly can name its price -- bound to increase each
year -- for 'selling' the salary caps, drags, etc., that owners
insist they need." REACTIONS: Dupont faxed his proposal to key
players on both sides. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman: "Sure, if
we can move ahead with the tax plan we're proposing. ... [Also]
gate receipts probably won't be our biggest growth area in the
years ahead. We're probably looking more in areas such as pay-
per-view, and added dollars from licensing and marketing. But
overall, the notion of cutting them in on something, I have no
problem with that." Bruins Player Rep Dave Reid: "The the
owners can put the price of tickets where they want -- and then
blame the players for it." Capitals GM David Poile: "We can't
keep passing the price on to the fans." Agent Neil Abbott:
"Whether it's pegged to attendance or some other revenue stream,
it would be the owners saying to the players, 'You get to
participate in the pie.'" Bruins President & GM Harry Sinden:
"You should send it to David Stern and the NBA. I mean, you're
only dealing here with a league in a profit position." NHLPA
Exec Dir Bob Goodenow was one of those surveyed who did not
respond (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/21).
