Snider saves rinks; can he help save NHL season?
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Snider saves rinks; can he help save NHL season?
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Give Flyers chairman Ed Snider credit. His youth hockey foundation has reconstructed four city rinks and given kids a place to play hockey.
On Tuesday, Snider attended a walk-through of Tarken Ice Rink in Northeast Philly. It is the last of four city rinks that have been redone and fully enclosed, making them operational during the entire year.
The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation contributed $6.5 million to match a grant from the Commonwealth’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. The public/private partnership resulted in a $13 million restoration project that saved the rinks.
Here’s hoping Snider, the Flyers’ founder, is just as successful in helping NHL commissioner Gary Bettman put an end to the league’s labor dispute.
Wednesday is the 25th day of the lockout, and it’s time we heard some of the NHL owners’ voices.
There are rumblings that some owners aren’t on board with all of the decisions that are being made. If so, we need to hear from them because they might just lead to some common ground between the league and the players’ union.
Oh, almost forgot: The league says it will fine management up to $1 million if anyone speaks up. Comments are only allowed to come from Bettman or his sidekick, Bill Daly.
Earth to the NHL: That plan hasn’t worked too well.
As Flyers center Danny Briere recently pointed out, the NHL owners are highly successful in the business world and they got there by voicing their opinions.
Bettman needs to eliminate the gag order. Maybe it wouldn’t trigger a quick resolution. But maybe, just maybe, it would get both sides (finally) talking about meaningful issues at the bargaining table.
That would be a start.
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
There is no doubt that Ed Snider has given back to the community through his philanthropic activities. But, until I hear otherwise, he is also one of the owners who is crying poor after spending crazy amounts of money on salaries that no one forced him to spend. I thank him for trying to make the Flyers better. But, if he or his fellow owners are losing money, they should find a way to help each other and not gouge labor. Either that, or let the poorer teams fail and go out of business. Isn't that capitalism at its finest? Survival of the fittest! The wealthy will not only survive, they will flourish. And the poor will die. Gee, I wonder if I can run for public office on that platform.
— TexColorado- Ed never cried poor, the Flyers make money and he cares more about winning then spending, always has. And as others have said, he is not going to be around much longer and he wants a cup not some extra money. Its not the owners of the Flyers, Rangers, Bruins, Wings and so on, its the 10 or so teams in cities they shouldn't be causing this. — Sidewinder7
- I would guess Snyder is a minority voice among the owners. The Weber gambit was only the last of several push-the-envelope moves. Long term deals to Pronger, Bryz. The league wants to close loopholes that Ed found. Mr. Snyder wants another cup before he dies. If the NHL get the deal Bettman wants it will be much, much harder for the Flyers to win on a level playing field.— TongueWagger
- fair wage scale. higher contributions to the past players. higher contribution to the cities that host teams (how come no one cries about the socialisic contribution that pays for stadiums and arenas)
We've seen the risk of big splash signings which don't guarantee anything but heightened expectations.— retzlaff - retzlaff, I couldn't agree more about the tax-payer contributions given to owners. They get cities to float municipal bonds to pay for the stadiums. They get tax breaks that results in very little revenue going back to the cities that host them. And they get zoning code variances that allow them to build in areas with insufficient parking with no regard for the effect on traffic congestion.
We need to eliminate the anti-trust law exemptiont hat sports teams enjoy. It makes them monopolies, and that's not good for free eneterprise.— backhand - I would hope that any deal that comes up also includes the resignation of Bettman. The sooner he leaves the better in my opinion.— meteo30
- I was thinking the same exact thing. With 3 lockout under his belt since taking over its clear he has no idea what he's doing. having Bettman resign is something I'm sure the owners and players could (should) agree on. All these lockout do it damage the credibility of the league.
- And think about it this way - if Bettman loses his job, he can make sure he's home and has dinner ready when Sidney gets home. — uncle meat
New York Times hockey writer Chris Botta says in his Twitter account: "I'm sure there are 3 or 4 owners miffed at the NHL. I'm sure at least 10 pc of the PA is dying to sign just about any CBA."
https://twitter.com/ChrisBottaNHL- Small-market owners get some relief with revenue sharing. However, they get $0 if there are no games played. I bet some of them would be fine with 50-50. I bet we'll actually see the NHL contract over the next few years. I don't believe Mr. Bettman effectively represents the owners if multiple lockouts occur on his watch.— NCogNeato
- Mr. Carchidi is trying to start something without getting himself in trouble with the Flyers. Ed Snider is one of the reasons we have this lockout. Read the articles from out of town and you will find he and the owner of the Bruins want all of these salary rollbacks. Snider could call Bettman and getthings moving in a different direction real easily. Flyer fans ought to realize that Snider is a major cause of this disaster and affront to fans.— hankhammer2
- After reading that title to this story. The NHL is in a lockout cause of Mr Snider!! I agree that he is the cause of this and as much as the smaller market clubs are crying poor he's standing there right behind them not for support cause he wants not to spend his hard earned money on the players. He needs to be saved from himself and other GM that can spend to no end. Wake up owners and share the revenue 50/50 and then you will be able to get the contract limitations you wanted as well. You better do it soon cause there is a lot of money accross the pond and many clubs right now are wining and dining your top players on staying in their league and making them feel like they are wanted. Im still hoping Bryz stays and doesn't make the flight back when NHL starts back up!!— ONLYinPhilly
- Small market teams need to stop using "small market" as an excuse for not making money. If they market thieir teams the right way, put a good team together, create a great in-game experience, etc. they'll be successful. And, after all that, if you can't make the business/team work in that particular market, you shouldn't be there!— tfnj42
- Right, let the invisible hand of the market determine which teams survive and which teams fail. — backhand
- Snider is a well known free enterprise guy who is the last one looking to put in salary caps and other noncompetitive impediments. I can't say enough about the time,m oney and leadership he has contributed to his youth hockey foundation.— Earl J
