Sunday, October 25, 2009

More On Ranger Fans Being Blacked Out in Albany Region

Earlier this week, I posted a petition to get the Sabres off of MSG Network. Apparently, when MSG reached their deal to televise Sabres games in certain areas it included non-Sabres markets such as Albany and Utica. Meaning when the Rangers and Sabres have a home and home conflict, the Sabres are put on over the Rangers as well as the Devils and Islanders.

Today, Larry Brooks at the New York Post follows-up on why Ranger games are blacked-out in favor of the Sabres by stating...

The answer, as provided in an e-mail by deputy commissioner Bill Daly is that the Albany region is a "shared territory" for the Sabres, Rangers, Devils and Islanders, and that the Sabres are given precedence, "because the Rangers' footprint has traditionally pushed north and east (not north and west) and the Sabres' out-of-market territory has historically been New York State outside of the metropolitan area."

...Daly has only added fuel to the fire with that statement.

3 comments:

HockeyRiz said...

The petition has 194 signatures now. The movement has to get bigger. But it sounds as if the NHL isn't moving on this one. You would think that the more NHL would be concerned with avid fans being turned away from televised games.

Unknown said...

Don't forget about Binghamton. We're 40 miles closer to NYC than Buffalo.

Unknown said...

Right Bill Daly, because you know Upstate NY better than Upstate NYers.

Truly brilliant those of you in NHL offices.

The most important statement of Brooks article is the last part, "If, then, you're a Rangers fan whose footprints are north and east of the city, you likely are making them on a beach off the Atlantic Ocean. But you might be able to watch the games."

Its obvious Brooks himself is poking fun at Daly's assertion.

Daly is saying one of two things: a) the Rangers footprints are in New England (psst, Bruins) or b) they're in the ocean.