Lockout Fallout

In a previous post, I looked at the ramifications of an NFL lockout.  With some inroads being made to a potential deal, the lockout us now in its 114 day and with the calendar now flipped to July, training camps and preseason games loom ever close to being cancelled.  If the lockout ended now, it would be interesting to see how fans respond and how revenues and attendance are affected.  Both the NHL and NBA have gone through lockouts (with the NBA currently in one now).  What is interesting is that both had contrasting results.

The last NBA lockout was during the 1998-1999 season.  It lasted from July 1-January 20, 1999.  It lasted 204 days.  It was the first time in NBA history that games were cancelled.  When play resumed, attendance was down 2.2% and TV ratings and ticket sales declined.

The NHL has had two lockouts in the past 20 years.  The first one lasted 104 days from October 1, 1994 to January 11, 1995.  The season was shortened to 48 games.  The second lockout happened 10 years later and lasted 310 days from September 16, 2004 to July 13, 2005.  That lockout cancelled the whole 04-05 season and was the first time a major pro sports league cancelled a complete season.  The lockout had the reverse effect as 25 of the 30 teams had increased attendance and there were records in total and average attendance.  In addition, new regulations and strict enforcement and existing rules along with adding shootouts were also a boost.

It's too soon to tell what kind of impact the NFL lockout will have on attendance and TV ratings. The sooner that a deal is reached, the less of a negative impact it will have.