Mediocre team with Stanley Cup prices

Hockey used to be awsome. The Boston Bruins used to be awsome. The glory day of Boston hockey started in the late 60's with the arrival of Bobby Orr the greatest defensmen of all time, bringing a decade of awsome hockey with him. During the 70's the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup 4 times. In 1979 the bruins welcomed their newest super star Ray Bourque the team's all-time leader in games, assists and points and was the first non-goaltender in league history to win the Calder Trophy. Then the 1980 USA Olympic Hockey team was lead by some of Boston's finest making Boston one of hockey's epicenters. As the decades melt away and we come to modern day Boston, and we look at how the team has, to put it nicely, fallen since its glory days why are we still paying Stanly cup prices?

We aren't paying to see a team win the Stanly cup, we aren't paying to see LeBron James or any real pop culture iconic name, are we paying for nostalgia or for the other people who didn't show up? As the economy declines one would think that the major sports would have pity on the average joe especially from a team that doesn't exactly fill the seats. Instead the average ticket for seats that you can actually see the ice from are priced between $50 and $200. There of course are the nose bleeds and the student section, but once you get past a certain age I'm sure those sort of seats lose their appeal. I'm sorry but I have no desire to pay $50 to see mediocre team. I'd rather pay a little bit more than that and sit in bad seats and watch the Celtics. High prices plus mediocre team equals empty seats.

Jason Varitek Files for Free Agency

Jason Varitek, captain of the Red Sox, catcher, and heart and soul of the team has filed for free agency. Jason has never played for any other team in his professional career, he started on Cape Cod playing for the elite Cape league and never left the state of Massachusetts. My dad remembers him being debaucherous and well a college boy haunting the main street of Hyannis. Varitek filed for free agency on Halloween and the Red Sox have a 15 day window to exlusive negotiating rights. During this time Varitek and his agent can talk to other franchises but no financial terms can be discussed.

So, what's next for the Sox? Well, its not like they have any minor league catching prospects and the Sox could trade for a younger catcher (Varitek will turn 37 in April) however the catcher free agent market is bleak, or they could resign Varitek like they did after the 2004 World Series, when the catcher was resigned for $40 million and 4 years. The most likely solution right now is a short term contract for Varitek, but only time will tell! Too bad Dougie is gone!

I hope Jason is going no where he is and always has been my favorite Red Sox.

What is this all about?

Don't worry, this is not a blog dedicated to the heroism of Boston teams and all their glory, but rather a few comments on the business and marketing aspect of the four major Boston teams. Granted, technically the New England Patriots are not in Boston, but close enough. I will be focusing on; the Patriots, the Red Sox, Boston Bruins, and Boston Celtics and will comment on any other Boston sporting event that may be newsworthy. So, to be clear this is not a "I don't care that the Patriots lost the super bowl 18-1 is still better than your teams record last year" blog, or a "The Yankees can take all of their rings and shove them, because when was the last time they won a world series?... Yeah, i can't remember either" blog, but simply a trades and endorsements kind of deal. Its not personal, its just business.