A lot of people down here regularly attend AHL, ECHL, NCAA, and SPHL games.
Hardly anyone is an avid hockey fan. Most non-season ticket holders want to see fights at these games. I'm not sure they'd sell nearly as many tickets without them. But fighting is a huge entertainment factor in the USA.
The NHL, or even the CHL, is a different beats. But still, decisions are made based on money. And simply put, the NHL might make more money with fighting in the game. Even with the lawsuits, etc.
|