Newz Forum: HOCKEY: Sabres can lose up to 10 million under the CBA

The Buffalo Sabres could lose up to $10 million this season, and are unlikely to turn a profit even if they make an extended playoff run, the team's managing partner said Thursday.

Larry Quinn blamed the anticipated loss on the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, which he said makes it impossible for most teams to make a profit. The agreement expires in September.

The $10 million loss projection is the worst-case scenario in the event the team doesn't make the playoffs and lose out on generating revenue from at least two more home games. The Sabres would still lose about $3 million even if they make it to the Eastern Conference finals, Quinn said.

"I'm very concerned," he said. "If you don't have the possibility of at least breaking even, then it's not smart business. And right now we don't have the possibility of that."

Quinn said the projected losses are close to but still worse than what the team had anticipated for this year. He called this another example of why the NHL needs to come up with a better business model when it negotiates a new collective bargaining agreement with the players.A dispute between the players and the league looms, threatening the suspension of part or all of next season.



[Edited on 2/27/2004 by crayon]