As the NHL and the Players' Association resume collective bargaining talks Wednesday, Vancouverbars and restaurants are worried about how a lockout will affect their businesses.
With competing bids on the table and no clear road ahead, local hockey fans and the businesses that rely on them are getting anxious.
“We rely a lot on sports specifically, that’s our niche market,” said Jessica Kelly from G Sports Bar and Grill. “Although we’ve got NFL, we’ve got CFL. Obviously here in Vancouver the most important team we have going and the biggest revenue for bars is the Canucks.”
Rob Ward from Players Chophouse said a lockout would be detrimental to the restaurant’s bottom line.
“Nothing makes up for the NHL,” he said. “That's 41 or 42 home games and it's crucial to our business and to our staff.”
The two days of talks in Toronto will be devoted entirely to core economic issues -- the place where the parties seem to have the most ground to make up.
Vancouver Canucks centre Manny Malhotra said the team is eager to get back on the ice.
“Every player I’ve talked to is more than willing to get back to the city they play in and get things going,” Malhotra said.
Donald Fehr from the NHL Players' Association said they’re looking for a compromise.
"If somebody says I asked for everything you have and now I'll only take half of what you have -- that's not a concession. A concession is… when I say I'll give you something."
The sides are operating in the shadow of a Sept. 15 deadline, with the league promising a lockout if there isn't a new CBA in place.
With files from the Canadian Press
