For the 21st century owner, removing the general public as the main source of income allows the operation of a sports team to be conducted free of the restraints of what the general public would consider decency. The NFL hires scab refs, saves money on its officiating budget, and the financial blowback from a few disgruntled fans tuning out is negligible. The NHL locks out its players for a full season, comes back, and revenues go up 50 percent over the course of the next collective bargaining agreement, while player salaries stay near pre-2004 levels. If there is a way to make more money, and owners think they can get away with it, they will, up to and including pharmacy magnate Daryl Katz—with public funding already agreed to for a new arena in Edmonton—taking a trip to Seattle in a blatant attempt, during a lockout no less, to blackmail the public back in Alberta into further lining his pockets.

-Jesse Spector of The Sporting News where you can read more on the NHL Lockout and the NFL replacement refs...