Thursday, February 17, 2005

What to do with Wings tickets

By Ted Kulfan / The Detroit News

Clip 'n' Flip Click here for larger version of the photo. Print, clip and flip for your own memorial. Error processing SSI file Should Yzerman retire? Now that the 2004-05 NHL season has officially been cancelled, should Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman, who turns 40 in May, retire? Yes, he has accomplished everything No, he shouldn't go out on this note No, he still can play even after sitting out a year Get results and comments The blame game Whom would you blame for the cancellation of the NHL season? The owners The players Both Get results and comments You take a shot Faced with a salary cap, how would you build the Red Wings' roster? Which high-salary players would you let go? Get results and comments Wallpaper Red Wings Ghost Town Audio Audio clip of the Chicken Dance Previous reports NHL players accept cap, but no deal yet Howe says hockey is the big loser Retirement and free agency will drastically change Wings' roster Bob Wojnowski: Deal now or forget the season Minor league is better than nothing for 3 Wings 4-hour negotiating session goes nowhere Season hopes all but dashed Neither Goodenow nor Bettman will join in discussions meant to spark negotiations Bob Wojnowski: Wings' Ilitch needs to flex his muscles and try to end impasse Bob Wojnowski: NHL's problems go far beyond labor Talks in Toronto go nowhere in a hurry Owners look adamant about a salary cap Red Wings keep the faith Union leader says players won't budge Bob Wojnowski: Lockout could cause irreparable damage to sport Hockey fans make do Union still maintains that Commissioner Bettman is roadblock to ending labor impasse Key figures involved in resolving the strife Comparing the leagues' financial arrangements Players' status going into 2004-05 season Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

DETROIT -- The Red Wings say they appreciate the loyalty of their fans.

General manager Ken Holland said the team has received minimal negative feedback during the protracted NHL lockout.

And now that the season is officially cancelled, Holland said the Wings want to maintain goodwill.

The first order of business will be refunding the balance of season-ticket money the team has been holding.

Holland said ticket holders can expect refunds beginning in the next 10 business days. The money will be refunded with the 1 percent interest that the organization has been repaying season ticket holders.

The Wings have been refunding ticket money in monthly installments since November.

"We've got a great fan base," Holland said. "They've got a great passion for our team and a great passion for our sport."

Of the lost season and any fears of fallout, Holland said: "I'd like to hope and think that the fans here in Detroit understand that it's about getting a healthy league, and they're going to have to have patience."