Booing is a tradition as old as time and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is no exception to the rule.
The NHL's longtime leader has been the subject of plenty of hatred through the years and stands — to many — as sports most hated commissioner. Being No. 1 on the list is a difficult task, one that requires plenty of longevity and questionable decisions.
Regardless, Bettman is here and he's here to stay.
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Whether it's presenting the Stanley Cup to the winning team, appearing at the NHL Draft or even just walking down the street on a Tuesday afternoon — hockey fans never waste a chance to boo.
Bettman is not responsible for all of the league's woes, but he does play a part and has to wear them on his suit as the figurehead.
As for why NHL fans boo Bettman, you could ask everyone inside and out at each of the league's 32 arenas — and you'll probably get a different answer every time. Some would say they just don't like his personality, that it rubs fans the wrong way. Others would go in a different direction with their answer.
Here's a look at some common gripes against Gary Bettman.
Why do NHL fans boo Gary Bettman?
In February of 1993, Gary Bettman took over as NHL commissioner. Seemingly ever since, he's been atop the list of villains for NHL fans.
Here are some examples of why the boo birds are always flying when Bettman is around.
The suit
We'll start off with the simplest and probably easiest reason for the dislike toward Bettman. Take one look at the crowd in Edmonton for Oilers games and that should tell you all you need to know. Hockey fans are a passionate bunch and want the person representing their sport to feel the same way.
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Fans remember Players are Fans too, we all grew up with the same dream. Question is do you think Bettman is a Fan?
— Steve Ott (@otterN9NE) September 14, 2012
"The suits" is a term often used to describe the people that fill the lower level at the more expensive venues across the league, and it's anything but a complement. To NHL fans, Bettman is in it for the money without any regard for the sport they cherish.
Aside from it being commonplace to boo the commissioner in all sports, the NHL faithful will rain down boos on just about anyone in a suit — especially one in Bettman's position. To be fair though, wearing a jersey probably wouldn't make a difference to the current man in charge.
Lockouts
Lockouts, lockouts and more lockouts. If the suit isn't enough, taking away the league entirely will definitely do the trick. Bettman, unlike his counterparts in the other major pro sports, has enough experience with lockouts. With three of them during his tenure, shutting down the league on average of once every 10 years won't be making many fans.
The first shutdown came in 1994-95 and coincided with the loss of the Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets. To no one's surprise, Canadian fans weren't fond of their neighbors to the south being awarded the two teams — who would settle in Colorado and Arizona.
20 yrs ago today: 104-day NHL lockout, killing 468 games, ends. NHL's Bettman (L), PA's Goodenow call truce #HabsIO pic.twitter.com/Spx23pLoQa
— Dave Stubbs 🇨🇦 (@Dave_Stubbs) January 13, 2015
The next shutdown came in 2004-05 and resulted in an entire season being lost. Most recently, the final lockout — so far — under Bettman came during the 2012-13 season, which saw each team play only 48 of the originally scheduled 82 games.
Expansion
Expanding the league's outreach has always been near the top of the priorities list. However, moving into the warm climates of the desert and southern United States has, at points, drawn the ire of fans.
Failed experiments like the Atlanta Thrashers are poor marks on Bettman's legacy, while his commitment to the Arizona Coyotes might soon join that list. Though he should receive credit for the Vegas Golden Knights, fans still despise the commissioner for expansion and relocation efforts — particularly the ones that stole two teams from their Canadian roots.
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Lack of NHL growth
The league has been helped by the Vegas and Seattle expansions, but growing the game has been a concern for hockey's survival. Bettman is tasked with making the NHL popular and bringing in new fans.
The ESPN and Turner Sports broadcast rights deal has begun to help fix those issues, although allowing a Stanley Cup Final to be broadcast exclusively on cable hasn't helped reach cord-cutters. Marketability has also been a concern for some of the sport's best players.
Live look in at Gary Bettman, who signed off on a tv deal that put this year’s SCF exclusively on cablehttps://t.co/KmtKnxlxBY pic.twitter.com/BWIpsKmGBx
— Adam Bradford (@Adam_Bradford14) June 13, 2023
Playing games on channels like Outdoor Living Network and Versus didn't help attract new viewers and to some degree, the league is still paying for that time lost. The NHL has consistently ranked behind the NFL, NBA and MLB in America's four major sports rankings and could soon fall victim to soccer as well if significant strides aren't made.
