From the Arena Into the Streets:Hockey Violence, Economic Incentives and Public Policy

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Abstract
Abstract.The hypothesis that there is a positive relationship betweenviolenceand gameattendancein the NationalHockeyLeague is tested; and the implications of the results for policies aimed at rectifying the violence considered. The empirical analysis, which is based principally on game by game data for the 1989/90 season, confirms the positive relationship, although it occurs mainly in American, not Canadian, cities. Since there is an incentive forteamsto promote violence and because thelegal systemnormally only prosecutes players not teams, the standard methods used to control violence—self regulation and thejudicial process—are unlikely to work. Consideration should, therefore, be given to more direct control of violence.