Is the lockout affecting anyone else as much?

[comfortably9numb]

I'm sure the lockout is affecting everyone, but I feel that I am loosing a TON of steam this year. I noticed that I am branching out to other sports more often (golf and tennis specifically). I even started a new PC of maria sharapova. Since the stanley cup finals this past season, I haven't purchased one pack of hockey cards, and VERY few singles (maybe 5-10). Yet, I still purchase stuff for my LPGA and Sharapova collections. I still have a love for the game (just went to the statue of the French Connection at the First Niagara Center and rick martins son brought a tear to my eye), but I just cant get myself to buy the cards. Anyone else feel this way? I see so many box breaks, and feel like I might be alone here. I'm hoping the drive comes back when the games start up.

Also, the last lockout is when I first stopped collection completely, and didn't pick it up for about 5 year afterwards, so maybe I'm just feeling the same emotions

[Nucks4cup]

It hasn't affected me yet. i usually dont care about the 1st 2-3 months of the season anyways. I'm usually more caught up in football, even though i dont collect it. but after the new year if theirs no new hockey thats when it will hit me

[Craig2]

It is definitely affecting my collecting habits. I was slightly down on hockey products even before the lockout, and over the last few months I've barely purchased anything. A few Toews autos and rookies, some pieces here and there of Pavelec, Lehner or Anders Nilsson, but that's about it.

On the other hand, I'm currently putting together a couple of football autograph sets including the huge and difficult 1997 UD Legends set. Along with that, I've got four basketball HOF/retired stars auto sets on the go. I'm having more fun with these than I have in a long time, and I'm going to continue to move a lot of my hockey cards.

[Fleury14]

all hockey, all the time for me. That's not going to change, lockout or no lockout. I'll just watch more AHL games to compensate.

[Drewk86a]

I am so desperate I have started wathcing UEFA Soccer games!

The best part was when I called the cable company to cancel my NHL Center Ice subscription and they kept asking why.

[Cartophilium]

All labour disruptions be it at the league level, mail delivery level or elsewhere that make it more difficult to sustain a hobby interest always impact.

Just a question of when the ripple effect reaches each hobbyist.

[Flyers16]

I'll agree with Nucks4cup. At this time of year with the MLB playoffs, CFL and NFL and the pleasant fall weather, hockey is not usually an interest to me. It'll be a couple of months before I'll even start noticing the lack of hockey.

[Gallinator]

I've actually been busting a lot of Score to fill the void, even though I didn't love it at first. Plus, I seem to be getting a LOT of good eBay deals lately, so if the lockout continues it'll just be a great opportunity to take the money I would have spent on wax and use it to fill old holes instead...kind of like in 04/05. Back then, though, we had the sweet Legends Classics to keep us interested...

[ginx86]

I've lost a bit of enthusiasm for the hobby recently. I think it's really a combination of Columbus' horrible season last year and then the lockout this year. The local USHL team just started their season so between that and college hockey on ESPN3, I'm hoping I can get excited about hockey again and in turn the hobby.

[DeanCrandall]

No affect, taking the time to sort cards and refocus on cards I wish to pursue. The hobby is ready for a bubble burst with the economy and the overstocking of product in the last couple of years. The lockout becomes the catalyst or excuse for many to be pushed over the edge and into selling. I will be personally ready on the other side to catch some of these beautiful cards. The 2005-2010 Cup cards (only started collecting in 09) I have been able to acquire as others leave or reduce their collections has been exciting for me. So this is opportunity time and always looking for the next bit of eye candy, anyone selling, Cup cards of Bossy, Cup Chirography, Tavares RC, Nielsen or MacDonald ARPs.