Red Wings fans furious over 30% pricing increase that'll affect their viewership

Detroit Red Wings are set to pay more to watch their favorite team, as service providers, such as Sportsnet and Rogers Communications, will be raising their prices.

The announcement angered fans, as they will receive a bill that is 30% more expensive. To what purpose? We don't know as of yet, but it's already hitting people in the pocketbook who are hurting.

In addition to the rising costs of groceries and commodities, it sure seems as if now would be the right time to charge your consumers more, right?

Wrong.

For some people $50 a month is a ridiculous price to watch a game they can't even afford to be in the arena to appreciate.

In the time of rising costs everywhere, you'd think NHL teams, and related networks, would understand the pain we're all undergoing, but again, they remain tone deaf.

You'd think all 32 NHL teams would lobby to keep the status quo, but given how craven some teams are ($14 beers in NWA), for example, it's just fine as they can make another dollar.

The Red Wings are in a precarious spot as Steve Yzerman remains unpopular, and this should definitely help viewership.

Either way, Sportsnet and Rogers Communications should have a good reason for the double-digit price increase (they won't).

Austin Harrison of Red Deer, Alberta, has quite the sobering take on the matter:

The status quo will result in people exploring other methods of viewership, including a decline in engagement with fans. This could end up ugly for Gary Bettman and the league.

Not sure they care, though.