PaulB wrote:
> On Feb 7, 3:45 pm, Brian Arthur Robertson
> wrote:
>> Vidar wrote:
>>> On Feb 7, 1:24 am, Brian Arthur Robertson
>>> wrote:
>>>> PaulB wrote:
>>>> <snip>
>>>>> We should get rid of tons of southern U.S. based teams
>>>> <snip>
>>>> Yep once we get rid of teams like Tampa Bay, Carolina, Dallas and
>>>> Anaheim, then maybe a Canadian team will be able to win the Stanley Cup.
>>>> --
>>> Or better yet, we keep those teams and the 2000 fans that show up to
>>> the games can cheer them on...
>> According to this article on the NHL's websitehttp://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=298726&page=NewsPage&service=page
>> NHL teams played to 91.7% of capacity last year. Dallas and Tampa were
>> amongst those who played to crowds of 97% capacity. Carolina was one of
>> two teams who posted a season high of an 11% increase in fan attendance.
>> Anaheim sold out it's last 22 home games to help it to an 8% increase.
>>
>> --
>> Brian Arthur Robertson
>>
>> http://brian.arthur.robertson.googlepages.com/freesoftware
>>
>> http://brian.arthur.robertson.googlepages.com/rare-ware
>
> Well, Dallas works because of grassroots support. The plan back when
> Bettman arrived as Commish was to blanket the country to get a TV
> contract to rival NBA basketball. Well, now that's laughable.
The NHL lost out to the NBA a long time ago when basketball decided to
be a winter sport.
> I was taken by the fact that Nashville could not even consider moving
> to Hamilton. Winnipeg and Quebec City can't get teams back, etc...
Jim Balsillie's bid to bring the Predators to Hamilton had several problems.
1) The lack of an NHL quality arena in Hamilton.
2) A huge fee would have had to been paid to the Leafs and the Sabers to
compensate them for the loss of broadcasting and fan revenue.
3) Mr. Balsillie's brash attitude. He might have had more success if he
had negotiated quietly with the NHL instead of constantly running to the
media.
> There was also a story about a possible trans-European league set up
> to rival salaries in NHL. I'd have to check the latest news on that,
> perhaps was just a trial balloon from some rich businessman.
How prestigious do you think a rival European league would be? The NHL
has the history and the culture. If an NHL team were to offer Alexi
Yashin a contract, I guarantee you that he would quit Europe and be back
in North America immediately.
> I'd prefer to see different locations, just not sure how you get
> there.
What does it say about support of the NHL in Canada when the most
storied franchise is sold to an American. Thankfully Mr. George Gillett
has said that he wants to preserve the history and the culture of the Habs.
I don't think the problem is creating more teams or moving them. I think
there are now more than enough teams in the league. Too many teams has
watered down the talent pool, which I believe has led to some fan
indifference.
There is also the problem of mismanagement. Torontonians will have no
problem remembering the Harold Ballard years. Harold never saw the point
of trying to win if it interfered with his profit margin. Good for
Harold bad for the fans. A similar situation has existed in Boston under
Harry Sinden. Why would someone from Boston spend any money on the
Bruins when the other teams Patriots, Red Sox, and Celtics are all
championship calibre. In Chicago, Bill Wirtz so poorly managed the team
(he actually forbade home games to be televised) that ESPN named the
Blackhawks the "Worst franchise in professional sports" in February 2004
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks#The_21st_century .
--
Brian Arthur Robertson
http://brian.arthur.robertson.googlepages.com/freesoftware
http://brian.arthur.robertson.googlepages.com/rare-ware >> Stay informed about: Case for new NHL ? 
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