sunbeam
David Clarke
The Panthers don't do league titles. Not even Carlsberg can manage that!
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Post by sunbeam on Jun 13, 2007 14:13:29 GMT
I found this post in a different place. It is certainly a scathing and passionate article. that LINK againPersonally I do wonder why hotbed places in Canada can't have a team instead.
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Post by sawchuk on Jun 13, 2007 15:33:55 GMT
Personally I do wonder why hotbed places in Canada can't have a team instead. Because Bettman is a frickin' moron
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Post by NevesMetro on Jun 13, 2007 15:34:27 GMT
Parts of a Q&A with Thrashers GM Don Waddell from todays AJC that may be of interest? ? Q: What are your thoughts on NHL expansion? A: I think expansion has been great for general managers. I think if we can go to 50 teams, I can have security for a long time. I think the league has done a good job with its blueprint with current expansion. . . . Let's make sure we have 30 good, healthy markets before we go outside that. To me, I think we have a great league with 30 teams. Q: You're on the competition committee, what's the latest coming from those meeings? A: We have a meeting coming up here soon. We talked about direct blows to the head, the ones where the only contact is made to the head, the direct shots. We have to eliminate those. We're going to find a way to penalize them. Q: Any other changes? A: Soccer nets. (laughs) No, every year that gets talked about. Again, we're not going anyplace with bigger nets. I think everyone is pretty happy with where the rules are. Face-off dots, we're going to change that. Every face-off in any place on the ice will be on a dot. Especially in the defensive or offensive zones, we drop the puck all over the ice and the integrity of the face-off gets challenged because you don't have lines there painted and guys cheat in. . . We have nine dots painted . . . and yet we find ways to drop pucks at 200 other spots on the ice. Q: The Stanley Cups ratings were a disaster . . . A: I think it was a disaster for the ratings but I watched the games as a fan, I think what they're doing on TV, we finally get it. If you go back a few years ago — did we watch players getting interviewed during a game? Did we watch coaches interviewed during a game? We didn't see it. We were a sport that said 'don't go near the players when they're playing, don't go near the benches.' Now we have a announcer in the box area, picking up on things, giving strategies whether he's supposed to or not. I think this — yes the rating might be down or whatever but we are getting this TV concept. I have to believe that the directions we showed this year, with the access given, to me it's only going to help us down the road. . . . I think for the first time, we're heading in the right directions. Q: So why isn't America watching? A: I don't think it's going to happen overnight. . . . Put it this way, a few years from now, if we don't have a better TV deal and ratings, I'll be concerned. But I think right now, at least the product, we get it. The NHL gets it. Now we have to take it to the next level. Q: Won't it take a return to ESPN to get there? A: Nah, I mean, it's not fair for me to say that. All I know is that VERSUS put a lot of resources and a lot of energy into production. I think their night games, their double-headers, their studios, I think that was outstanding. The knock is that they're not in all the markets and homes, but their production. . . . I thought was outstanding.
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Post by sawchuk on Jun 13, 2007 15:59:36 GMT
" I think expansion has been great for general managers. I think if we can go to 50 teams, I can have security for a long time. I think the league has done a good job with its blueprint with current expansion. . . . Let's make sure we have 30 good, healthy markets before we go outside that. To me, I think we have a great league with 30 teams" That's the point though isn't it, expansion hasn't been overly great and it's difficult to get non-hockey markets interested in the sport.
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sunbeam
David Clarke
The Panthers don't do league titles. Not even Carlsberg can manage that!
Posts: 3,862
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Post by sunbeam on Jun 13, 2007 17:58:12 GMT
By my maths around 1m households (2.5m people) watched Game 3 on NBC. It was half that for the first two games on Versus. In Canada 2.5m people also watched. Good ratings for Canada (30m people not 300m like the USA). But now I see why Jay Leno has been ripping the pee on his show. LINKApparently MLS Primetime on ESPN2 drew bigger ratings than the Stan Cup did on NBC when they clashed. Clearly this needs to be addressed. It didn't sound like Don Waddell did. Once you become the butt of jokes for the likes of Letterman or Leno you are in all-sorts of trouble. You'll lose credibility and won't be seen as 'cool'. If they get on ESPN then ESPN will push the sport. It doesn't matter if the ratings are weak as it's a sports channel. And ESPN can build it up. Like they plan to do with Beckham and the MLS. Below is a fan's view: The other thing that strikes me abnout this is whether the NHL should worry if it is not a national sport in USA. So what if it is just a cold-weather-city sport. NASCAR isn't a national sport but it's still big. A rocking arena in Winnipeg has got to be better for the image then apathy in California or Florida or wherever.
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Post by sawchuk on Jun 13, 2007 18:43:04 GMT
So if the Looney is doing so well, now would be the perfect time for the guy who owns Nashville to sell to a Canadian buyer, maybe in either Hamilton or Winnipeg, especially the latter as their fans were stripped of their team.
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Yotes
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Post by Yotes on Jun 13, 2007 23:09:11 GMT
...Winnipeg, especially the latter as their fans were stripped of their team. The Jets left Winnipeg because the fan base couldn't support an NHL team, the 2nd smallest NHL market at the time, I believe. Now admittedly times change, and personally I wouldn't mind if the Yotes moved back north, (sure Doan'd like to go home), but there isn't necessarily a large enough market waiting for a team there, expansion or relocation. Teams for KC and LV is a ridiculous idea, can't imagine hockey being much of a draw in either of those places. Is this likely to happen or just talk?
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Post by NevesMetro on Jun 14, 2007 0:00:20 GMT
" I think expansion has been great for general managers. I think if we can go to 50 teams, I can have security for a long time. I think the league has done a good job with its blueprint with current expansion. . . . Let's make sure we have 30 good, healthy markets before we go outside that. To me, I think we have a great league with 30 teams" That's the point though isn't it, expansion hasn't been overly great and it's difficult to get non-hockey markets interested in the sport. No it hasn't been overly great but it takes time. I can only talk about my team. In 2002-03 we had 552,000 (28th) through the door, this year we had 665,000 (21st). Every year since 2002 we have seen an increase, so to me remarks like " Sun Belt expansion like the Florida Panthers and Atlanta Thrashers should be relocating to more welcoming Canadian cities" I feel are a little harsh. I would love to see more big market Canadian teams so how about Chicago and Boston relocating Those teams haven't made 665,000 for AT LEAST the last 7 years, Only Joking ;D (on relocating, not the crowd figures)
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sunbeam
David Clarke
The Panthers don't do league titles. Not even Carlsberg can manage that!
Posts: 3,862
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Post by sunbeam on Jun 14, 2007 9:48:09 GMT
The problem is Neves, according to these writers, the new cities are apathetic. What I read was that you wouldn't have known there was a game on if you travelled 5 minutes from Anaheim's arena. Therefore the teams struggle to generagte money away from the hardcore who click the turnstiles.
I imagine that if there was a team in Winnipeg the bunting would be out if they were in the Stan Cup.
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Post by NevesMetro on Jun 14, 2007 10:21:34 GMT
The problem is Neves, according to these writers, the new cities are apathetic. What I read was that you wouldn't have known there was a game on if you travelled 5 minutes from Anaheim's arena. Therefore the teams struggle to generagte money away from the hardcore who click the turnstiles. I imagine that if there was a team in Winnipeg the bunting would be out if they were in the Stan Cup. Totally agree, its hard work to go into a non traditional hockey market and create excitement throughout the city. Atlanta is a Braves/Falcons/NASCAR city however the NHL decided to put a hockey team there a few years ago and right now we can play up to the cap and we have 5 years of increasing attendances averaging over 16,000 per night. If the NHL wants to make hockey a full North American league then they have to take chances on a place like Atlanta and I would call being competitive (cap wise) and increasing attendances a success for the NHL in Atlanta. Of course there will always be those who want the NHL tucked away in Canada and maybe just across the boarder (as long as it doesn’t go too far south) and on some level I can understand that but as a fan of the Atlanta teams I can’t support it ;D Cheers
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Yotes
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Post by Yotes on Jun 14, 2007 15:51:59 GMT
I imagine that if there was a team in Winnipeg the bunting would be out if they were in the Stan Cup. I'm sure you're right about more local enthusiasm, but that wouldn't have to equate to a larger fan base, just a larger percentage of the local population being fans. Using your Anaheim/Winnipeg example, Orange County has about 3 times the population of Manitoba so the same sized fan base will make more of an impression in Winnipeg than it would in Anaheim. You'd get a better atmosphere around the town for hockey, but perhaps not anymore money, which was what caused the end of the Jets afterall. Bettman seems convinced that Nashville aren't going anywhere, and they seem most likely to move at the minute if anyone's going to.
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Post by sawchuk on Jun 16, 2007 23:20:09 GMT
The Jets left Winnipeg because the fan base couldn't support an NHL team, the 2nd smallest NHL market at the time, I believe. Yes they were after Quebec I think, but it wasn't solely down to having a small fanbase. The simple fact was the Canadian dollar wasn't as strong as it is currently, Canadian teams were taxed much heavily than their US counter parts and the team itself couldn't attract on a consistent basis elite calibre NHLers. There's also the fact that some hockey players would prefer to play and live in the US as opposed to Canada. This wasn't just a point in question to both Winnipeg & Quebec, but also Toronto as when the Leafs tried to sign Holik & Kaspiritis, both players elected to stay in the US despite admitting their interest in playing for the Leafs. The fan base was a factor, but it wasn't the sole reason why the Nordique & Jets left for the US.
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andyd
Ken Westman
THE logo!
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Post by andyd on Jun 16, 2007 23:32:49 GMT
Expansion would be a farce at this point unless, as has been stated, it was expansion within Canada, certainly not places like Vegas and KC.
I mean Kansas City can't filll stadiums for it's current teams let alone a new hockey franchise and another hockey franchise in the desert?
Please Mr Bettman, you deserve hanging in the town square of numerous Canadian cities if you make this farcical idea a reality.
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Post by martinski83 on Jun 17, 2007 12:02:18 GMT
Speaking as Jets fan (though after they went to Phoenix I thought screw that), I believe the NHL needs the Jets like bread needs butter.
Small arena, great fans, memorable nights. Some of the biggest names in both yesterday and todays name forged their trade in Winnipeg and its a road trip many NHLers would welcome back.
In 2007 there is no doubt in my mind that the Jets would be a stable investment who would attract the big names once more.
The Jets belong. We don't need anymore desert teams. Winnipeg is a city that doesnt just play hockey - Winnipeg is hockey.
Go Jets Go
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2007 20:38:25 GMT
I don't believe there should be an NHL team anywhere where it doesn't snow, except perhaps Vancouver.
Sorry, but that's how I feel.
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Yotes
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Post by Yotes on Jun 28, 2007 13:57:20 GMT
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sunbeam
David Clarke
The Panthers don't do league titles. Not even Carlsberg can manage that!
Posts: 3,862
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Post by sunbeam on Jun 28, 2007 15:11:42 GMT
KC is just not a good idea. The MLS team is still finding it's feet there and I don't see any new team coming in and doing well.
KC is Chiefs country. Even after they finish bottom of the AFC West next season they'll still flock back to the Arrowhead and make more noise than any other set of fans in the NFL.
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Dan
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Post by Dan on Jun 28, 2007 16:53:22 GMT
MORE
CANADIAN
TEAMS
That is all.
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Post by Peacock on Jun 28, 2007 18:19:32 GMT
MORE CANADIAN TEAMS That is all. But where? Even Canadians will tell you that new teams will struggle there in the current climate.
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Post by sawchuk on Jun 28, 2007 18:39:08 GMT
MORE CANADIAN TEAMS That is all. But where? Even Canadians will tell you that new teams will struggle there in the current climate. That claim will only be proven as and when a Canadian city gets a new NHL team.
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Post by KimThePanther on Jun 28, 2007 18:48:49 GMT
Preds to KC? I bet Mr Basketball isn't as opposed to this insane idea as he was to Hamilton.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2007 21:00:25 GMT
Theres only 1 canadian team who can really compete financially with the US teams and thats he leafs.
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Dan
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Boss
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Post by Dan on Jun 28, 2007 21:13:06 GMT
MORE CANADIAN TEAMS That is all. But where? Even Canadians will tell you that new teams will struggle there in the current climate. Hamilton, Quebec, Winnipeg for three. The whole ordeal looks a little odd. The new deal looks to have been accepted for $50m less than the previous offer. What's going on there?
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Post by sawchuk on Jun 28, 2007 21:45:46 GMT
Theres only 1 canadian team who can really compete financially with the US teams and thats he leafs. Yes and that's all the Ontario Teachers Pension fund care about
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Post by Peacock on Jul 2, 2007 12:17:05 GMT
But where? Even Canadians will tell you that new teams will struggle there in the current climate. Hamilton, Quebec, Winnipeg for three. The whole ordeal looks a little odd. The new deal looks to have been accepted for $50m less than the previous offer. What's going on there? 2 previously failed franchises and another too close to Toronto for Toronto not to veto it. Like I said, when even Canadians don't think the time is right for another Canadian franchise, you have to wonder whether they have a point.
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