Yotes
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Post by Yotes on Apr 1, 2009 12:05:33 GMT
I've said in the past that we shouldn't continue to water down the product to suit the least capable team, so it'd be hypocritical to change tack now, but I do feel sorry for the fans of the teams out in the cold as it were, assuming this is all true.
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Post by ted on Apr 1, 2009 12:15:28 GMT
Just regards to this....
Everyone assumes that lower import is a worse product of hockey (true) but what is also true is less teams in the league is equally low... if not lower than having less imports.
Either way theres some sort of epic fail going on
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Doom
Greg Hadden
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Post by Doom on Apr 1, 2009 12:18:31 GMT
These are my thoughts on Steeltalk:
Regards
Doom
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MP
Paul Adey
Hail hurts and rain is cold. Summer in the mountains
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Post by MP on Apr 1, 2009 12:31:25 GMT
British hockey has spent years trying to square this circle - with little success.
The presence of arena based teams are a big part of the problem yet ironically, are probably the only way the sport could grow in this country.
Rink (low import) hockey can be great to watch yet not many of the rink based teams have played consistently to packed houses. Perhaps their overall packages just don't attract new fans and get them hooked.
Arena based teams have the potential to present a good match night package to attract and hold onto new fans. They may not be making much of a fist of it but the potential is there.
Squaring the running costs of arena and rink teams has proved pretty intractable and I see no reason to think a solution will be found any time soon. The EIHL had a reasonable stab at it but it seems to be unraveling big time now.
So what of the future? A six team league may work for a while, especially if the quality of the hockey and entertainment is improved. There needs to be some radical thinking done for the longer term though if arena hockey is to survive. Panthers are especially vulnerable - could end up in a league of two with Belfast.
The EPL may well expand and become the "top" level of hockey in this country but the standard of hockey and the number of people watching would quite likely drop - which would hardly be progress.
I wish I knew the answer to it all - not that anyone else seems to know either.
Just leaves me feeling a bit relieved I'm not in the market for a season ticket for next season.
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Post by latenightpsycho on Apr 1, 2009 12:31:56 GMT
While I think much of what MH is true, my belief is that his reference to a six team NHL is a little misguided. It worked 'way back when' because no one knew any different. The question is, would a six team NHL work now? I think we all know the answer to that.
Likewise, the first few seasons post-Superleague were a disappointment because of the product the public had become accustomed to.
And to go even further back in time, the sport basically collapsed in this country in the late 50's because of spiralling costs and the subsequent fear of an unlevel playing field.
Unlike some posters, I don't think there is a 'right' answer. Some support the idea of a six team league, while others favour the continued propping up of those less financially capable and the maintenance of a 9/10 team set up. My own opinion is that neither has any long-term viability, which is why I in turn fear for the future of the game in this country. Only when there are a minimum of 10 similar-sized arenas willing and able to support an ice hockey team will the game in this country have a chance of stabilising and building its supporter base to a level where it will be capable of attracting the sponsorship and media interest essential to it's future.
Until then, at best, I can only see further league shake-ups on a regular basis. And that is one of the main reasons why, in the eyes of the majority, our sport is a minority one.
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Shaggy
Forum Moderator
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Post by Shaggy on Apr 1, 2009 12:35:28 GMT
You know what - I won't miss games at the NIC/sheffield arena (and the MRA for that matter) etc etc either. Sterile, chararcterless places, with sterile characterless teams in a sterile, characterless league. Funny, that's not the impression you've ever given before... or is it just more politically convenient for you to claim that now? Well, the battle-lines have been well and truly drawn, haven't they? And the worst part of it is... it's all a load of cobblers. One one side you've got those who see the bigger teams as arrogant, selfish, making it impossible for the smaller teams and say that they should be reined in to make it a more balanced league. On the other side you've got those who see the smaller teams as arrogant, selfish, holding back the rest, and shouldn't expect special treatment in order to compete. And you know what? - to a large extent, both are right. It's all shades of grey... no-one is all good or all bad, the same people can have good ideas and bad attitudes, can be a positive influence on one subject and a total hindrance on another. But that's not an acceptable attitude, is it? No... it has to be black and white, all one or the other, we're right you're wrong... This is why IMHO every last club involved in this shares the responsibility for the mess. And if one group or the other thinks that they are somehow superior and will sail on into a glorious future without the others... I think they're dreaming. How many more times does this have to happen before someone breaks the cycle? The ISL and BNL were formed when the old league split due to different ideals (same kind of thing as we're seeing now, yes?)... did that change anything? Nope... you got teams going bust, teams dropping out to lower leagues (Cardiff and Bracknell from the ISL, Peterborough MK & Slough from the BNL)... then defections from the BNL to the new EIHL, teams dropping to EPL, some EPL to ENL... and here we go again. And of course... whichever league/group your team is with is the 'right' one, yes? That seems to be the only criterion these days. If I didn't love the sport so much, I'd say stuff the whole lot.
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Yotes
Forum Admin
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Post by Yotes on Apr 1, 2009 12:35:57 GMT
Just regards to this.... Everyone assumes that lower import is a worse product of hockey (true) but what is also true is less teams in the league is equally low... if not lower than having less imports. But when do you stop Teddy? Make the product worse so everyone can afford it... until someone needs just one less import and a slightly lower cap to be OK... until next year.
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Zukiwskyfan
Simon Hunt
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Post by Zukiwskyfan on Apr 1, 2009 12:37:38 GMT
I'm actually quite excited and hoping we do end up with a 5-6 team league. Hopefully the import limit and the wage cap will go up too. Yes we will play the same teams more but that will build rivalrys and bring more passion and hatred into the games. I'm even more against the EPl now I know you can't sign players with a NA passport. 4 imports all being Euros, no thanks!!! I don't know what everybodys obsession with more teams is a anyway. The 5 team ISL was a thousand times more entertaining than the last 6 years of Brit filled garbage we have had to stomach.
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Star
Jade Galbraith
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Post by Star on Apr 1, 2009 12:47:17 GMT
I'm still relatively new here. I started going in Sept 2006, so the current league is all I've ever been aware of hockey wise. But the more news that emerges about this, the less I'm liking it I'll admit that I won't miss Bison in this EIHL (I didn't bother going to any of their games this season) and I hope their fans will get to see some wins for once and rediscover the meaning of deserved applause Logistically I could see the league still operating in a similar vein with 9 (or maybe even 8 teams) without feeling as though we were playing the same teams week in week out. But 6 seems so harsh a chop and as people have pointed out that might not be the end of the instabilities either... So in the words of a wise Jedi master... "I have a baaaaaaad feeling about this"
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Post by ted on Apr 1, 2009 12:58:04 GMT
Just regards to this.... Everyone assumes that lower import is a worse product of hockey (true) but what is also true is less teams in the league is equally low... if not lower than having less imports. But when do you stop Teddy? Make the product worse so everyone can afford it... until someone needs just one less import and a slightly lower cap to be OK... until next year. I was saying both options are equally bad.... If EPL becomes top level then they need to look at including NA players... as Seao said... Im not interested in watching some pretty cross overs and stickwork. Dooms post pretty much sums up my feelings... with a hint of Zukfan as well!
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matt44
David Clarke
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Post by matt44 on Apr 1, 2009 13:00:26 GMT
I'm actually quite excited and hoping we do end up with a 5-6 team league. Hopefully the import limit and the wage cap will go up too. Yes we will play the same teams more but that will build rivalrys and bring more passion and hatred into the games. I'm even more against the EPl now I know you can't sign players with a NA passport. 4 imports all being Euros, no thanks!!! I don't know what everybodys obsession with more teams is a anyway. The 5 team ISL was a thousand times more entertaining than the last 6 years of Brit filled garbage we have had to stomach. Plus if the import level goes up we can have "proper" enforcers!
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Milkman™
Les Strongman
Always Delivers
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Post by Milkman™ on Apr 1, 2009 13:06:53 GMT
Next question how long before the big 4get bored of carrying the lesser 2 and move to a 4 team league?
How can you hype a rivalry that has you playing your 'biggest' opponents every 3 weeks?
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Post by ted on Apr 1, 2009 13:08:27 GMT
as to rangers... sterile atmosphere? Ive never known anywhere as quiet and the Metro arena.
Its good riddance to top flight hockey as far as you are concernend then? you are happy watching part time players ply their trade at EPL level?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2009 13:09:24 GMT
Quite simply, theres no way a 6 team hockey league could survive, could this be the beginning of the end? Explain why. i just don t believe it would , the big 4 will spend to compete along with bonus`s to attract players, then the likes of hull and cardiff will get left behind meaning they ll be under pressure to compete and as they don t get large gates they ll find it difficult to balance it out against outgoings unless they get big sponsorship deals,. Now they may be sucessful owners etc but no owner is happy taking a loss ( like Wilsons words this week ) . Before you know it, its down to 4 teams, unless a new franchise can be sort . the big 4 need more teams to financially rival them and have decent sized fan bases to support that . How long would fans put up with such small structure ?
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Post by rangers on Apr 1, 2009 13:46:33 GMT
I don't think I have ever said I enjoy going to the NIC - I go there because I'm from Nottingham, and to support Vipers (I also believe a said good riddance to the MRA in my post as well). I love Whitley Bay. I love the peterborough arena. The previous rink in nottingham was a much better rink than the NIC. They are a bit rough round the edges, but the atmosphere is 100 times better than in the big arenas. And I would much rather a cracking atmosphere than a comfy seat and being a bit warmer.
Personally, the entertainment factor went out of the EIHL at the beginning of last year. A lot of it is dull hockey. Dull fights. Dull matches. Dull players. There is not one character on the Vipers squad (dont say payette, because he is the biggest joke in the league now. 3 years ago he could play. Now its just embarrasing) Possibly only Bruce Richardson for Panthers. Cant remember seeing any in the Manchester or Coventry squads that i have also seen this year. There are the odd gems, of course, but these are the exceptions, rather than the rules. Teams desperatly trying to create rivalries that are not really there, just to get the excitement. That never works.
BNL days were not perfect, but there was more characters in that league. The teams had real personalities. Not like the EIHL, where corporate is everything.
Having watched Peterborough week in, week out for the last 2 and a bit years, and the Scimitars before that, I know I prefer EPL hockey than EIHL. Players who care - one of my favourite hockey moments was Craig Peacock (a so called part-timer, who is no good for anyone in some peoples eyes) scoring an empty netter (cup semi final), and going mental, screaming through the plexi just inches from my seat.
Or when a match is done and dusted with a few seconds left, someone chasing the length of the ice to prevent a goal as if it was OT in game 7 of the stanley cup final. Like Joe Miller (another so-called part-timer) did this season. Cant remember any imports caring as much as these 2 did, and to be frank, I would rather watch stuff like that than Molin, Tessier, Courteney, Mcallister or Payette. Thats what I want from hockey. Passion. Not staged fights, not players trotting back to their half after scoring just to tap their team-mates hands. Not a perfectly executed neutral zone trap. Proper passion. I cant remember when I last saw that in the EIHL - I'm sure there is some, but its bloody rare in my experience.
No-one has ever explained why more imports means better entertainment. On that principle no-one would have spent the last decade moning about F1 being dull. Its the best people and most money of any motorsport, so on the more imports = better entertainment brigades idea, it should be the best thing ever.
The comparison with the NHL original 6 is just daft. not only quality of players but stability - the original 6 was built on tradition, where there was already a big market in some places. I cant see a 6 team league lasting for very long at all.
Anyway, thats how I feel at the moment.
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Post by ted on Apr 1, 2009 14:00:26 GMT
so you dislike the top flight and prefer EPL?
Whoop dee do. Go watch that instead then. No big loss. Why are you even here taking an interest in the EIHL if it really is so dull and boring.
Me? having watched both... I prefer Elite League... not least becasue my home town... (explain again why a guy from nottingham, living in peterborough... supports newcastle?) has no EPL team. please dont say Lions, no disrespect to the Lions guys intended but I dont intend to pay to watch that level of hockey.
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Post by Mark Mac on Apr 1, 2009 14:01:40 GMT
I don't think I have ever said I enjoy going to the NIC - I go there because I'm from Nottingham, and to support Vipers (I also believe a said good riddance to the MRA in my post as well). I love Whitley Bay. I love the peterborough arena. The previous rink in nottingham was a much better rink than the NIC. They are a bit rough round the edges, but the atmosphere is 100 times better than in the big arenas. And I would much rather a cracking atmosphere than a comfy seat and being a bit warmer. Personally, the entertainment factor went out of the EIHL at the beginning of last year. A lot of it is dull hockey. Dull fights. Dull matches. Dull players. There is not one character on the Vipers squad (dont say payette, because he is the biggest joke in the league now. 3 years ago he could play. Now its just embarrasing) Possibly only Bruce Richardson for Panthers. Cant remember seeing any in the Manchester or Coventry squads that i have also seen this year. There are the odd gems, of course, but these are the exceptions, rather than the rules. Teams desperatly trying to create rivalries that are not really there, just to get the excitement. That never works. BNL days were not perfect, but there was more characters in that league. The teams had real personalities. Not like the EIHL, where corporate is everything. Having watched Peterborough week in, week out for the last 2 and a bit years, and the Scimitars before that, I know I prefer EPL hockey than EIHL. Players who care - one of my favourite hockey moments was Craig Peacock (a so called part-timer, who is no good for anyone in some peoples eyes) scoring an empty netter (cup semi final), and going mental, screaming through the plexi just inches from my seat. Or when a match is done and dusted with a few seconds left, someone chasing the length of the ice to prevent a goal as if it was OT in game 7 of the stanley cup final. Like Joe Miller (another so-called part-timer) did this season. Cant remember any imports caring as much as these 2 did, and to be frank, I would rather watch stuff like that than Molin, Tessier, Courteney, Mcallister or Payette. Thats what I want from hockey. Passion. Not staged fights, not players trotting back to their half after scoring just to tap their team-mates hands. Not a perfectly executed neutral zone trap. Proper passion. I cant remember when I last saw that in the EIHL - I'm sure there is some, but its bloody rare in my experience. No-one has ever explained why more imports means better entertainment. On that principle no-one would have spent the last decade moning about F1 being dull. Its the best people and most money of any motorsport, so on the more imports = better entertainment brigades idea, it should be the best thing ever. The comparison with the NHL original 6 is just daft. not only quality of players but stability - the original 6 was built on tradition, where there was already a big market in some places. I cant see a 6 team league lasting for very long at all. Anyway, thats how I feel at the moment. You still haven't explained why the 6 need continue to make concessions to the other teams. So you can't see a 6 team league lasting long. How long will a league last where it has to pander to the lowest quality and always give financial support to the poorer teams? The league has tried that and it has not worked, which is why we are in this position. What other option is there for the league? As for this EIHL turning dull thing. I have been to some cracking games this season, far better than last season overall as far as I am concerned. Of course there will be some dull games. Happens in every single sport. It certainly happens in the EPL. Whilst I have been to some damn good games in EPL, I've also been to some where I have been bored stiff and manky rinks have made me question why I even bothered. You're post is full of silly extremes. It surprises me because normally your posts come across as well thought out and very constructive.
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Post by messier1851 on Apr 1, 2009 14:02:33 GMT
There is not one character on the Vipers squad (dont say payette, because he is the biggest joke in the league now. 3 years ago he could play. Now its just embarrasing) Possibly only Bruce Richardson for Panthers. Cant remember seeing any in the Manchester or Coventry squads that i have also seen this year. There are the odd gems, of course, but these are the exceptions, rather than the rules. Totally agree with this point. There was a time when the players were much more recognisable, you had genuine speedsters, genuine enforcers, guys who would hit and get hit. Now so many of the players are just mediocre, they are just carbon copies of one another, reasonable shooters, fairly decent skaters. Nobody grabs a game by the scruff of the neck anymore, the way a Craighead used to. Nobody drops the gloves and goes hell for leather and inspires their team-mates like a Dennis Maxwell once would... That said a six team league worries me, ISL mark 2 and back to another re-formed league in five years and back into the cycle. I will be hugely disappointed if Manchester drop out, they were starting to get a solid fanbase and put together a very competitive roster this season. All that hard-work could easily be undone and looks like it may well be.
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Post by KimThePanther on Apr 1, 2009 14:03:58 GMT
An interesting post from one of the moderators on Steel Talk...
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Post by pantherinmanc on Apr 1, 2009 14:11:55 GMT
I don't think I have ever said I enjoy going to the NIC - I go there because I'm from Nottingham, and to support Vipers (I also believe a said good riddance to the MRA in my post as well). I love Whitley Bay. I love the peterborough arena. The previous rink in nottingham was a much better rink than the NIC. They are a bit rough round the edges, but the atmosphere is 100 times better than in the big arenas. And I would much rather a cracking atmosphere than a comfy seat and being a bit warmer. Personally, the entertainment factor went out of the EIHL at the beginning of last year. A lot of it is dull hockey. Dull fights. Dull matches. Dull players. There is not one character on the Vipers squad (dont say payette, because he is the biggest joke in the league now. 3 years ago he could play. Now its just embarrasing) Possibly only Bruce Richardson for Panthers. Cant remember seeing any in the Manchester or Coventry squads that i have also seen this year. There are the odd gems, of course, but these are the exceptions, rather than the rules. Teams desperatly trying to create rivalries that are not really there, just to get the excitement. That never works. BNL days were not perfect, but there was more characters in that league. The teams had real personalities. Not like the EIHL, where corporate is everything. Having watched Peterborough week in, week out for the last 2 and a bit years, and the Scimitars before that, I know I prefer EPL hockey than EIHL. Players who care - one of my favourite hockey moments was Craig Peacock (a so called part-timer, who is no good for anyone in some peoples eyes) scoring an empty netter (cup semi final), and going mental, screaming through the plexi just inches from my seat. Or when a match is done and dusted with a few seconds left, someone chasing the length of the ice to prevent a goal as if it was OT in game 7 of the stanley cup final. Like Joe Miller (another so-called part-timer) did this season. Cant remember any imports caring as much as these 2 did, and to be frank, I would rather watch stuff like that than Molin, Tessier, Courteney, Mcallister or Payette. Thats what I want from hockey. Passion. Not staged fights, not players trotting back to their half after scoring just to tap their team-mates hands. Not a perfectly executed neutral zone trap. Proper passion. I cant remember when I last saw that in the EIHL - I'm sure there is some, but its bloody rare in my experience. No-one has ever explained why more imports means better entertainment. On that principle no-one would have spent the last decade moning about F1 being dull. Its the best people and most money of any motorsport, so on the more imports = better entertainment brigades idea, it should be the best thing ever. The comparison with the NHL original 6 is just daft. not only quality of players but stability - the original 6 was built on tradition, where there was already a big market in some places. I cant see a 6 team league lasting for very long at all. Anyway, thats how I feel at the moment. Thats all very well rnagers and credit to you for putting your view across in a balanced and well thought out way however I have to point out that whilst you may prefer the smaller 'rough round the edges' hockey of days gone by we don't live in days gone by and dirty cold rinks don't bring in joe public. There are many people who malign the 'happy clappers' of the Panthers, the large contingent who come through the doors come what may and to an extent are not embroiled in the kind of intense hockey debates which are seen on these boards day in day out... but they are the ones who make the club financially stable. They are the ones who look on the shelf and buy a product. That doesn't make them more or less important than any of us who see it as more than that, who have it as a passion, who go to games because it means everything.... but it does make a difference to the viability of a team as a business. Thoroughly disagree on your assessment of "Dull matches. Dull players". I have taken more enjoyment from aspects of this season than I have from any other. Some of the skill on show from some of our players has been outstanding (Cook's SH goal on Sat anyone?). I'm not judging you, nor having a go but you have slagged off the EIHL in such a passionate way and then talked up EPL and how great that has been for you so it begs the obvious question.... why not just keep watching that ? As for the F1 comparison that really is absurd, you are taking a sport at the top of it's field financially and comparing it with the EIHL which is one of the lowest leagues in europe in terms of quality and financial backing. The theory, as I understand it, is that at our level more money and more imports = better quality players and therefore better quality play. Granted if it's passion adn grass roots you want then the lower leagues are the place to get your fix. Much like the Blue Square North would be the place for that if Ronaldo's jinking runs and sublime skill are not your bag. It's all down to personal preference but the top league, the one with the best players (and most money!), will always win through as is evidenced across the globe in any sport you care to name.
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Post by rangers on Apr 1, 2009 14:13:47 GMT
so you dislike the top flight and prefer EPL? (explain again why a guy from nottingham, living in peterborough... supports newcastle?) I started watching in the old barn in notts, but was never a real regular. Started watching in Newcastle, and just got hooked on the team. Moved to the 'borough for a job two years ago. I do take notice of the EIHL. My team is/was a member of it, and no matter how dull the hockey they are my team. Now, as it happens the Vipers have been screwed over by the arena this year - not only is there a big gap where no ice is available (a month or two) when Mama Mia is in town, but the rumours are rent is doubling. With the recession meaning lower crowds, and less sponsors, the loss of Zoom at the start of the year there is no way on earth the vipers could continue. Any team with those problems would be in the same boat. The only way to surive as a 10 team league would be to reduce imports. It is that simple The league needs to look after the weakest link, because a 6 team league - in my view (and looking at the history of the ISL) is unsustainable. Without the likes of Newcastle, Edinburgh, Basingstoke, from where I'm sitting, it is a short road to no league. I have seen some great EIHL games - the Panthers v Manchester game on Saturday was a cracker. But from where I have been sitting in recent years there have been more snooze fests than crackers. Just my view.
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Post by pantherinmanc on Apr 1, 2009 14:27:07 GMT
If the rent is doubling and you continue to get what are, lets be honest, appalling crowd numbers for an area with a supposed 'big hockey tradition' then no drop in imports is going to help you. Why should we drop the quality of our team and take on games at substandard rinks because your organisation can't market what is a very marketable product? Newcastle, for me, represent the biggest issue of all because they could have been the blueprint, to show that crowds can be swelled and people can be brought through the doors and retained as long term, repeat purchasers of a great product. As far as i'm concerned the model could be made to work, the fact that Vipers have failed to grow their business is not a reason for us to pander to them now. Play to your weakest link and you'll be brought down to that level and I really don't want to see that. So Vipers, Phoenix, Caps etc go elsewhere, who's to say other organisations wont be launched that will prosper rather than be constantly looking for handouts and concessions.
Alternatively, how about the clubs currently moaning stay in the elite league and operate at whatever limit they want to. If they only want 6 imports no-one is making them sign 10 or 11. So they might not be able to compete? No-one can compete with Man U, Liverpool or Arsenal but it doesn't stop them operating within their means and giving it a go. Seems to me these boys want it all their own way so they can operate on their financial terms and at the same time keep themselves in the hunt for glory, it doesn't work like that i'm afraid.
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Post by dms41853 on Apr 1, 2009 14:39:04 GMT
now i don't know any different because i wasn't a fan in the super league days but the 6 teams left in the league wouldn't be a bad selection, everyone moans about bison and caps games so no big loss there.
As others have said 4 imports mainly euros and the rest of the team filled with young brits no thanks. If i want to see young brits battle it out everyweek i can just go drinking in town.
As for epl over elite league, i never seen an epl game but been to phantoms rink in preseason would rather not go back as its a dump. And i get the impression the other rinks aren't a great deal better.
As for characterless and sterile, you tell that to bruce, molin when he scored in the 4-0 win against cov, bruce and finnerty after their first fight, the general atmosphere in the skydome, and the other things people have said. Pure jealousy in my eyes.
As it is we will just have to wait and see what happens.
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Post by rangers on Apr 1, 2009 14:44:19 GMT
Alternatively, how about the clubs currently moaning stay in the elite league and operate at whatever limit they want to. If they only want 6 imports no-one is making them sign 10 or 11. So they might not be able to compete? No-one can compete with Man U, Liverpool or Arsenal but it doesn't stop them operating within their means and giving it a go. Seems to me these boys want it all their own way so they can operate on their financial terms and at the same time keep themselves in the hunt for glory, it doesn't work like that i'm afraid. I think that is a good point. I don;t want rules changed so that all of a sudden hull and edinburgh are winning everything, and panthers and steelers are losing every week (although if it could be fixed for steelers to finish last, that'd be grand...) The problem Vipers have is the history is North East, not Newcastle. It's Durham v Whitley. I know there are a lot of durham and warriors fans who do not go to Vipers. To be honest, we should have got out of the arena years ago - far too expensive - but there is no-where else, other than Piddly Way, and I doubt EIHL would want regular games there. The expense of arena overheads meant we could not afford entertaining teams. For me, 7-8 imports would be the way to go, to keep a stable league togther. But I am more than happy with the EPL, if that is the way forward.
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Warren
Greg Hadden
Posts: 1,467
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Post by Warren on Apr 1, 2009 14:49:31 GMT
Not a fan of either option but then I'm sure nobody is.
The "meeting" that Kim refers to, mentions what the 2 sides wanted.
The "Big 4" (+ Hull and Cardiff) want to keep the crowds they have the "Rebel 3" Can't afford to keep pace and either want a hand out or drop to there level.
Now From what I understand. If Panthers were to drop to 6 imports, we wouldn't have the amount fans at every game it currently. I'm sure that's the same at Belfast, Sheffield and Coventry (I think Hull and Cardiff are just went with the flow)
One thing that is jumping out, is all the talk of team 10 being announced at play-offs has died out. Perhaps we are going for a 7 team league and the new Team is aware of the Wage cap, the import level, Required "business pan"
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